I think that it's called the "slow food movement" because it's opposed to fast food and wants to promote family dining and local merchandise.
However, I suspect that it's called the slow food movement because every item you put in your shopping basket becomes an exercise in moral dithering: Raised nearby conventional produce or two-states-away organic produce? I know "conventional close by" produce should win, but what if it's something like carrots or potatoes, where you can really taste a difference? Also, what about the people who don't have the luxury of paying extra for the local/organic save-the-planet option?
Fortunately, the area around Northern Clime has a lot of organic farms, some going back generations and some (to judge the age of the proprietors) dating back the early 1970s when people moved here and decided not to (or forgot to) leave. It also has farms with a lot of beans and wheat. At the farmer's market on Saturday, I could purchase the following--all organic, all local--without any dithering at all: several varieties of goat cheese (served at local restaurants for much fancier prices), tomatoes, round green squash, tomatoes, corn, crookneck squash, basil, English peas, small potatoes (purple, red, gold), raspberries, cherries, and, yes, beef for other members of the family. And the best part is that all the vendors had those WIC/Senior Citizens signs to accept food stamps or whatever.
And one more stop on the slow food tour: picking up a metal (ceramic inside) Sigg water bottle so that I can carry water from the Brita pitcher at home instead of buying plastic bottles of the stuff.
These are small steps, but at least they're something.
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Between the looming threat of peak oil changing the way we distribute food in this country, the sometimes-sinister practices of Big Food, and the environmental impact of buying locally, I think it's absolutely crucial that we support as many local farmers as we can, because before long, we're likely going to be relying on them a lot more than we do now.
BTW, you still have cherries and English peas? ours were gone over a month ago. Can I come to you farmer's market next week?
I think so too, Horace, which is why I'm trying my best to do this.
We're pretty far north here in Northern Clime, so that may be why. Last week was the last week for the peas, sadly (they are my favorite food).
P. S. Yes, you're welcome to come to our farmer's market! I'm looking forward to it this Saturday.
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