By: Mary Lou Janson
The worldwide phenomenon known as the Slow Food Movement is quickly taking root in Tampa Bay. Earlier this month, one of the newest chapters of Slow Food USA – and 10th in Florida – held its first event at Studio @ 620 in downtown St. Petersburg.
Hundreds from across the bay area and as far away as Orlando to Sarasota turned out. Some were already Slow Food Movement members; others showed up to find out what slow food stands for, how to get involved and how to support like-minded, local businesses.
The event raised some much needed money for the fledgling chapter but it also demonstrated that there is interest in eating healthy, clean, locally produced food and purchasing from local producers who are willing to grow fruits and vegetables naturally and raise cattle and chickens in a humane way that does not damage or harm the environment.
Supporting local farms and food producers makes economic sense for our community and enables these businesses to grow, prosper and succeed. By relying increasingly on regionally produced foods, we can diminish the carbon footprint created by hauling food long distances.
For consumers, that means seeking sources where foods produced locally are sold, dining at restaurants that support local producers and even going directly to local farms, or farmer’s markets, to purchase what’s currently in season and available.
Beyond individually following a “slow food” inspired lifestyle, this global movement also endorses initiatives such as working with youngsters to teach them food comes, not from a grocery shelf, but from a farm or ranch. That may involve helping children to plant school or community gardens and discover firsthand what it means to nurture food from plant to plate and farm to fork. It could mean offering cooking classes so that youngsters actually make a meal and not just microwave it. This is just one area of interest the Slow Food Movement can have an impact.
Slow food is not about boycotting foods but about celebrating healthy, fresh, locally produced food and financially supporting those who provide “good, clean and fair” food so that they can earn a living, pay fair wages and continue to flourish.
In other words, this is a movement made up of people of all ages, nationalities and lifestyles who care about their food and their environment.
Now that Tampa Bay has joined hundreds of chapters across the U.S. and thousands worldwide, you can help inspire others to become aware, get involved and help create programs and projects to help this message spread and the movement to grow.
The Tampa Bay chapter hosts a general membership meeting and potluck-style gathering on Aug. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the North Dale Mabry campus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.
For more information about this and other upcoming events, register on the web site (www.slowfoodtampabay.org), visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/slowfoodtampabay or email info@slowfoodtampabay.com for membership information and updates.
To become a member of Slow Food USA go to: https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5986/t/7933/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1166.
Lots of projects, get-togethers, field trips and fundraising events are planned. And you can bet they’ll all feature good food.
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Great article Mary Lou. Wishing you continued success with Slow Food Movement.