Final Collaborative Research Project
The Slow Food Movement
Introduction:
Below is an exploration of the Slow Food Movement. Just about every person in America is familiar with the term "fast food", but what about slow food? Many people are content with the convenience of supermarkets, so they don't bother to travel the extra distance to visit farmers markets. These farmers markets are one of the main sources of slow food. Throughout this page, we explain to readers what the Slow Food Movement is and how it got started. We also explore the price differences between fast food and slow food. People do not realize they can save money and eat healthier, mostly pesticide free foods. This movement is encouraging people to get educated and get involved. Take time to learn about the Slow Food movement just as we did and you, too, can learn how to get involved. This collaborative research project has allowed us to explore the Slow Food Movement more in depth. After reading through our project, you will be able to decide for yourself: Is Slow Food the wiser choice?
Below is an exploration of the Slow Food Movement. Just about every person in America is familiar with the term "fast food", but what about slow food? Many people are content with the convenience of supermarkets, so they don't bother to travel the extra distance to visit farmers markets. These farmers markets are one of the main sources of slow food. Throughout this page, we explain to readers what the Slow Food Movement is and how it got started. We also explore the price differences between fast food and slow food. People do not realize they can save money and eat healthier, mostly pesticide free foods. This movement is encouraging people to get educated and get involved. Take time to learn about the Slow Food movement just as we did and you, too, can learn how to get involved. This collaborative research project has allowed us to explore the Slow Food Movement more in depth. After reading through our project, you will be able to decide for yourself: Is Slow Food the wiser choice?
What is the Slow Food Movement?
Their Philosophy:
“Slow Food stands at the crossroads of ecology and gastronomy, ethics and pleasure. It opposes the standardization of taste and culture, and the unrestrained power of the food industry multinationals and industrial agriculture. We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to the pleasure of good food and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our association believes in the concept of neo-gastronomy - recognition of the strong connections between plate, planet, people and culture.”
Slow Food is a non-profit, worldwide organization with members in over 100 nations. They work to promote the way food is grown and dispersed. Their motto is “Good, Clean, Fair.” By “good”, they mean it is derived from healthy, free-range plants and animals. “Clean” means that it is not harmful to our bodies or the environment. They harvest the food in such a way that it in turn has a positive effect on the local ecosystems. “Fair” is their thought that food should be available to everyone, no matter their social class.
The Slow Food Organization has about 200 chapters in the United States alone (about 1,300 worldwide). Local chapters sponsor and take part in many events promoting healthy, local food. Some of the activities the United States chapters take part in are promoting awareness, protecting and caring for the land and advocating for farmers to produce healthy food for their communities.
Their Philosophy:
“Slow Food stands at the crossroads of ecology and gastronomy, ethics and pleasure. It opposes the standardization of taste and culture, and the unrestrained power of the food industry multinationals and industrial agriculture. We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to the pleasure of good food and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our association believes in the concept of neo-gastronomy - recognition of the strong connections between plate, planet, people and culture.”
Slow Food is a non-profit, worldwide organization with members in over 100 nations. They work to promote the way food is grown and dispersed. Their motto is “Good, Clean, Fair.” By “good”, they mean it is derived from healthy, free-range plants and animals. “Clean” means that it is not harmful to our bodies or the environment. They harvest the food in such a way that it in turn has a positive effect on the local ecosystems. “Fair” is their thought that food should be available to everyone, no matter their social class.
The Slow Food Organization has about 200 chapters in the United States alone (about 1,300 worldwide). Local chapters sponsor and take part in many events promoting healthy, local food. Some of the activities the United States chapters take part in are promoting awareness, protecting and caring for the land and advocating for farmers to produce healthy food for their communities.
When and how did it start?
The Slow Food Movement, headquartered in Piedmont, Italy, began in 1986. It began when McDonalds opened a new location in Rome that same year. The thought of a fast food restaurant in a country that understands the importance of a home cooked meal made Carlo Petrini sick. When this McDonalds location opened, Carlo Petrini started the Slow Food Movement.
Petrini was determined to demonstrate that, as consumers, we have a choice when it comes to food and wine and that there is no need to settle for unhealthy food from fast food restaurants. He wanted to show consumers that we can take the time to enjoy the pleasures of food and that this healthy, wholesome food is essential to our happiness and health. He planned to use this movement to promote an alternative to fast food and to preserve traditional and regional cuisine. He encouraged the farming of plants, seeds, and livestock.
Since the movement began in 1986, over 100,000 members have joined in 132 countries. They promote local small businesses and encourage people to learn about organic and unprocessed food to embrace a natural living lifestyle.
The Slow Food Movement, headquartered in Piedmont, Italy, began in 1986. It began when McDonalds opened a new location in Rome that same year. The thought of a fast food restaurant in a country that understands the importance of a home cooked meal made Carlo Petrini sick. When this McDonalds location opened, Carlo Petrini started the Slow Food Movement.
