Current Trends in Appalachian Food

In the last quarter of the twentieth century, Appalachian food changed to include both more commercial food and fine restaurant foods. The fastest fast food in Appalachia is purchased along with gasoline at self-serve stations: drinks, snacks, candies, and sandwiches; fried foods such as potatoes and chicken; and, of course, for the sleepy driver, coffee, both hot and cold. The cookies, beverages, and coffee are brand-name all-American; this is part of the food of Appalachia because it is sold there, but it is not typical of food identified with Appalachia. Packed in plastic, this food is so removed from the farm and garden that for those who grew up long ago, it yields little in the way of personal satisfaction.