Friday, June 11, 2027
Breadfruit in Key West and the World
Discover the fascinating story of the little known breadfruit and its relationship to The Keys
Breadfruit is a tropical fruit tree with a fascinating global history, both dark and heroic. The starchy, nutritious fruit it produces in abundance has fueled two global migrations: one of bold and daring exploration, the other of cruel forced displacement. Today, breadfruit holds new promise as a climate-resilient crop and sustainable food source, simultaneously offering potential solutions for food security, sustainable development, and novel culinary opportunities. Key West has long been the breadfruit capital of the continental United States, and the tree growing on the grounds of the Truman Little White House reminds us of the history of intersections between breadfruit and US Presidents going all the way back to Washington. The Florida Keys are now helping to lead a breadfruit revolution as rising global temperatures make this ancient tree newly relevant in a warming world.
About the author:
Dr. Russell Fielding is a Florida native and an environmental geographer whose research focuses on sustainable food systems in the coastal and island settings of our changing world. A former Fulbright scholar at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Institute of Island Studies, Fielding holds graduate degrees in geography from Louisiana State University and the University of Montana, as well as an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. Fielding is the author of two books: The Wake of the Whale (Harvard University Press, 2018) and Breadfruit (Columbia University Press, 2025), which was a finalist for the 2026 James Beard Foundation book award. He is an Associate Professor at Coastal Carolina University and holds a research position with the Ocean Nexus Program at the University of Rhode Island. More information may be found at russellfielding.com.
His book:
Come hear the author talk about the book as he brings these stories to life and buy a signed copy after the presentation!
This is a free event open to the public!
Breadfruit will be available for sampling.
On the lawn of the beautiful Harry S. Truman Little White House located at 111 Front St.
Gates open at 5:30pm
Presentation begins at 6:00pm. Book signing after the event.
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The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 that serves to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and programming that supports civic engagement, education and the historical and cultural influences of the Truman era. EIN# 75-2979668.
