Three Hollister residents will travel to Turin, Italy later this month to take part in Slow Food’s Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre. These biennial events bring together more than 1,300 passionate people from 130 countries to work toward good, clean and fair food for all.
Attendees have the opportunity to highlight their region’s products, agricultural heritage and strategies for change while networking on a global scale with others who advocate for locally produced, sustainable food.
Ann Fata and Grant Brians of Hollister are two of 12 official Slow Food delegates from the Bay Area.
Fata, a Slow Food San Benito Bounty board member, volunteers her time to teach people of all ages the importance of eating healthy, local food through outreach education.
Salone del Gusto is the world’s largest food fair, which features diverse food by small-scale producers and highlights projects that protect endangered food and food practices.
“I hope to gain a greater understanding of how other areas and countries preserve their appreciation for slow food,” Fata said. “I’m trying to bring back insight for the everyday person, the backyard gardener or home cook. If everyday people make small changes toward supporting local food, we would see a huge shift in our world.”
Brians, Heirloom Organic Gardens owner, sells an array of seeds and produce including varieties form around the world. “I have been interested in going to Terra Madre for quite some time to make more connections about tasty food that will grow here in our wonderful climate,” he said.
Terra Madre is a series of workshops, conferences and classes that address topics including: climate change, population growth, animal welfare, food waste, land grabbing and more.
Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre are jointly hosted because, according to the Slow Food USA website, the thousands of local flavors available at Salone del Gusto give tangible meaning to what is discussed at Terre Madre’s workshops and presentations.
“As a farmer who specializes in growing the unusual and the tasty, Slow Foods in general and this conference in particular seem right up my alley,” Brians said. “I expect to learn about plants that I do not yet grow, more about those I do grow and hope to use them. I also expect to make interesting connections and bring to the attention of the public even more interesting foods.”
Diane Matarangas, owner of Penny Lane Farm, volunteered to attend Terra Madre as a local producer of heirloom tomatoes, veggies and herbs. Matarangas is known as the “Tomato Mama” at local farmers’ markets. “I’m looking forward to networking with other producers like me and promoting backyard gardening on a large scale,” Matarangas said.
As a Slow Food San Benito Bounty member, she volunteers at school gardens and hosts community events to promote the Slow Food cause.
“We represent a region where farm to table is really possible,” Fata said. “While in Italy, I hope to share the fact that we have a variety of locally produced goods like organic produce, dried fruits and nuts, olive oil and wine. This is a destination where people can find quality products and is an untapped market for tourism and agritoursim.”
In 2013, the San Benito County’s agricultural production exceeded $330 million, according to the 2013 Annual Crop Report from the San Benito County Agricultural Commissioner’s office.
Slow Food San Benito Bounty is fundraising to help cover the cost of attendance for their members. To learn more and donate, visit their GoFundMe page.
“Diane and I are excited and look forward to sharing the knowledge we bring back at a winter San Benito Bounty chapter event,” Fata said.
Editor’s note: The author of this article is a Slow Food San Benito Bounty board member.