01FOOD
The block starts with a bean.
Tofu is made by setting soybean milk into curds. Illinois Extension explains the process with a familiar comparison: milk becoming cheese. Silken tofu brings a softer texture to dishes such as smoothies and soups.
The USA TOFU take / Commentary
Our position: learning what a food is should come before deciding how suspicious to be of it. The bean would appreciate a fair hearing.
THE BEAN
Edamame is in the family.
Iowa State University Extension describes edamame as soybean pods harvested before maturity, then cooked. Its food-grade soybean guide also explains how different soybean traits suit different food uses, including tofu.
The USA TOFU take / Commentary
Edamame and tofu have the same crop in their family tree. Apparently the family hired two very different publicists.
FARM
There is a field behind the food.
USDA’s Economic Research Service maintains an entire research area on soybeans and oil crops, including U.S. production, supply, and use. It is a starting point for understanding the agricultural economy around the bean.
The USA TOFU take / Commentary
That is the connection we want to make visible: tofu belongs in a conversation about crops and cooking, not just in an argument about who eats it.