Edible Communities Returns to DC
By Bill O’Neill
It took just 50 words to ignite a mini-industry.
The lead story in the January/February 2004 issue of Saveur was a roundup of the magazine’s 100 favorites. The list included a short blurb with the headline “Newsletter Concept We Wish Would Crop Up Everywhere.”
The piece, focused on Edible Ojai, a small newsletter covering the food and farming scene of a Southern California town, served as a spark for something much larger.
Tracey Ryder, who co-founded Edible Ojai with partner Carole Topalian, recalls how the mention turned their small project into a nationwide phenomenon. The pair had originally created the newsletter to highlight the thriving local food culture in Ojai, an agricultural community about 80 miles north of Los Angeles. They were passionate about the farmers and the food they grew and wanted to share that with the world.
Saveur said Edible Ojai “might very well be a model for regional food-themed publications everywhere.” The magazine’s nod sparked an overwhelming response—over 400 inquiries in the first week alone. That’s when Ryder and Topalian saw an opportunity to expand their mission beyond Ojai.
The duo soon set their sights on Cape Cod, a place where Ryder spent her summers growing up. By launching Edible Cape Cod, they proved the concept could work anywhere, paving the way for an ever-growing network of Edible publications. What started in Ojai soon expanded across the country and beyond, with more than 80 regional editions now in places like Boston, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Alaska.
In Washington, DC, the story of Edible began back in 2015. A team that included Union Market curator Richie Brandenburg, publisher Susan Able, and award-winning photographer Jennifer Chase brought Edible DC to life with a clear mission: to tell the story of food in a city full of diverse cultures and rich culinary traditions. For six years, Edible DC documented the rise of local chefs, food producers, and community initiatives until the pandemic forced the magazine to pause its print publication.
When the license for the DC region became available last year, James Whitman, a longtime fan of the magazine, didn’t hesitate. He took the reins, reviving Edible DC to tell the region’s food stories once again.
“Too much of the media we consume is fleeting or little more than marketing copy,” says Whitman, “but with Edible DC, we’re able to take a step back and focus on the people and the places that make the food scene so special. It’s important to have a print publication that connects readers to the region’s food culture in a meaningful way.”
For Whitman, it’s not just about hot tables or the latest dining trends. “I’m more interested in the backstory of the chefs, the farmers, and the people behind the food. Their challenges, their triumphs, their journeys. That’s what resonates with readers.”
Ryder agrees, noting that the mission of Edible has always been to support local farmers and the food communities they nurture. “If you asked me what the core of Edible is, I would still say it’s about supporting American farmers. That’s the heart of it.”
As Whitman, Ryder, and Topalian reflect on how far the Edible movement has come, they continue to prioritize the sense of community and collaboration that defines the network. “We’re all in the same business,” says Ryder. “We’re not competitors; we’re collaborators. The biggest benefit of this network is that we all want to see each other succeed.”
For Whitman, the success of Edible DC is about creating a publication that connects the community, celebrates local food culture, and tells the stories that matter. “That’s why we do this. People love the magazine and are excited that the next issue is coming out. We’re proud of that,” he says.
With Edible magazines thriving across the country, the story that began with a simple newsletter in Ojai has grown into a powerful, interconnected network that celebrates the richness and diversity of local food culture everywhere.
Bill O’Neill writes about local food, healthcare, and culture. He was the lifestyle editor at the Cape Cod Times for almost 10 years, and the paper’s pop music columnist for 12 years.
His work has been featured in the Boston Globe, the London Sunday Times, the Harvard Independent and Edible Cape Cod