Petrini was determined to demonstrate that, as consumers, we have a choice when it comes to food and wine and that there is no need to settle for unhealthy food from fast food restaurants. He wanted to show consumers that we can take the time to enjoy the pleasures of food and that this healthy, wholesome food is essential to our happiness and health. He planned to use this movement to promote an alternative to fast food and to preserve traditional and regional cuisine. He encouraged the farming of plants, seeds, and livestock.
Since the movement began in 1986, over 100,000 members have joined in 132 countries. They promote local small businesses and encourage people to learn about organic and unprocessed food to embrace a natural living lifestyle.
Price Comparisons:
Farmers Market:
Broccoli x 4 ($2.50 for 2) $5.00
Yams 1kg ($5 for 2 x 500gm) $5.00
Cauliflower ($2.50 per head) $2.50
Free range eggs 6 doz ($8 tray) $16.00
Celery x 1(small bunch $2.50) $2.50
Spring onions x 1 (bunch $1.50) $1.50
Baby carrots 300gm ($3.00) $1.50
Granny smith apples 5kg ($7) $7.00
Bacon freerange 250gm $9.50
Spinach 1 x bag ($2.50) $2.50
Total: $53.00
Broccoli x 4 ($2.50 for 2) $5.00
Yams 1kg ($5 for 2 x 500gm) $5.00
Cauliflower ($2.50 per head) $2.50
Free range eggs 6 doz ($8 tray) $16.00
Celery x 1(small bunch $2.50) $2.50
Spring onions x 1 (bunch $1.50) $1.50
Baby carrots 300gm ($3.00) $1.50
Granny smith apples 5kg ($7) $7.00
Bacon freerange 250gm $9.50
Spinach 1 x bag ($2.50) $2.50
Total: $53.00
Supermarket:
Broccoli x 4 ($2.00 ea) $8.00
Yams 1kg ($6.98 per kg) $7.00
Cauliflower ($2.59 per head) $2.60
Free range eggs 6 doz ($7.65) $45.90
Celery x 1 half bunch ($1.89) $1.90
Spring onions x 1 ($1.98) $2.00
Baby carrots 300gm ($4.48) $4.50
Granny smith apples ($3.48kg) $17.40
Bacon farmed 250gm $8.99
Spinach 1 x bag ($5.00) $5.00
Total: $103.30
Broccoli x 4 ($2.00 ea) $8.00
Yams 1kg ($6.98 per kg) $7.00
Cauliflower ($2.59 per head) $2.60
Free range eggs 6 doz ($7.65) $45.90
Celery x 1 half bunch ($1.89) $1.90
Spring onions x 1 ($1.98) $2.00
Baby carrots 300gm ($4.48) $4.50
Granny smith apples ($3.48kg) $17.40
Bacon farmed 250gm $8.99
Spinach 1 x bag ($5.00) $5.00
Total: $103.30
Price Comparison of Individual Items:
Farmers Market:
Beets: $2.50 per bunch (including greens)
Spinach: $2.50 (plastic grocery bag full)
Brussel Sprouts: $2.00 per pound
Romaine Lettuce: $2.00 per head
Sweet Potatoes: $2.00 for three large
Red Potatoes: $3.00 per pound
Vidalia Onion: $1.00 for a large
Roma Tomatoes: $2.00 for basket of six
Cantaloupe: $3.00
Cubanelle Peppers: $2.00 for three
Spring Onions: $2.00 per bunch
Radishes: $1.50 per bunch (with greens)
Beets: $2.50 per bunch (including greens)
Spinach: $2.50 (plastic grocery bag full)
Brussel Sprouts: $2.00 per pound
Romaine Lettuce: $2.00 per head
Sweet Potatoes: $2.00 for three large
Red Potatoes: $3.00 per pound
Vidalia Onion: $1.00 for a large
Roma Tomatoes: $2.00 for basket of six
Cantaloupe: $3.00
Cubanelle Peppers: $2.00 for three
Spring Onions: $2.00 per bunch
Radishes: $1.50 per bunch (with greens)
Supermarket:
Beets: $5.00 for two beets
Spinach: $3.29 for a salad bag full
Brussel Sprouts: $3.26 per pound
Romaine Lettuce: $3.99 for three hearts
Sweet Potatoes: $0.99 per pound
Red Potatoes: $4.00 per pound
Vidalia Onion: $1.29 per pound
Roma Tomatoes: $2.00 per pound
Cantaloupe: $3.49
Cubanelle Peppers: $2.99 per pound
Spring Onions (scallions): $0.99 for twelve
Radishes: not found in supermarket
Beets: $5.00 for two beets
Spinach: $3.29 for a salad bag full
Brussel Sprouts: $3.26 per pound
Romaine Lettuce: $3.99 for three hearts
Sweet Potatoes: $0.99 per pound
Red Potatoes: $4.00 per pound
Vidalia Onion: $1.29 per pound
Roma Tomatoes: $2.00 per pound
Cantaloupe: $3.49
Cubanelle Peppers: $2.99 per pound
Spring Onions (scallions): $0.99 for twelve
Radishes: not found in supermarket
Fast Food vs. Slow Food:
From the numbers above, it seems like choosing to buy fresh food from farmers markets is easy on the wallet. So why do so many people still grab a Big Mac and a large fry for lunch? There are several answers, most of them being tied to convenience, time and location. In this day and age, speed and convenience is a dominant factor in almost all aspects of our lives. We want more free time, more moments for fun and relaxation. Chowing down on processed food from fast food chains is a common result of this lifestyle, but in the end, it may not be all that it's cracked up to be.
