Slow Food, founded in 1989 in Italy, is an international food movement with over 100,000 members, whose aim is to protect the pleasures of the table from the homogenization of modern fast food and life. Through a variety of initiatives, it promotes gastronomic culture, develops taste education, conserves agricultural biodiversity and protects traditional foods from extinction.
Slow Food Canada has 32 chapters (called convivia) from coast to coast, with over 1000 members and growing fast.
Increased Canadian and worldwide attention has spotlighted Slow Food Presidia which are set up within the framework of Slow Food's International Ark of Taste. Presidia are practical mechanisms implemented to save endangered foods though direct intervention, technical and infrastructure support, and promotion. Over 286 Presidia successfully operate around the world.
Red Fife wheat is the natural focus of Canada's first Presidium because of its historic significance in the development of Canada's wheat sector and because of its exceptional flavour and near extinction status.
Red Fife wheat was successfully nominated to Canada's Slow Food Ark of Taste in 2003.
Red Fife wheat was one of the 1,250 food communities present at Slow Food's inaugural Terra Madre (Mother Earth) event and biennial Salone del Gusto (Hall of Taste) in Turin, Italy in October 2004. Marc Loiselle was one of the Canadian delegates to Terra Madre, representing the Red Fife Presidium as a farmer. 4888 farmers, fishers, gatherers, breeders, processors, distributors, chefs, ag experts from 130 countries were assembled there to celebrate Slow Food in all it's great diversity. Freshly baked sourdough artisan Red Fife wheat bread was very well received in Italy.
The second edition of Terra Madre, the world meeting of food communities, brought together almost 9,000 people in Turin, October 26-30, 2006: 4,803 farmers, breeders, fishermen and artisan food producers from 1,583 food communities and 150 nations; 953 cooks; 411 professors and representatives from 225 universities; 2,320 observers and guides; 776 volunteers.
The 2006 meeting marked a step forward in building a Global Terra Madre Network, a network of people fueled by face-to-face meetings, exchanges and debates.
The 2006 meeting marked a step forward in building a Global Terra Madre Network, a network of people fueled by face-to-face meetings, exchanges and debates.
We are members of Slow Food.