Avery Yale Kamila: Championing Veganism and Maine's Plant-Based History
Avery Yale Kamila is a distinguished American journalist, food writer, and community organizer based in Maine. Recognized by the polling firm YouGov as one of the most popular columnists in the United States, Kamila has dedicated her career to promoting plant-based living and uncovering the deep-rooted history of vegetarianism in New England.
Key Facts
- Profession: Journalist, food writer, and community organizer.
- Education: S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
- Major Project: Founder of the Maine Vegetarian History Project.
- Advocacy: Co-founder of Portland Protectors, which successfully campaigned for a strict pesticide ordinance in Portland, Maine.
- Impact: Influenced Portland Public Schools to implement hot vegan meal options for students.
Early Life and Education
Born in Westminster, Massachusetts, in the 1970s, Kamila grew up on Sunshine Farm, an organic farm in Litchfield, Maine, specializing in pigs and vegetables. This early exposure to agriculture was complemented by her grandfather's dairy farm in a neighboring town. During her time at Oak Hill High School in Wales, she worked as a cashier at Burger King.
Kamila's transition to a vegan diet occurred in 1991 during her freshman year at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, sparked by reading Diet for a New America. She later expanded her academic pursuits, graduating in 1995 from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry with a degree in Environment Policy and Management.
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Journalism and Culinary Influence
Kamila's professional writing career is closely tied to the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram. From 2009 to 2025, she authored the Vegan Kitchen column. Her previous contributions include the Natural Foodie and Vegetarian Kitchen columns, as well as the Society Notebook.
Beyond reporting, Kamila has used her platform to drive systemic change. In 2018, she wrote a column highlighting the lack of vegan options in school meals, which led Portland Public Schools to introduce hot vegan choices. While the move faced some reader opposition, it was endorsed by the district's superintendent and cited by national media as part of a broader trend in school nutrition.
Her culinary expertise is also preserved in the Maine Bicentennial Community Cookbook: 200 Recipes Celebrating Maine's Culinary Past, Present & Future, where she contributed a recipe for pumpkin seed croquettes with shiitake mushroom gravy.
The Maine Vegetarian History Project
In 2020, Kamila launched the Maine Vegetarian History Project, an initiative that uncovered 300 years of plant-based eating in Maine. Her research revealed that vegetarianism has a rich, often ignored past in the state, featuring figures such as Dr. Horace A. Barrows, Rev. Henry Aiken Worcester, and James Gower (the great-great-great-great grandfather of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin).
A significant finding of her research involves the Wabanaki tribal nations. The American Vegan Society noted that Kamila's work identifies nut milk as America's first milk, suggesting that the historical record often masked these proto-vegan traditions. Additionally, Kamila has written extensively on Ellen G. White, a Seventh-day Adventist prophet raised in Maine whose influence on American vegetarianism remains significant today.
In 2023, Kamila presented her findings at The Good Life Center, the former residence of Scott and Helen Nearing, authors of the 1970 bestseller Living the Good Life.
Community Organizing and Environmental Advocacy
Kamila's commitment to the environment extends into grassroots activism. In 2015, she and Maggie Knowles co-founded Portland Protectors. This group advocated for the reduction of synthetic chemicals in the local environment, and in 2017, Kamila spoke at the March for Science in Portland.
The efforts of Portland Protectors culminated in 2018 when the Portland City Council passed a strict pesticide ordinance. This legislation mandates that lawns and gardens within the city be maintained organically.
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Summary of Contributions
| Area | Key Contribution/Achievement |
|---|---|
| Journalism | Long-time columnist for Portland Press Herald (Vegan Kitchen, Natural Foodie). |
| Public Policy | Successfully campaigned for vegan hot lunches in Portland Public Schools. |
| Historical Research | Founded the Maine Vegetarian History Project; documented 300 years of plant-based history. |
| Environmentalism | Co-founded Portland Protectors; helped pass Portland's organic pesticide ordinance. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maine Vegetarian History Project?
It is a research initiative created by Avery Yale Kamila in 2020 to document and uncover the 300-year history of vegetarianism and plant-based eating within the state of Maine.
How did Avery Yale Kamila influence school lunches in Portland?
Through a 2018 column regarding the lack of vegan options, Kamila convinced Portland Public Schools to add hot vegan meal choices for their students.
What was the goal of the Portland Protectors?
Co-founded by Kamila and Maggie Knowles, the group aimed to eliminate synthetic pesticides in Portland, eventually leading the City Council to mandate organic lawns and gardens in 2018.
Who is Ellen G. White in the context of Kamila's work?
Ellen G. White was a Seventh-day Adventist prophet raised in Maine. Kamila has written about her lasting influence on the development of vegetarian food and health in the United States.
What is the "vegan veto vote" mentioned in Kamila's reporting?
Kamila reported on how Maine restaurants use the "vegan veto vote"—the tendency for groups to choose a restaurant that accommodates the vegan member of the party—to maintain business during the winter season.