About

The Greater Cleveland community has a rich food history. Beyond iconic foods like pierogies, Polish Boys, Corned Beef sandwiches, fish fries, and stadium mustard, Cleveland has become a Midwest food destination with many culinary leaders working toward sustainable food sourcing.

At the same time, 178,697 Cuyahoga County residents live in food deserts. Grassroots leaders and farmers are working to increase food access and build community through urban and suburban agriculture and community-run food markets.

Bite by Bite explores the role of food in fostering community nourishment, giving our communities a launchpad for storytelling and discussion around food memories and access in Cuyahoga County.

The short, easily digestible essays in Bite by Bite not only invite folks to think about their own food memories, but they also encourage readers to explore the history of our food traditions as well as who is left out of these narratives.

Through the collection of stories and community gatherings, we can begin to develop a collective narrative about the many roles that food plays in our lives and communities.

Planning Partners:

Lake Erie Ink

The City Club of Cleveland

West Side Market

Literary Cleveland

Program Support:

Art House, Inc.

Western Reserve Historical Society

Literary Cleveland

Greater Cleveland Foodbank

Rust Belt Riders

Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County

Cleveland Metroparks

Central State University Extension

Collective Citizens Organized Against Lead (CCOAL)

St. Luke’s Foundation

Redhouse Studio

Rid-All Green Partnership

My Grow Connect