SLOW SLOW FOODFOOD

by Olga Alemovskayaby Olga Alemovskaya

What is Slow Food?What is Slow Food?

Slow Food Slow Food programsprograms

Good, Clean and Fair Good, Clean and Fair TheThe Mission Mission of The Slow Food USA of The Slow Food USA

Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.community and the environment.

““Food is a common language and a universal Food is a common language and a universal right. Slow Food USA envisions a world in right. Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat food that is good for which all people can eat food that is good for them, good for the people who grow it and them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet.” good for the planet.”

Good:Good:TThe idea of he idea of goodgood means enjoying delicious food means enjoying delicious food

created with care from healthy plants and animals. The created with care from healthy plants and animals. The pleasures of pleasures of goodgood food can also help to build community food can also help to build community and celebrate culture and regional diversity.and celebrate culture and regional diversity.

Clean:Clean:CCleanlean food food means means nutritious food that is as good for nutritious food that is as good for

the planet as it is for our bodies. It is grown and harvested the planet as it is for our bodies. It is grown and harvested with methods that have a positive impact on our local with methods that have a positive impact on our local ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.ecosystems and promotes biodiversity.

Fair:Fair:FFood is a universal right. Food that is ood is a universal right. Food that is fairfair should be should be

accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.for their labor.

TheThe Mission Mission of The Slow Food USA of The Slow Food USA

””The SThe Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic low Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. and lasting change in the food system. The SF USAThe SF USA reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. our food. The SF USAThe SF USA seek seekss to inspire a to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.””

Slow Food Nation '08Slow Food Nation '08

US Ark of TasteUS Ark of Taste

US Youth Food MovementUS Youth Food Movement

Renewing America’s Renewing America’s Food TraditionsFood Traditions

Slow Food On Campus Slow Food On Campus

Slow Food in Schools Slow Food in Schools ProjectsProjects

TheThe four day long exposition and celebration of food in San four day long exposition and celebration of food in San Francisco. Slow Food Nation is the first-ever American Francisco. Slow Food Nation is the first-ever American collaborative gathering to unite thousands of people in the collaborative gathering to unite thousands of people in the growing sustainable food movement. growing sustainable food movement.

More than 60,000 people attended Slow Food Nation over More than 60,000 people attended Slow Food Nation over Labor Day weekend 2008 in San Francisco, to show their Labor Day weekend 2008 in San Francisco, to show their support for a good, clean and fair food system!  support for a good, clean and fair food system! 

The Ark is an international catalog of foods that The Ark is an international catalog of foods that are threatened by industrial standardization, the are threatened by industrial standardization, the regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental regulations of large-scale distribution and environmental damage. In an effort to cultivate consumer demand—key damage. In an effort to cultivate consumer demand—key to agricultural conservation—only the best tasting to agricultural conservation—only the best tasting endangered foods make it onto the Ark.endangered foods make it onto the Ark.

Since 1996, more than 800 products from over 50 Since 1996, more than 800 products from over 50 countries have been added to the international Ark of countries have been added to the international Ark of Taste.Taste.

To qualify for the US Ark of Taste, food To qualify for the US Ark of Taste, food products must be:products must be:

•Outstanding in terms of tasteOutstanding in terms of taste—as defined in the context —as defined in the context of local traditions and uses of local traditions and uses •At riskAt risk biologically or as culinary traditions biologically or as culinary traditions •Sustainably producedSustainably produced •Culturally or historically linkedCulturally or historically linked to a specific region, to a specific region, locality, ethnicity or traditional production practice locality, ethnicity or traditional production practice •Produced in limited quantitiesProduced in limited quantities, by farms or by small-scale , by farms or by small-scale processing companies processing companies

Product categories include vegetables, fruits and Product categories include vegetables, fruits and berries, nuts, cereals, cheeses, fish, shellfish, game, berries, nuts, cereals, cheeses, fish, shellfish, game, livestock, poultry, beverages, honey, spices, syrups, livestock, poultry, beverages, honey, spices, syrups, vinegars, and more.vinegars, and more.

BeveragesBeverages • Hand Crafted Root Beer Hand Crafted Root Beer • Shrub Shrub • Greenthread tea Greenthread tea

Bread Bread • New Orleans French Bread New Orleans French Bread • Piki Bread Piki Bread

Grains/CerealsGrains/Cereals • RoyRoy’’s Calais flint corn s Calais flint corn • Tuscarora White Corn Tuscarora White Corn • Chicos Chicos • Anishinaabeg Manoomin (Wild Rice)Anishinaabeg Manoomin (Wild Rice)

CheesesCheeses • Creole Cream Cheese Creole Cream Cheese • Dry Monterey Jack CheeseDry Monterey Jack Cheese

Fish & ShellfishFish & Shellfish • Wild Catfish Wild Catfish • Geoduck Geoduck • Cape May Salt OysterCape May Salt Oyster

The Youth Food Movement is a global alliance of The Youth Food Movement is a global alliance of young people working for good, clean, and fair food for all. young people working for good, clean, and fair food for all. The Youth Food Movement provides platforms The Youth Food Movement provides platforms for youth to discuss the themes that are fundamental for for youth to discuss the themes that are fundamental for their future and for the future of food and farming. their future and for the future of food and farming.

The Youth Food Movement was launched in 2007 at The Youth Food Movement was launched in 2007 at the International Slow Food Leader’s Congress in Puebla, the International Slow Food Leader’s Congress in Puebla, Mexico. Mexico.

