Friday, June 5, 2009

Slow Food...Time to Hit the Brakes

We all know
what Fast Food
is...
but do you
know, or have
you forgotten,
about Slow Food?
Slow Food International is an organization
that wants us all to remember our heritage, at least where our food is concerned. Slow Food International came into being decades ago and their reason describes its very necessity best:

"to counteract fast food and fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions and people's dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world".

The organization strives to drive home three main points. The first is a given- your food should taste good. Food should be clean, meaning it should be produced in a manner that does not harm the environment, the welfare of the animal, nor our own health and health of others. Slow Food also believes in Fair. In most circles this is a tough word to find agreement on, but it is a basic belief that at all levels fair compensation should be paid for the work of producing the food. In a lot of countries, indigenous food producers are being forced out by the ability of trade to import less costly, and sometimes, less tasteful and/ or healthful food. Based on these principles, organic is good, but sustainable is even better.


Biodiversity in our food supply is just as important as biodiversity in other areas of science. Every day it is more and more imperative that we save traditional grains, vegetables, fruits, animal breeds, and food products. These traditional varieties are quickly disappearing because of the consumer's choice for convenience which translates into large scale agribusiness. We are saving more than variety- we are literally saving our heritage.

A case in point is the endangered American Paw paw pictured above in its fruit form and in flower. Does its taste come to mind when you see the written word? Probably not, because most Americans have never held one in their hands. Paw paws are our largest edible fruit and have a very tropical flavor tasting like a combination of banana, mango, and pineapple. There are hundreds of foods listed on the United States Ark List and any number of them will cure a case of food boredom. Slow Food means a reawakening and training of our senses. The common phrase "tastes like chicken" is a misnomer. Old rare breeds of chicken have a very distinct and wonderful taste like no other meat source.

A less hurried and less chaotic life begins at the table. Traveling to Italy a few years back really brought this idea home for us. Slow Food was apparent everywhere, from the open markets to the small bistros to the home table in a private setting. Tastebuds encourages everyone to learn more about Slow Food, and we think you will be surprised to find out who is taking on the challenge of bringing the concept into everyday reality. Virginia's Colonial Williamsburg and its Rare Breeds Program is just one place you'll see this in action. They have painstakingly gathered old rare breeds of cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens and they are working to multiply these heritage animals by enticing other farms to include them in their flock. So next time the words "Tastes like chicken!" leave your lips, make sure you mean it tastes delicious!

Photograph of Paw paw fruit courtesy of USDA and flower courtesy of Jaime Robeck who is lucky enough to have one growing in the creek bed near her home.


1 comment:

  1. Time for me to do homework! Thanks for the info -- I'm looking into "Slow Food" today!

    ReplyDelete