Imagine this grim outlook: Throughout our still young nation, seeing that we are divided — geographically, sure, but we also see this deep division even reside within families. Parents versus children. Brother against brother. A house divided. The news, posting this erratic pulse daily, often spewing bias reporting that reflects the “unequaled magnitude and severity,” according to a White House transcript.
Except this isn’t about today (although it very well could be). It was from 1863.
That’s when President Abraham Lincoln wrote his Thanksgiving Proclamation on Oct. 3 amid a divided nation in the middle of the Civil War.
Fast-forward to today. We mostly think of Thanksgiving in the stereotypical scene of pilgrims and indigenous people coming together after a bountiful harvest. As it should be.
Thanksgiving is now about celebrating with family and friends, and of course, doing so over a bountiful meal, with the holiday officially kicking off a six-week stretch of office parties, Secret Santa exchanges, Black Friday (or Cyber Monday) shopping, ridiculous television holiday commercials showcasing new luxury cars in snowy driveways with an equally ridiculous big, red bow atop.
As produce professionals, we see Thanksgiving as all about the food.
We’ve heard through the years — several times in this column space — about all the tips: Build your labor schedule ahead of time. Schedule some overnight shifts. Build bountiful displays, especially the essentials, fresh and ready for the crowds, which usually begin the weekend prior to and the week leading up to the holiday. It’s hard to be long on items such as potatoes, celery, herbs, sweetpotatoes, cranberries, parsley, green onions, green beans and more.
But let’s get back to the roots, to Lincoln’s proclamation, amid those grim days of 1863.
Lincoln wrote, “… It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens … .”
To be clear, such a presidential proclamation began with George Washington and has been continued with most presidents ever since. But at no time in this nation’s history did the Thanksgiving plea seem ever so applicable as during those uncertain days in the heart of the war between the states.
To this humble produce scribe, the holiday is about faith, family and rediscovering things to be thankful for, not just at this time of the year, but always.
And, of course, for the feast.
Food has a way of bringing us to grips about so much by gathering at a table, renewing friendships, rekindling kindness within a family and within a nation. In the produce industry, we supply the U.S. with all the trimmings to that end. Even though we sometimes gripe about late trucks, supply issues, prices, long hours, employee issues, customer complaints and so on, all the efforts are for a solemn cause.
I try to be thankful for all things, both personal and in my work, but I’m mostly thankful for all the things that make our country what it is: this great, sometimes crazy, united melting pot of ours.
And thankful for all the people who make it so. Now, pass the mashed potatoes.
Armand Lobato works for the Idaho Potato Commission. His 40 years of experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions.
