0 ITEMS IN CART 
FTFP: BRENTON GOES TO SALONE DEL GUSTO!
09/02/16 — Heydon Hatcher
It’s been a crazy August, and I am more than happy to welcome the fall feelings that September brings. Fall greens are popping up on the farm, and this always generates a collective and cathartic sigh of relief on the farm. Along with the advent of Autumn bringing smiles to our faces… I’ve got big upcoming travel plans that I’m real excited about.
![photo by Scott David Gordon.]()
photo by Scott David Gordon.
I’ve been appointed as a delegate for Slow Food International’s biennial week-long event, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto! I couldn’t be more proud to represent our country at such a notorious event. This conference will take place in Turin, Italy, and I’m beyond excited to travel overseas. Can you believe that I’ve never traveled abroad? Being a farmer doesn’t allow much time to experience firsthand those pockets of the world that jet-setters always talk about. It’s hard to believe that my job as an organic farmer has opened the door to such a global opportunity. Did I mention I’m excited?! I have no idea what to expect, though Daniel in the office, who recently honeymooned in Italy, tells me that I will have the time of my life.
Besides shooting a Carrabba’s commercial on the farm, the extent of my Italian food knowledge is slim to none. Needless to say, I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of Italian food while I’m there. Lucky for me, I’m staying with an Italian host family for the week. Fingers crossed that they have a soft spot for smelly organic farmers. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet people from all over the world who share common interests, namely sustainable agriculture.
![photo by Scott David Gordon.]()
photo by Scott David Gordon.
Founded in 1989, Slow Food International is a grassroots organization that “prevent[s] the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract[s] the rise of fast life and combat[s] people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.” They also believe that EVERYONE should rightfully have access to good, clean, and fair food. More on that here, if you’re interested.
Food not only affects a person’s well-being, but also influences many other larger-scale parts of community life: politics, culture and environment to name a few; and because of this, great change can be brought about through the growth of this movement. After reading these proclamations on their website, I immediately identified with the message.
With a surge in fast food restaurants being established across Europe and a quickening pace of lifestyle, big and daunting changes were on the horizon in the ‘80s. Spearheaded by Carlo Petrini and a group of fellow activists, this passionate troop recognized their style of life being threatening and rallied around the common interest of preserving the slow life, cultural food/lifestyle traditions, and general “gastronomic pleasure”. The organization had small beginnings, but in only two decades, now emcompasses 160 countries with millions of folks uniting behind the message that Slow Food proudly disseminates.
![From Slow Food International site.]()
courtesy of Slow Food International.
Slow Food International hosts a plethora of events. The particular conference that I’ll be attending started in Turin in 1996. Through numerous conferences and forums, the event aims to open up conversation about biodiversity and secure the diverse and rich future of our food. With markets that feature artisans representing all five continents, attendees are able to experience a robust array of worldwide tastes firsthand. Delegates from all over the world are selected to take part in this event. This year there are over 200 representatives from the US.… The elected group ranges from educators and writers to ranchers and farmers (like me!). This event has quickly risen in notoriety over the years, becoming a benchmark in international gastronomic events. Find more information about the event here.
![Transplant sale. Photo by Scott David Gordon.]()
Transplant sale. Photo by Scott David Gordon.
I gotta get back to the farm, but am immensely humbled and inspired to be included in this unparalleled event this month! Arrivederci!
If you want to get involved with Slow Food’s Austin chapter, there are tons of opportunities. They facilitate farm tours, happy hours, slow sessions, and so much more! Check out their website for more information.
photo by Scott David Gordon.
I’ve been appointed as a delegate for Slow Food International’s biennial week-long event, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto! I couldn’t be more proud to represent our country at such a notorious event. This conference will take place in Turin, Italy, and I’m beyond excited to travel overseas. Can you believe that I’ve never traveled abroad? Being a farmer doesn’t allow much time to experience firsthand those pockets of the world that jet-setters always talk about. It’s hard to believe that my job as an organic farmer has opened the door to such a global opportunity. Did I mention I’m excited?! I have no idea what to expect, though Daniel in the office, who recently honeymooned in Italy, tells me that I will have the time of my life.
Besides shooting a Carrabba’s commercial on the farm, the extent of my Italian food knowledge is slim to none. Needless to say, I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of Italian food while I’m there. Lucky for me, I’m staying with an Italian host family for the week. Fingers crossed that they have a soft spot for smelly organic farmers. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet people from all over the world who share common interests, namely sustainable agriculture.
SLOW FOOD INTERNATIONAL
photo by Scott David Gordon.
Founded in 1989, Slow Food International is a grassroots organization that “prevent[s] the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract[s] the rise of fast life and combat[s] people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.” They also believe that EVERYONE should rightfully have access to good, clean, and fair food. More on that here, if you’re interested.
Food not only affects a person’s well-being, but also influences many other larger-scale parts of community life: politics, culture and environment to name a few; and because of this, great change can be brought about through the growth of this movement. After reading these proclamations on their website, I immediately identified with the message.
With a surge in fast food restaurants being established across Europe and a quickening pace of lifestyle, big and daunting changes were on the horizon in the ‘80s. Spearheaded by Carlo Petrini and a group of fellow activists, this passionate troop recognized their style of life being threatening and rallied around the common interest of preserving the slow life, cultural food/lifestyle traditions, and general “gastronomic pleasure”. The organization had small beginnings, but in only two decades, now emcompasses 160 countries with millions of folks uniting behind the message that Slow Food proudly disseminates.
SALONE DEL GUSTO
courtesy of Slow Food International.
Slow Food International hosts a plethora of events. The particular conference that I’ll be attending started in Turin in 1996. Through numerous conferences and forums, the event aims to open up conversation about biodiversity and secure the diverse and rich future of our food. With markets that feature artisans representing all five continents, attendees are able to experience a robust array of worldwide tastes firsthand. Delegates from all over the world are selected to take part in this event. This year there are over 200 representatives from the US.… The elected group ranges from educators and writers to ranchers and farmers (like me!). This event has quickly risen in notoriety over the years, becoming a benchmark in international gastronomic events. Find more information about the event here.
ARK OF TASTE
Another project that Slow Food introduced through their Foundation for Biodiversity that I feel strongly about is Ark of Taste. This is a program that catalogs our outstanding and intricate global heritage of food, bringing attention to traditions from all walks of life that are bordering on extinction. Dedicated to safeguarding heirloom produce, artisanal products, endangered breeds of animals, and an amalgam of many other food genres, the AoT receives nominations from people who are determined to save the tastes, sights, and smells of their hometowns from disappearing forever. At JBG, we have grown some of the produce that is listed in the catalog, some examples being: Sheepnose Pimento, Fish Pepper, and Pequin Peppers, which grow wild on the farm now. Through our transplant sales, we hope to propagate these species so that they are once again more widespread among our community.
Transplant sale. Photo by Scott David Gordon.
I gotta get back to the farm, but am immensely humbled and inspired to be included in this unparalleled event this month! Arrivederci!
If you want to get involved with Slow Food’s Austin chapter, there are tons of opportunities. They facilitate farm tours, happy hours, slow sessions, and so much more! Check out their website for more information.
