Slow Food Nation’s Sustainable Movement Strolls into San Francisco This Weekend
by Alex Smith, San Francisco, California on 08.28.08
Slow Food Movement Moves Into San Francisco
This weekend, the slow food gospel will wind its way through San Francisco’s streets mixing two city favorites, social justice and local eats. An event expected to draw 50,000 people, Slow Food Nation will speak to more than just those seeking a taste of great local cheese or a nugget of mind blowing chocolate. The Slow Food movement is about connecting us to our plates. It asks us to think about where our food is grown, who picks it, what resources it uses and what food system structures it is subject to.
Slow Food Nation will bring local, eco-friendly, mindfully made and fairly picked foods to engage San Francisco in the politics of eating.. Berkeley-based Slow Food Nation founder Alice Waters said at a recent talk at the city’s Commonwealth Club:
“When we eat fast food, we are eating the values of that fast food. And its telling us that food should be cheap. And its telling us that advertising confers value, and that standardization is more important than quality, and that kitchen work is drudgery. This is what is being said. We’re eating those ideas, those values. So we have to come to Slow Food values, and we have to understand that food is something very precious, not something that [comes] after the Nike shoes, the cell phones and the cars and whatever else we decide we’re going to spend our money on. It should be way up there [in our values]. And we either pay up front, or we pay [later].”
Via:: Mediafly
See how Slow Food Nation is bringing West Coasters back in touch with their plates below the fold.
Slow Food Nation Events
Slow Food Nation will host a variety of events. A Taste Pavilion, an architectural work of slow design, will feature artisan cheeses, delectable olive oil, fairly picked foods and even native foods served in a Native woven tule hut made from California grasses. The pavilion will also feature food workshops and cooking demos.
Closer to the city’s center there will be lectures, and tours of the Victory Garden, a section in front of City Hall that has been converted into a huge edible garden. The Victory Garden has been producing about a hundred pounds of fresh food a week, a bounty then delivered to local food banks. A Soap Box will provide a space for farmers, food producers and other “intellectuals of the Earth” as Slow Food dubs them, to speak about food issues to a local audience. There will also be hikes, art exhibits, farm tours, films, slow street food, and even a concert.
At the end of the event, Waters and other Slow Food leaders plan to deliver a political demand to Congress asking for a revolution of the current food systems. Maybe other festival goers, converted one stomach at a time, will join them in the march for change.
More on Slow Food
Slow Food Down the Road
NYC Slow Food
Slow Cooking
More on the Slow Movement
Seven Slow Movements
Slow Fashion
Slow Freight
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Yeah, we tried this concept once. It really sucked and that's why our grandparents ditched it. It'd be nice if people would not dig about the scrap heap of history for ideas on how to improve the planet.
I wish I could go to this, it sounds like fun. Hope it comes to Portland someday.
We will now get all the comments on how slow food costs more... like hard work does not deserve to be paid for.
Interestingly enough I can now sell my eggs for less then they cost in the Market because of the rising food prices. Organic eggs cost about $4 to $6 in the store, and I am getting $3 per dozen at work. These eggs are from uncaged chickens that get to go out side. About 1/3 of thier diet is grass and bugs.
People eat better and my chickens get fed, I get pocket change. An almost perfect circle.
I was lucky to get to go to this event. It was an amazing experience. Full of high spirits, curious onlookers and good, good food. Met the growers and farmers of many of the products, including chocolate, olive oil, cheeses, organic vodka & tequila & gin, organic wine, micro-brews i've never heard of but loved to drink, pickeled veggies and so, so, much more! a wonderful sense-laden, tummy fillin' and spirit raising experience.
It was the US event of the year. I hope to see you there next year.