Slow Food Saving the Food Chain

This spring I studied abroad in Florence and Paris.  From daily farmers markets to sidewalk cafes, I quickly became obsessed with tasting the local Italian and French flavors.  In a European Studies class in Italy we focused on the Slow Food movement, as it originated in Italy.  Carlo Petrini started the movement in 1986 in strong opposition to fast food.

They call their movement 'eco-gastronomy.'  The Slow Food philosophy states, "Slow Food is good, clean and fair food.  We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work."

When my J553 class first discussed our semester-long food chain project, Slow Food is what I first envisioned.  It's philosophy fits hand-in-hand with our class' focus on changes in the food chain that have the potential to positively affect the health of Americans.  Unfortunately, Kansas is one of four states without a Slow Food chapter...

Not only do I support the good, clean and fair motto, but I like the consistency of the Slow Food designs.  While various nation's Web sites differ, the snail (clearly representational of slow) is consistent across the board.