RAFT is an alliance of food, farming, environmental and RAFT is an alliance of food, farming, environmental and culinary advocates who have joined together to identify, culinary advocates who have joined together to identify, restore and celebrate America’s biologically and culturally restore and celebrate America’s biologically and culturally diverse food traditions through conservation, education, diverse food traditions through conservation, education, promotion and regional networking.promotion and regional networking.

Founded in 2004, the RAFT Alliance brings food producers, Founded in 2004, the RAFT Alliance brings food producers, chefs and consumers together to develop and promote chefs and consumers together to develop and promote conservation strategies, sustainable food production, and conservation strategies, sustainable food production, and awareness of awareness of thethe country's unique and "at risk" foods and country's unique and "at risk" foods and food traditions. food traditions.

AA network of Slow Food chapters at colleges and network of Slow Food chapters at colleges and universities across the country. Run by student universities across the country. Run by student members, Slow Food on Campus chapters engage their members, Slow Food on Campus chapters engage their community and the next generation of Slow Food community and the next generation of Slow Food leaders in creating a good, clean, and fair food system. leaders in creating a good, clean, and fair food system.

Slow Food on Campus members represent a passionate Slow Food on Campus members represent a passionate cross-section of youth addressing food system and food cross-section of youth addressing food system and food justice issues, spanning environmental and social causes. justice issues, spanning environmental and social causes. Through creative and innovative events, projects, and Through creative and innovative events, projects, and programs, these students are leading the Youth Food programs, these students are leading the Youth Food Movement in the United States.Movement in the United States.

Slow Food on Campus Chapters:Slow Food on Campus Chapters:

• Slow Food Art Institute of Pittsburgh Slow Food Art Institute of Pittsburgh • Slow Food Boston UniversitySlow Food Boston University• Slow Food California Culinary Academy Slow Food California Culinary Academy •Slow Food Carleton College Slow Food Carleton College • Slow Food Green Mountain College Slow Food Green Mountain College • Slow Food Hampshire College Slow Food Hampshire College • Slow Food Harvard University Slow Food Harvard University • Slow Food Kapi'olani Community College Slow Food Kapi'olani Community College • Slow Food Le Cordon Bleu - Atlanta Slow Food Le Cordon Bleu - Atlanta • Slow Food New England Culinary Institute – Slow Food New England Culinary Institute – MontpelieMontpelie• Slow Food Princeton Slow Food Princeton • Slow Food Rutgers University Slow Food Rutgers University • Slow Food Sonoma State University Slow Food Sonoma State University • Slow Food University of New Hampshire Slow Food University of New Hampshire • Slow Food University of Wisconsin – Madison Slow Food University of Wisconsin – Madison

•Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona

•Ojai, CaliforniaOjai, California

•Boulder, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado

•Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia

•Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Cultiva! Youth ProjectThe Cultiva! Youth Project AA partnership with Growing Gardens, an education partnership with Growing Gardens, an education

program for young adults that teaches organic gardening program for young adults that teaches organic gardening and the skills needed to sell their produce to the public at the and the skills needed to sell their produce to the public at the Boulder Farmers’ Market. Boulder Farmers’ Market.

Slow Food Boulder sponsors cooking lessons for Slow Food Boulder sponsors cooking lessons for Growing Gardens participants, named Cultiva!, to help Growing Gardens participants, named Cultiva!, to help increase youth knowledge about what they grow and how to increase youth knowledge about what they grow and how to prepare it. prepare it.

Each year, about 100 13-18 year old students Each year, about 100 13-18 year old students participate in numerous activities including planting and participate in numerous activities including planting and harvesting produce at a youth operated organic garden, harvesting produce at a youth operated organic garden, selling that produce at the local farmer’s market, and using selling that produce at the local farmer’s market, and using that produce in monthly cooking classes taught by local that produce in monthly cooking classes taught by local chefs. chefs.

The Edible School Garden/Peace The Edible School Garden/Peace GardenGarden

Regional Governor Julie Shaffer has led this project for Regional Governor Julie Shaffer has led this project for three years at an area private Quaker elementary school. three years at an area private Quaker elementary school.

Each class has their own raised bed where students Each class has their own raised bed where students plant, tend, and harvest low-maintenance vegetables such as plant, tend, and harvest low-maintenance vegetables such as salad greens. Teachers are actively involved. salad greens. Teachers are actively involved.

Activities include harvesting vegetables and making Activities include harvesting vegetables and making salads.salads.

Edible Schoolyard PittsburghEdible Schoolyard PittsburghThe Edible Schoolyard Pittsburgh is designed to The Edible Schoolyard Pittsburgh is designed to

teach sustainable living principles, centered on a school teach sustainable living principles, centered on a school garden and on-site kitchen. garden and on-site kitchen.

The program is intended to be integrated into the The program is intended to be integrated into the day-to-day life of students and used to compliment the day-to-day life of students and used to compliment the current curriculum and enhance the learning process. current curriculum and enhance the learning process.

20 Jay Street, Suite M0420 Jay Street, Suite M04Brooklyn, NY 11201Brooklyn, NY 11201Tel: 718 260-8000 or 877 SlowFoo(d)Tel: 718 260-8000 or 877 SlowFoo(d)Fax: 718 260-8068Fax: 718 260-8068info@slowfoodusa.orgwww.slowfoodusa.orgwww.slowfoodusa.org

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