We’re excited to share that we are developing a one-hour primetime special for Create® as part of the national America 250 programming initiative, and we need your support to bring it to life.
America the Bountiful: Declaration of Food Independence will be hosted by Capri Cafaro, the James Beard Award-nominated creator and host of the critically acclaimed public television series America the Bountiful. For this special, Capri reunites with director and co-creator Jesse Roesler and the Credo Nonfiction team to bring a powerful and engaging story to life.
Slated to premiere in primetime on July 3, 2026, on Create, the special will be paired with an America The Bountiful marathon and made available for PBS affiliates to schedule around key patriotic observances such as Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Juneteenth.
This 60-minute journey explores America’s earliest food stories, traveling through the original 13 colonies to uncover the culinary roots laid by colonial settlers and enslaved people. From the beer and hops brewed in Boston to the garden traditions of Mount Vernon and the foodways of Colonial Williamsburg, Capri connects these historic food practices to the enduring spirit and flavor of America today.
This special builds upon the success of America the Bountiful, the award-nominated public television series now in its second season. Season one of the series achieved 94.78% national carriage, aired on 591 stations across 49 states, and drew nearly 9,000 streams on the PBS app. The series has resonated especially with African American and Hispanic households in major markets and has received multiple nominations from the TASTE Awards and James Beard Foundation.
We believe this special will be a centerpiece for America 250 programming and a meaningful tribute to our shared history, culture, and resilience, told through food.
We are inviting supporters who believe in the power of food to connect us, and in public television’s unique role in telling America’s story, to help us make this production possible.