thank you,
Corinne Cadon
tel 415 695-5601 (work)
tel 415 821-7762 (home)

Louis

I’m still wondering, though, if there weren’t a better way to highlight local markets without pulling the farmers away from their regular markets? I’ve received comments from some small producers about this already.

My own concerns were not about specific, successful farmers being included but rather how we, as a city or as a community of concerned food professionals, support very small, community-based markets in all our neighborhoods.

It seems to me that the best way to encourage people to go to established markets is to do events or educational outreach at those locations over time. That approaches the kind of deeper behavior shift that leads to structural changes — if one is going to talk about creating a deeper environmental connection to our food — rather than one-time, showcase events that consume much energy and funds.

Hi Thy,

I read your blog post today on KQED and wanted to correct something you wrote that is not accurate: “There’s been a lot of buzz lately in San Francisco about planting gardens at Civic Center and bringing in a special farmers market for Slow Food Nationís big Labor Day blowout. No surprise that the farmers market just across the street, the one that’s been a neighborhood fixture for the past 26 years, isnít good, clean or fair enough to take part.”

Sarah Weiner, our content director, met with Christine Adams in May to see how we could work together and ensure that the Slow Food Nation Market supports and promotes the Heart of the City market rather than competing. They had a great meeting, and Christine encouraged several of her vendors to apply for the SFN Market. Two of them did apply – Yerena Farms and Marshall Farms Honey – and both were accepted and will be part of the SFN Market.

In addition, we will be listing on all market stalls the names of additional farmers’ markets where that farmer or producer sells, in hopes of encouraging Slow Food Nation visitors to make a habit of visiting farmers markets year-round.

Lauren Mendez, our Justice Director, also spoke with Christine about how to reach a diverse audience as we admire the market’s success in creating a true community-utilized market that makes fresh food accessible.

Slow Food Nation is dedicated to creating a framework for deeper environmental connection to our food and aims to inspire and empower Americans to build a food system that is sustainable, healthy and delicious. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Regards, ns

Naomi Starkman
Communications & Policy Director
Slow Food Nation