Fast Food figures (from The Ecologist)
$110 billion - US expenditure per year on fast food – more than is spent on higher education
90% - of the money Americans spend on food is used to buy processed foods
$1.4 billion - value of US artificial flavouring industry
70,000 - number of Dactylopius insects needed to produce a pound of carmine (used to make processed food pink, red or purple)
49 - number of ingredients in typical artificial strawberry flavouring
25% - of Americans will visit a fast-food restaurant on any given day
25% - of American adults are obese (double the level in 1980)
560 - calories in a Big Mac (recommended daily allowance: 2,000-2,500)
£1.26 billion - spending per year in Britain on burgers; the UK fast food industry as a whole is worth more than £5 billion a year
200 - litres of soft drink consumed on average per year by every British child
$10 million - amount paid by McDonald’s last year to Hindu and vegetarian groups following the revelation that the firm cooked its fries in beef tallow
600 - stores opened in 2002 by McDonald’s (down from 2,000 in 1996)1 million - people who work for McDonald's worldwide, "feeding" 35 million people a day
From the numbers above, it seems like choosing to buy fresh food from farmers markets is easy on the wallet. So why do so many people still grab a Big Mac and a large fry for lunch? There are several answers, most of them being tied to convenience, time and location. In this day and age, speed and convenience is a dominant factor in almost all aspects of our lives. We want more free time, more moments for fun and relaxation. Chowing down on processed food from fast food chains is a common result of this lifestyle, but in the end, it may not be all that it's cracked up to be.
Fast Food figures (from The Ecologist)
$110 billion - US expenditure per year on fast food – more than is spent on higher education
90% - of the money Americans spend on food is used to buy processed foods
$1.4 billion - value of US artificial flavouring industry
70,000 - number of Dactylopius insects needed to produce a pound of carmine (used to make processed food pink, red or purple)
49 - number of ingredients in typical artificial strawberry flavouring
25% - of Americans will visit a fast-food restaurant on any given day
25% - of American adults are obese (double the level in 1980)
560 - calories in a Big Mac (recommended daily allowance: 2,000-2,500)
£1.26 billion - spending per year in Britain on burgers; the UK fast food industry as a whole is worth more than £5 billion a year
200 - litres of soft drink consumed on average per year by every British child
$10 million - amount paid by McDonald’s last year to Hindu and vegetarian groups following the revelation that the firm cooked its fries in beef tallow
600 - stores opened in 2002 by McDonald’s (down from 2,000 in 1996)1 million - people who work for McDonald's worldwide, "feeding" 35 million people a day
Slow food is not about eating healthy. It's not about picking a salad over a cheeseburger. It's not necessarily a push for organic food. The slow food movement is just that - a movement. It is a lifestyle change, a philosophy for life. Those who live the slow food movement believe in the importance of pleasure and free time, just as those who live the fast life do. However, they believe it should be done by truly enjoying the taste of our food - and that means supporting local farms and businesses, keeping toxins out of our bodies, and taking the time to prepare the food that our bodies depend on for nourishment.
I live in New Jersey and I want to get involved! Where are my local Slow Food chapters?
New Jersey has been called the Garden State since 1876. Jersey Wagon Jaunts, a two volume work written by Jersey native Alfred M. Heston, credits a man named Abraham Browning—of Camden—who first used this nickname while visiting the Centennial Expedition in Philadelphia. It was August 24th, 1876. He is quoted as saying, “...compared New Jersey to an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and the New Yorkers from the other.” It is an apt name, to be sure. There are clusters of farmland from Newark to Cape May. State parks dominate almost every county, the foliage fed by a winding Delaware River. In spring, cherry colored blossoms bloom on every other tree.
Where else would one go for authentic Jersey tomatoes or sweet corn? Amish country is less than an hour away and there are over 20 family owned farms in Burlington County alone, most of which offer roadside markets offering a bounty of honey, crabs, vegetables, hot foods, and Jersey produce.
