A Report from the Slow Food USA National Leadership Conference

The Slow Food USA National Leadership Conference was held in New Orleans last week. Northern Ohio chapter co-leader, Mary Beth McCormack attended and shared this reflection on the gathering. We'll be sharing additional updates from the conference in the coming weeks.

A Report from the Slow Food USA National Leadership Conference
May 17 — May 19, 2013, New Orleans

by Mary Beth McCormack, Co-Leader, Slow Food Northern Ohio

Slow Food National Leadership Conference attendees experienced in New Orleans sights of rough grey oyster shells, bright red crayfish, pink shrimp, and amber rye whisky.  We eagerly listened to stories from fishermen, chefs, and educators while sharing our enthusiasm for cultivating food communities and enjoying our own Slow Food community for a few days in the steamy spring weather of New Orleans.

Sustainable fishermen delivered their knowledge and their catch to capture us with stories of work and to revel in the act of sharing.  Grapefruit hand-delivered to Slow Food leaders by the farmer who graced our presence and our minds with stories from his farm and the dedication to his work were part of the experiences of this conference.

Oysters piled high on the first night. Tables teaming with newly caught and cooked crayfish and shrimp. We enjoyed the lush growth of a thriving Edible Schoolyard garden on the second evening.  On the bayou, tamales, honeysuckle vodka, and grapefruits fresh from trees were paired with traditional New Orleans’s drumming and singing. The abundance of food, generosity of farmers, fisherman, chefs, and community of New Orleans enlivened and nourished the sharing of ideas and fueled learning among Slow Food leaders who gathered here to plan for the future.  

The Fruit Hunters

We just learned that the new film, The Fruit Hunters will be screening in Cleveland this week. 

The film will screen as part of the Docurama Festival of non-fiction films at The Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights on May 16 at 7pm & May 18 at 11am. 

Looks like a great movie and one that Slow Food folks will enjoy. We hope to see a few of you there. 

Watch the trailer and learn more about the Docurama Festival and The Fruit Hunters here. 

Cast Your Vote Now for Food and Family=F2

Geauga Family Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program brings fresh, organic, nutrient-rich foods to CSA members and works to inspire the community to include these foods into their weekly diets.  Inspiration occurs within the community too.

Geauga Family Farms has many pickup locations including a new site at Peaceful Catholic Montessori School in Kirtland, Ohio.  Inspired by the concept of Community Supported Agriculture, students at Peaceful Children Catholic Montessori School have developed a business plan called Food and Family= F2 to bring healthy ingredients to family dinner tables. Every Friday, participants in the F2 program receive a shopping bag filled with ingredients for a healthy meal and a game to play with their family. 

Peaceful Catholic Montessori students are busy seeking funding sources to grow this business plan. They are one of three finalists in Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaire’s Club’s “Grow You Own Business Challenge”, a financial literacy program aimed at teaching good financial habits to youth. Nearly 4,000 students from across the country entered the competition this year, and the field has been narrowed to five individual finalists and three team finalists.

“We’re thrilled to see young people taking such an active role to help promote healthier eating habits and we’re inspired to help support them in this nationwide competition,” said Michelle Bandy-Zalatoris, Farmer Representative with Geauga Family Farms about the student’s project.

The Food and Family=F2 students are finalists for a $5,000 prize. And they need your vote!

Please vote for the Food & Family=F2 project now!
Votes may be cast May 6- May 13 at:

http://smclearnandearn.com/content/gyob-online-voting-teams. 

Let’s rally behind these inspiring students who are making Northeast Ohio proud! 

Submitted by Mary Beth McCormack, Co-Leader, Slow Food Northern Ohio

Slow Food + Slow Money

We just received the following dispatch from Abbe Turner, founder of Lucky Penny Creamery in Kent, Ohio. Abbe is attending the Slow Money National Gathering this week in Boulder, Colorado and wanted to share the experience with us. 

Slow Money National Gathering- Boulder, Colorado April 29, 2013

by Abbe Turner, Lucky Penny Creamery

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Carlo Petrini speak at the Slow Money National Gathering at the beautiful Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado. Always charismatic, his remarks were engaging, electric, challenging, and inspiring. 

His keynote address united Slow Food and Slow Money as important institutions charged with leading the efforts to reverse the effects of a broken “criminalized” food system. As we know, the focus of Slow Food is protecting and promoting food that is good, clean and fair; the focus of Slow Money is to bring money “back down to earth” by encouraging investment in food and farm entrepreneurs. The Slow Money network has had a hand in shifting over $24 million into over 190 small food enterprises over the past few years. Lucky Penny Farm and Creamery included.

Petrini spoke of the importance of a new way of doing politics at this historical moment where change really matters and we must show strength in this new economy. Citing the challenges of soil fertility, water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, climate change and landscape destruction, Petrini stated we need to understand the central role that food has as a vehicle for change. 

He went on to say that food is the energy of our lives and for this reason our vision of food must be holistic; respect for nature, love of landscape, music, spirituality, knowledge of family and agricultural traditions, and knowledge of other cultures. “ We must respect food because it is the very essence of life- Food is not just economic and political, it sustains life, and to do this we must return money to the soil. As Americans you do this through reciprocity and the exchange of resources at farmers markets, CSA’s, and more… You have started a revolution with your money!”

Because of important organizations such as Slow Food and Slow Money the opportunity to join this revolution has never been so ripe. The local food scene throughout the world is being invigorated with an entrepreneurial spirit that needs to be supported, rewarded, and nurtured. At Lucky Penny we are proud to be a part of this revolution. Come join us; make change.

Visit Slow Money to learn more.

An Invitation from NEO Foodies

NEO Foodies, a Facebook group for food, wine and beer lovers in Northeast Ohio has cordially invited Slow Food folks to join them at their spring gathering on April 29. 

The event will feature a five-course spring menu prepared by the talented chefs Michael Nowak (The Black Pig) and Adam Lambert (Bar Cento).

Reserve your spot soon as tickets are getting snapped up quickly! 

Visit the Eventbrite page to reserve tickets.  

Hungry for Slow Food Film Premier

Slow Food members and friends are invited to the premier screening of Hungry for Slow Food, a documentary of the adventures of three Case students attending Terra Madre in Turino, Italy, in 2012

When: Thursday, March 28, 2013, 7:00 pm

Where:  Mather Memorial room 125

(enter through the door that faces the small courtyard behind Harkness Chapel)

What:  Movie refreshments, film screening, and convivial conversation about Slow Food

Free and open to the public, but seating is limited so plan to arrive early for a fun evening!

Mark Bittman Chat's with Carlo Petrini

In case you missed it, here's a link to Mark Bittman's interview with Carlo Petrini from the New York Times online, March 26, 2013...

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/slow-food-quickens-the-pace/