Marcie Cohen Ferris

About the Author

Marcie Cohen Ferris is a distinguished culinary historian and professor emerita at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she directed the Southern Folklife Collection and taught courses on foodways and Southern culture. With a PhD in American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Ferris has dedicated her career to exploring the profound intersections of food, identity, and history in the American South. Her acclaimed book, The Edible South: The Power of Food and the Making of an American Region, vividly chronicles how cuisine has shaped regional traditions, economies, and social bonds from the antebellum era to the present day. A passionate advocate for sustainable food practices and cultural preservation, Ferris has contributed to numerous publications, documentaries, and public programs, enriching our understanding of how everyday meals tell the story of a nation's soul.