By Cheryl Duncan/Roane Newspapers
© 2003 Roane County News All Rights Reserved. Printed In The July 26, 2004 Editon
Could Harriman be the ""Polk Salad"" capital of East Tennessee? 
David Webb and his daughter, Debbie, believe the side dish from the past could pave the way for the future of the town that temperance built.
That's why they are spearheading the Tennessee "Polk Salad" Association, a group formed and based in Harriman to educate the public about the safe and proper method of preparing the leafy wild plant as a nutritious food source.
"We looked it up on the Internet, and there wasn't another one in the state," said David Webb, owner of Rocky Top General Store in Harriman.
Actually, Gainesboro, in Middle Tennessee, has an annual "poke sallet" festival.
The Webbs opted for the alternative spelling to match the title of the Elvis Presley song, ""Polk Salad" Annie."
Poke - or pokeweed - is a tall, berry-bearing annual that grows in Tennessee and other southern states.
In its tender, young state, the plant's leafy parts can be prepared in methods similar to cooking spinach or greens.
In the case of poke, this usually involves boiling and at least two changes of water.
Emeril Lagasse of The Food Network's "Emeril Live!" even has a poke salad recipe, which can be found on the Tennessee "Polk Salad" Association Web site at www.polksalad.cjb.net.
"After it gets over 7 inches long, it becomes poisonous to humans, and the berries are poisonous to humans," Debbie Webb pointed out.
David Webb, for whom the David Webb Riverfront Park is named, originally thought of the polk-salad idea as a promotion for his store. It's a place he describes as a mercantile offering "old-timey" wares ranging from cast-iron skillets to chicken wire.
The "Polk Salad" Association had its inaugural event during Harriman's downtown Cruisin' 2004 classic car show on May 8.
Priscilla Martin of Rockwood was tapped to be the first Miss Tennessee "Polk Salad". She'll serve as an ambassador for Harriman and the promotion of "Polk Salad" and its safe preparation.
Martin most recently took part in the July Cruisin' event, where state Sen. Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg, presented her and the Webbs with a certificate proclaiming Martin as Tennessee's first Miss "Polk Salad".
"Next year, we're hoping for it to be a pageant or contest," Debbie Webb said. "We're trying to get pageant rules so we can have it during the first car show in 2005."
That show, tentatively set for April 9, will allow the Tennessee "Polk Salad" Association to offer the public a taste of their product.
"Polk Salad" samples were available during the May 8 Cruisin', and the earlier date will give the association two opportunities to sell prepared poke dishes at the car shows. Proceeds from will benefit the Riverfront Park's effort to purchase and install playground equipment for handicapped children.
Though the Labor Day Street Festival falls too late for prime "Polk Salad" eating, the Webbs intend to spotlight the project during the September event.
"We're trying to get people to send in any folklore or recipes for "Polk Salad"," Debbie Webb said. "We're going to post them on the "Polk Salad" Association's Web site."
Folklore and recipes may be sent to rockytopgeneralstore@comcast.net or mailed to the Tennessee "Polk Salad" Association, P.O. Box 1006, Harriman, TN 37748.