It's not that Kansas is the best place to grow wheat - it's that wheat is the only thing that will grow in Kansas

From 1850 to 1950, he [Steve Jones] discovered, there were more than 143 varieties of wheat grown in Washington. And Whidbey Island, just west of the Skagit valley, had set the world record with one wheat crop of nearly 120 bushels an acre.

"People say wheat is 'out of place' around here," he said. "I always get a kick out of that. A place like Kansas is considered real wheat country. But that's not correct. It's not that Kansas is the best place to grow wheat - it's that wheat is the only thing that will grow in Kansas."

D. Barber, The third plate (2014), 400

Ham is God speaking

I was reminded of once hearing a young Spanish chef describe what iberico ham meant to him: "Ham?" he said with a broad smile. "Ham is God speaking."

D. Barber, The third plate (2014), 163

Less than a hundred years later, only 4 percent of farms had chickens

In 1900, diversification (at least on some level) was inherent in agriculture; 98 percent of farms had chickens, 82 percent grew corn, and 80 percent raised milk cows and pigs. Less than a hundred years later, only 4 percent of farms had chickens, 25 percent grew corn, 8 percent had milk cows, and 10 percent raised pigs. And, in may cases, the farms producing these commodities did so exclusively.

D. Barber, The third plate (2014), 74