Slow Food Day

Italy - 26 May 12

Slow Food members across Italy are bringing their message for good, clean and fair food to piazzas in more than 300 villages and cities today, putting the spotlight on their local producers for the second national Slow Food Day. This year, the focus is on the relationship between food and climate change and the positive impact our everyday food choices can have.

“On Slow Food Day we are aiming to help people make better choices by introducing them to quality and sustainable local foods,” said Slow Food Italy President Roberto Burdese. “This year we are also distributing our new guide to eating a “low climate-impact diet” that is tasty and good for the wallet!”

It is estimated that in Europe the whole cycle of food production-processing-distribution-consumption-disposal is responsible for one third of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, opting for local food in season and produced sustainably can have a significant impact.

“We chose the theme climate change and food because, less than a month away from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio, we felt it was the right time to bring such an urgent problem to the attention of citizens,” said Burdese.

From north to south, Slow Food convivia are organizing a wide range of actions to engage their communities. In southern Naples, Slow Food members will be in Piazza Dante handing out small containers of ‘mother dough’ the natural yeast used to make sourdough bread, as well as hosting a local producer market and an ‘alternative’ aperitivo with products from local Presidia. In the far north, three Taste Workshops are being held on Lake Como’s shore to introduce local cheeses, honeys, lake fish and wine to consumers, while in Perugia, in the country’s green center, members are hosting a Slow Food stall in the town market and gathering signatures together with WWF and other groups to stop the ‘cementation of the countryside’.

More information on Slow Food Day and to view all events (in Italian): www.slowfood.it/slowfoodday