History on a plate

19 November 2008

Plants which produce foods that have changed the world are the focus of an exhibition at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Information Centre.

The display details the impact five food plants have had on life as we know it, including grains and the community spirit intertwined with growing this high energy food.

Taste enhancers pepper and sugar are also explored, as is the discovery and production of these plants.

Coffee is another of the examples, and the resulting café culture and fight for fair trade for underdeveloped countries.

And finally, the humble potato and the part it has played in Irish history.

“We’ve imported some of these exotic foods in their natural state to show people, for example, where their daily latte comes from, or what pepper looks like before it’s packaged up and put on supermarket shelves,” says Council Botanical Services Operations Team Manager Jeremy Hawker.

The free exhibition will run until 1 March 2009. The Gardens’ Information Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10.15am to 4pm (closed on Christmas Day).

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