Division I regional track finals
Fenwick graduation 2012
Ponitz graduation 2012
Compiled by "Smart Mouth" columnist Amelia Robinson, Seen and Overheard is fueled by juicy tidbits, oddball tales and strange sightings.
Home > Blogs > Seen and Overheard > Archives > 2011 > November > 18 > Entry
Fake turkey inventor has local roots
Proving all roads pass through Ohio, the man who gave the world meatless turkey spent a spell in Yellow Springs and went to college in Springfield.
Seth Tibbott, the inventor of Tofurky said his life was forever changed when he left his hometown of Chevy Chase, Md. to study education at Wittenberg University in 1969.
He became a vegetarian for ethical, environmental and health reasons after reading Francis Moore Lappe’s “Diet For A Small Planet” in 1971.
The 1974 Wittenberg grad trained to be a naturalist at Glen Helen Ecology Institute. He taught outdoors education in Yellow Springs and later in Adams County from 1973 until 1980.
“I’ve got history in Ohio,” Tibbott said. “It is near to my heart.”
He also taught school for a short time in Fairfield.
Tibbott founded Turtle Island Foods in Forest Grove, OR. in 1980 using $2,500 from his career as teacher and naturalist. Tofurky is its best known product.
Tibbott introduced the turkey alternative - a blend of wheat protein and organic tofu - in 1995 so that vegetarian could easily share in “the magic of Turkey Day.” About 500 fake birds sold that year.
The company expects to sell about 350,000 this holiday season.
The label is the country’s second-largest brand of refrigerated and frozen meat alternatives and is sold in several stores, including Kroger and Trader Joe’s. Tibbott said it will be available in Meijer next year.
Tibbott’s company has grown by leaps and bounds since its start.
It makes several soy-based products, including meatless sausage, bacon and deli slices. Turtle Island Foods is building a $10 million, solar powered food processing plant in Oregon, Tibbott said.
What do you think?
Seen & Overheard runs in the Dayton Daily News. Twitter with me at DDNSmartmouth. Have an item for Seen and Overheard? Click here.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Good to Know
Tweet
Comments
By Irishguy
November 18, 2011 2:40 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a great American success story. He found a need in the market, made a good product to meet that need. Another example of capitalism at it’s finest!
By LibraryLady
November 18, 2011 3:00 PM | Link to this
I’m vegan and I love Tofurky roast and Italian sausage. They’re not ‘meat,’ but they’re a decent substitute for vegetarians. Good to hear that Tofurky products will be in Meijer stores next year.
By CatlynL
November 19, 2011 12:56 AM | Link to this
Tofurky is such an amazing company! I’m a vegan and I will be having their amazing products at my dinner this year! :-)
By What?..wait?
November 19, 2011 9:07 AM | Link to this
They’re ‘Vegans”….but……praising Tofurky…”they’re a decent substitute for vegetarians.” If your’re a vegetarian, why do you need something to substitute the taste of meat? Meat is horrible/nasty according to you, and your elitist (“You’ll be forced to forego meat when we are in charge”) mantra. Looks like you can have your cake and eat it too. Hypocrites. It’s not nice when someone takes you to task, is it, you food totalitarians?
By The voice of reason
November 19, 2011 12:53 PM | Link to this
I’ve never heard of Tofurky. Does it taste good? Is it cheaper than turkey?
By Another local success story
November 19, 2011 5:02 PM | Link to this
Dayton should be proud of another local success story: TOCRACKY!!! It’s a vegan crack substitute that’s just as good as regular crack, and currently being sold in Dayton’s finer slums and ghettos. A vegan Meth product called TOMETHY is in the works, and will be test-marketed is downtown Dayton in coming months. GO DAYTON!!! GO DAYTON!!
By mojo
November 23, 2011 9:27 AM | Link to this
Awesome Mr. Tibbott, thanks for adding to Dayton’s history of innovation. I’m not a vegetarian but I’ve eaten Tofurkey and I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and consistency. Give it a try everybody!