On Sunday, Feb. 12, 54 members and potential members of the newly formed Slow Food Foothills movement met at the new Manna Cabanna production kitchen in Tryon (the former Brother Bill’s Barbeque, just above Open Road Coffee House). This was the third meeting of the local Slow Food Foothills, a subchapter of Slow Food Asheville.
The gathering included local growers and business people, as well as dancers, artists, children and others. In addition, the Saluda Methodist Church attended with a group interested in incorporating clean and fair food concepts into their studies on spirituality.
The new Slow Food Foothills officers were introduced and three committees were formed: Slow Food in School, Slow Food Stewardship and Slow Food Community Outreach.
The meeting took place at the production kitchen, which Jackson explains is a “shared-use” kitchen venture led by Manna Cabanna.
“Many people in the community have occasional business and personal reasons to need a commercial kitchen, so we are trying to make that happen for a very low rental fee,” Jackson said. “There is also a section that can be used for dining in, private events, workshops, retreats and classes, which would include a separate rental fee.”
Organizers say the concept of “Slow Food” is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating.
“It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world who link the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment – food that is good for its eaters, for the planet and for the people that grow it,” they say.
Slow Food Foothills kicked off with founding members Lee and April Mink of LEAP Farm, on Oct. 23 in Mill Spring, where approximately 125 folks converged to celebrate the summer bounty of homegrown food. Carol Lynn Jackson, owner of Manna Cabanna, a local organic food market and CSA in Saluda, initiated the creation of Slow Food Foothills. The president elect is Mindy Wiener, owner and operator of White Oak Vineyard in Green Creek.
For more information on the progress of Slow Food Foothills, contact Jackson at caroljackson@tds.net or Mindy Wiener at mindywiener@gmail.com.
– article submitted by Jo Rytter