Maybe you’ve heard the term, “slow food,” but haven’t taken the time to truly understand it. With Thanksgiving, a time of gathering together to share a meal, it seems an ideal occasion to learn more about this movement that celebrates harvesting and enjoying local food together at the table.
According to Slow Food USA, slow food is the antithesis of fast food. It is the practice of slowing down, understanding where food comes from, and enjoying the local bounty. As an organization they “inspire individuals and communities to change the world through food that is good, clean and fair for all.” There are slow food chapters across the nation, including one in Skagit County and one on Whidbey Island. Slow Food Whidbey Island has an active chapter focused on “understanding what the community needs” and how to “better connect the community with local food,” explains president Mervyn Floyd. As a result, the organization hosts cooking classes that involve local farms and farmers, supports the island’s farm-to-school program, and are working to increase agritourism on Whidbey Island.
Kathy Floyd, Mervyn’s wife, facilitates membership in the local chapter and encourages everyone, not just those who live on Whidbey, to get involved. As the only active Slow Food organization in the area, they have a full calendar of events. Slow Food Skagit has an active website full of links to local food, a harvest calendar and recipes.
Visit your local farmers market. Reap the bounty of the abundant farmland that surrounds us. And, bring those you love around the table to slowly enjoy it all together on Thanksgiving.
slowfoodwhidbeyisland.org
slowfoodskagit.org | slowfoodusa.org
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