Unfortunately, New Jersey has always been at the butt of jokes. It’s a small state, and through the years it has endured being the “armpit of America” and, more recently, a place for shallow seas and shallower inhabitants (all with fake tans). However, a movement has been sweeping through with goals of keeping the ‘garden’ in Garden State and not only cleaning up people’s pallets, but a tarnished reputation as well.
Slow Food, an international movement founded by Italian Carlo Petrini in 1986, has been turning heads as an alternative to fast food. Slow Food encourages the consumption of healthy and delicious food not just as a form of fuel, but as a window to culture, an exploration of taste, and an exposition about the potential of good, clean, fair food. Chapters exist throughout the entire world, but where better to spread the word than in our own backyard?
There are four notable Slow Food chapters in New Jersey: Princeton, South Jersey Shore, Northern New Jersey, and Central New Jersey.
Slow Food Princeton is run for and by Princeton students. “To savor is to savoir.” As future leaders of business, politics, and law, the students believe that if they grasp importance of local and sustainable food systems, than they will be able to implement the greatest improvements to eating as a young generation. Several events have been hosted both on and off campus, from cheese making in November to oyster tasting in February—all organic, of course. The latest venture, a Slow Food open house in Mediterra restaurant turned out over 200 students. Website: Slow Food Princeton Email: [email protected]
Slow Food South Jersey Shore offers the locations of all nearby Farmers Markets on their website, along with hours and events. CSAs (or community supported agriculture) are native organic farms where one can purchase locally grown and healthy food. The first Saturday of May is the Cape May County Earth Day Fair, at which Slow Food South Jersey Shore will be present with food samples and information, along with music, crafts, eco-shops, and educational exhibits. Journey down to the Cape May Zoo May 7th for a true representation of the Garden state. Website: Slow Food South Jersey Shore Email: [email protected]
Slow Food Northern New Jersey seeks to redefine a “Garden state of mind.” Their mission is to “connect earth friendly farmers, food producers, and chefs with New Jersey palates by spreading awareness and nurturing appreciation of slowing down to enjoy healthy, locally grown food” and “...[residents will] find themselves in a Garden State of Mind. There are a variety of resources available on the website, along with a long list of NJ restaurants that are members of Slow Food USA. Upcoming events include planting gardens in schools and the annual SF Northern NJ meeting of farmers, activists, and the community. Website: Slow Food Northern New Jersey Email: [email protected]
Lastly, the Slow Food Central New Jersey division has goals that are much the same as the previous three chapters. They support programs and activities dedicated to taste education, building food communities, and defending biodiversity. They cooperate with Rutgers University as part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, and encourage farmers not only to grow organically but to shun both pesticides and tractors in favor of 100% genuine horse power. Not only that, but they are also dedicated to rediscovery a staple of NJ agriculture: the New Jersey tomato. Website: Slow Food Central New Jersey
Email: [email protected]
Slow Food is moving fast. With so many different venues available it’s hard not to want to get involved. The importance of food is not wasted on followers of the Slow Food movement. It aims to be everything that fast food is not by building of the values of good, clean, and fair. Good food is delicious, aesthetic, and created with care from healthy plants and animals. Clean food is as healthy for the planet as it is for our bodies, grown and harvested to have a positive impact on local ecosystems. Fair food should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and those that produce it are to be treated with dignity. Overall, Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the way people grow food, eat food, and enjoy food. To reconnect with plants, animals, and fertile soils will help create a deeper connection to what people put in their bodies. Food is cultural, worldly, beautiful, festive, colorful, tasty, familiar, and unique. Food is life.
Email: [email protected]
Slow Food is moving fast. With so many different venues available it’s hard not to want to get involved. The importance of food is not wasted on followers of the Slow Food movement. It aims to be everything that fast food is not by building of the values of good, clean, and fair. Good food is delicious, aesthetic, and created with care from healthy plants and animals. Clean food is as healthy for the planet as it is for our bodies, grown and harvested to have a positive impact on local ecosystems. Fair food should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and those that produce it are to be treated with dignity. Overall, Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the way people grow food, eat food, and enjoy food. To reconnect with plants, animals, and fertile soils will help create a deeper connection to what people put in their bodies. Food is cultural, worldly, beautiful, festive, colorful, tasty, familiar, and unique. Food is life.
Afterword:
This project has broaded my knowledge on a movement that I knew nothing about. The Slow Food Movement was very unfamiliar to me so I was interested when we began researching it. We didn't really use any new technologies or research techniques except for Youtube to search for a video that went with our topic but we weren't able to find much that we could use. This project has allowed me to see how beneficial it is to purchase foods at a local farmers market rather than a supermarket. Not only is the quality better, it is cheaper! It seems like a no brainer to me. Sometimes supermarkets are more convenient but consumers should go the extra mile out of their way if it means saving money and living a healthier life. Slow food is a better way of life.
