Farms, Food and Family

On a sustainability note, today, I attended the local harvest event sponsored by the northern NJ convivium of Slow Food USA.  The theme was "Farms, Food and Family", and folks could purchase seasonal vegetables and fruit, grass-fed and finished beef and pork, poultry, eggs, cheese, breads, teas, and prepared foods from local growers and producers.  Additionally, there were some select, boutique vendors selling artisan chocolates for Valentine's Day (or as an indulgence for anyday!), and my friend, Anne, from Degage Gardens was offering organic eco-handcrafted herbal aromatherapy products for your Valentine.  Also featured were several local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms, so folks could learn how to purchase seasonal farm shares at Genesis Farm, Howling Wolf Farm, and Rogowski Farm. Arthur & Friends, an entrepreneurial training program for adults with disabilities, presented locally grown organic hydroponic greens for sale.

So what is Slow Food?  A little history about the movement:

Slow Food began in Italy by Carlo Petrini with the founding of its forerunner organization, Agricola, in 1986 to resist the opening of a McDonald's near the Spanish Steps in Rome. 

Slow Food is now an international movement.  Promoted as an alternative to fast food, it strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine and encourages farming of plants, seeds and livestock characteristic of the local ecosystem.  The movement has since expanded globally to over 100,000 members in 132 countries.  Its goal is to encourage sustainable foods and promote local small businesses, and is not generally a fan of the globalization of agricultural products.

Check out a convivium (local chapter) near YOU!