Happy Thanksgiving!
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As the Thanksgiving holiday nears, we hope you consider bringing foods to your plate that are locally grown or produced. Many of our holidays have become so commercialized that we forget why they were originally created, but Thanksgiving was created to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for all we have. We're thankful you're part of Slow Food USA.
| Write Congress: Children Deserve Real Food at School
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We've entered the next phase of our campaign to help schools serve healthy, nourishing, freshly cooked food. Slow Food chapter leaders and local organizers are working to get thousands of letters — especially letters from kids — sent to legislators' district offices before February, when Congress is expected to begin debating the funding and standards for school meal programs. So far, our network has sent more than 1,800 letters to legislators. You an get involved by writing a letter, or — even better — by organizing a local letter-writing campaign. Our web site has tips and talking points to help you.
| Policy Update: Senate Hearing on Child Nutrition
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This past week, the Senate Agriculture Committee held its first hearing about school meal programs. Sen. Blanche Lincoln opened by saying, "We must take steps to provide foods that nourish and promote the development of our children, not just fill their stomachs." She and other Senators acknowledged the need for more funding, as well as the educational and economic value of farm to school programs. It's clear that the national push to improve school food has reached Congress — now's the time to step up our support for these priorities.
Also worth noting: the Institute of Medicine's recent report recommending tht the USDA help schools include more fruits and vegetables and fewer calories in school meals. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has commended the report.
| | Celebrating 20 Years on Terra Madre Day |
![]() Preparations are underway for the worldwide celebration of Slow Food's 20th anniversary on Terra Madre Day on Dec. 10. Hundreds of events are occurring around the date representing a wide range of actions as diverse and unique as the communities holding them, from a shared dinner under an elephant at the Toulouse
Natural history museum in France, to a community folk festival
in Bangladesh, to an event linking chefs with artisan farmers
in Kenya. In the U.S., there are several events including a "Tuna Canning Party" by Slow Food Fourth Corner in Bellingham, Washington, a "Meet the Farmer" dinner put on by Slow Food Northern Ohio, and a "Local Foods Potluck" spearheaded by Slow Food Grinnell in Iowa. | |
Over The Rainbeau to Benefit Slow Food USA
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![]() In the book, Over the Rainbeau, Lisa Schwartz conveys the challenges of her journey from tending a pair of goats to building a multifaceted sustainable farm in the New York City suburbs and becoming an award-winning cheese maker. For a limited time, Slow Food USA will receive $5 from every book sold online when you enter the code "SFUSA" at the time of purchase (order here). The book captures the essence of why a small viable farm is important to not just our health and the health of the environment, but also for the community it creates.
| | "The Botany of Desire" DVD Winners |
In late October, "The Botany of Desire" aired on PBS, and the RAFT alliance partnered with the producers to put on an Heirloom Apple Scavenger Hunt. Participants took
photos of as many old-timey varieties as they could. From the many entries, nine winners were chosen to receive a free DVD of the documentary. Click here to check out a preview of the documentary and read the complete list of winners.
| Tools of the Trade Charity Auction
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Looking to take the collectibles market beyond signed baseballs and celebrity memorability this holiday season? Consider checking out a creative fund-raising event called "Tools of the Trade," an online charity auction on eBay sponsored by Slow Food NYC. Several leading chefs have brought their own flavor of memorabilia to the auction. The first phase is Nov. 18-28 and the second phase runs from Dec. 1-10. Check out the auction at stores.ebay.com/SlowFoodNYC. Proceeds benefit Slow Food NYC's Harvest Time in Schools program.
| Read the November Slow Food & Terra Madre
e-newsletter from Slow Food International
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![]() Food is a common language and universal right. Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat food that is good for them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet. In essence, food that is good, clean and fair. For more information, visit www.slowfoodusa.org.
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November 2009
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Welcome!
If you just joined Slow Food
USA or are a long-term supporter to our efforts, FOOD CHAIN is our
monthly e-newsletter detailing news and information about our programs,
initiatives and campaigns. If you would like to learn more or are
interested in advertising, please contact us at food...@slowfoodusa.org. For more information, go to our web site at www.slowfoodusa.org.
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Upcoming Events
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| ![]() | Just for Farmers
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Scholarships to EcoFarm Conference Available
The Ecological Farming Association is offering scholarships for beginning farmers to attend EcoFarm 2010. To be considered a beginning farmer, you need to be currently farming and have been for 10 years or less. Applications are due by Nov. 30, 2009.
Farm Financial Workshop Available Online
The Center for Farm Financial Management has created an online video workshop series to help ag producers (and anyone who works with them) understand and use the 4 major financial statements and the 21 financial measures recommended by the Farm Financial Standards Council. Click here for more information.
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Do you have an event or fund-raiser that would interest Slow Food USA members and supporters?
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