Sustainable and Local Food Organizations

Slow FoodCenter for Environmental Farming Systems NC

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

Presented by: Anne-Marie Scott, PhD, RDDepartment of Nutrition, UNCG

Founded in 1989 by Carlo Petrini and a group of his gastronomic friends in Italy

Formed in response to the despair felt by these men who were offended by the 1986 installation of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps, one of Rome’s most historical landmarks

History of Slow Food…

Slow Food Is About…– pleasure, taste,

knowledge, choice– the enjoyment of food– knowing food origins– supporting biodiversity– uniting as a local food

community and economy– people coming together

on the farm, in the market, and at the table

Food is meant to be tasty, wholesome, capable of satifying all 5 senses and able to evoke a complex set of feelings, memories and identity.

GOOD

the way it’s produced respects the environment, animal welfare and our health

CLEAN

those who produce it should receive

FAIRpayment for their work

• Catalogues foods at risk of disappearing

• Includes over 500 foods from all over the world.

• Small projects designed to offer food producers direct, on-site support

Ark of Taste and Presida Projects

• Collaboration between 7 of our country’s most prominent education, conservation, and food organizations

• RAFT brings American farmers, chefs, conservationists, and consumers together to protect foods and food traditions that are at risk of extinction

Renewing America’s Food Traditions (RAFT)

• Taste Workshops• Producer visits• Classes and conferences • School gardens• Slow Food in Schools

Taste Education

Center for Environmental Farming Systems NC

• Has been funded to ask: What will it take to build a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina?

• Across the state, various organizations are promoting and implementing exciting initiatives to support sustainable local agriculture. Ex: new farmer’s markets, local food policy councils, comprehensive county- food initiatives, farm incubator programs, farm and/or garden youth education programs, health and nutrition projects focused on local sustainable foods, procurement initiatives by large

retail and institutional buyers and schools, and much more.

• If each North Carolinian spent 55 cents/day on local food, it would mean $1.7 billion for the state’s economy. That money circulates here in the state so has a multiplier effect, rather than going to a corporate headquarters in another state.

• Other benefits of a sustainable local food economy in North Carolina include economic development, job creation within farming and food sectors, preservation of open space, decreased use of fossil fuel and associated carbon emissions, preservation and protection of the natural environment, increased consumer access to fresh and nutritious foods, and greater food security for all North Carolinians.

• Our MissionPromote local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating and organizing farmers and consumers.

• Our VisionA regional food system that is good for the farmer, the consumer and the land. CFSA is a membership-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of more than 1,000 farmers, gardeners, consumers and businesses in North and South Carolina. These members are committed to sustainable agriculture and the development of locally-based, organic food systems.

• CFSA was founded in 1979 by a group of farmers, gardeners and consumers to support each other and foster the growth of organic food in the Carolinas. Since then, we've helped define and grow the sustainable agriculture movement in our region.

• CFSA is governed by a diverse 13-member Board of Directors. CFSA operates with staff and through the work of volunteers in our regional Chapters. Chapters develop educational programs, work on local solutions to food system problems, and allow members to network with neighbors committed to healthy food and farms.

How to live the Slow Food way…Education

Learn about Industrial Food Production by reading books or seeing documentary films on food production

After learning about your food supply, decide what is important to you: limiting pesticides, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, ethical treatment of animals, great taste, fair trade, food miles, petrochemical savings, nutritional quality…

Don’t be overwhelmed by the system and the choices – start with knowledge and small choices

Try shifting your focus so that the ingredient label is your first priority

How to live the Slow Food way…• Taste

– Slowly wean yourself off processed foods

– Think tradition – revive old family recipes and foodways

– Think about how your food tastes, make comparisons b/w processed and whole foods

– Take a year to honor your taste and satiety signals – you may be happier and healthier than you ever imagined

How to live the Slow Food way…• Cooking

– Learn to cook or teach someone to cook – use half your home television or computer time for shopping and cooking

– Learn to can and freeze foods – Learn to make processed foods

from scratch; such as pasta, cheeses, soups, ice cream and bread

– Be willing to fail – follow a new recipe exactly and use good recipes from classic cookbooks – then learn to experiment.

How to live the Slow Food way…• Purchasing

– Buy locally produced foods (www.100milediet.org): eggs, butter, vegetables – start with one food per week – see handout

– Eat with the Seasons in Mind– Buy Organic Foods when possible– Buy Pasture Raised Meats (beef and

lamb) and local poultry, eggs and pork that has been raised on real food themselves

– Eat Wild Caught Fish and Shrimp – buy as local as possible

How to live the Slow Food way…• Purchasing

– Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program (see the web site www.localharvest.org for ones in your area)

– Ask dining establishments if local foods are used to create the menu

– Go to your local Farmer’s Market and talk with the farmer’s – ask questions: When was this harvested? What type of fertilizers do you use? Where is your farm located? How long have you been farming? – see handout

Ten Great Reasons to Shop at Your Local Farmer's Market – see handout

Food Tastes Better - Real Flavors

Connect with the Seasons

Support Family Farmers and Local Food Economies

Protects Biodiversity and the Environment

Better Nutrition For You and Your Family

Discover the Spice of Life ~ Variety

Promote Humane Treatment of Animals

Know Where Your Food Comes From

Learn Cooking Tips, Recipes, and Meal Ideas

Connect with Your Community

How to live the Slow Food way…• Gardening

– Support School Gardens and teaching children to grow their own food

– Start your own family or community garden

– Learn how to compost

• Just start by doing one thing at a time and slow down…

www.slowfoodusa.org

Find out more about Slow Food USA and your local NC chapters