Slow Food First Coast

Slow Food First Coast

Slow Food was founded to slow us all down and make us think about what we eat, versus driving to the nearest fast food venue and continuing to fast-track everything we do in life. The focus on saving disappearing food traditions and showcasing traditional food products through events helps people rediscover the joys of eating. People increase their understanding of the importance of caring about where food comes from, who makes it, and how it’s made. The movement wants you to slow down and taste the food! You will learn how the slow food members produce their food in a way that does not harm the environment, how to better recognize the importance of fair wages for farmers’ good work, and how you can have access to good, clean, and locally produced food.
In order to receive the dark red “Snail of Approval”, there are rigorous standards to meet. It’s given to restaurants, food and beverage artisans, stores and markets, and farms that contribute to and meet guidelines of quality, authenticity, and sustainability of the food supply of Florida’s First Coast.
“Slow Food is a movement, the largest food awareness organization in the world,” says Bill Di Stanisloa, president of Slow Food First Coast and owner of NaVera Farms. Di Stanisloa continues, “we in that movement serve as role models, educators, and leaders for the most important substance known to mankind: food. When I speak on food, I state real, true, pure food which holds a term called nutritional value. The first goal for all global communities at this time must be ‘Respect’ for Mother Earth. When we respect our planet, we naturally respect the land, water, and air which are so crucial to all life. It is an honor to serve Slow Food First Coast, its mission and purpose. Events like Tour de Farm are indeed the educational vessel which reminds all of the unsurpassed value of sustainability. Let us return to who we once were.”

Tour De Farm
Hop on a bike or pile into a car; Slow Food First Coast’s annual Tour De Farm is coming up on April 13 (noon to 5 pm) and is presented this year by Grassroots Natural Market.
Recently approved and participating farms and restaurants for this year’s event include Barnes Farm, Berry Good Farms, Cognito Farm, Conner’s Amazing Acres, Down to Earth, Flying Dragon Citrus Nursery, Frog Song Organics, Harriet’s Bluff Organic Blueberry Farm, Heritage Urban Farm, KYV Organic Farm, Maggie’s Herb Farm, NaVera Farms, Pinewood Ranch, Ruffled Features Poultry Farm, Traders Hill Farm

Farm Partners include: Cypress Point Creamery, Eat Your Yard Jax, Glades Ridge Dairy, Karma Acres Honey, Natural Springs Dairy, Sheppard’s Farm, Southern Roots Apothecary, Stubbies Honey”]Cypress Point Creamery, Eat Your Yard Jax, Glades Ridge Dairy, Karma Acres Honey, Natural Springs Dairy, Sheppard’s Farm, Southern Roots Apothecary, Stubbies Honey, and Terks Acres Goat Farm.

Participating restaurants include29 South, Bistro de Leon, Café Atlantico, Gourmet Aviator, JT Coffee, Purple Olive, Super Food Truck, 29 South, Bistro de Leon, Café Atlantico, Gourmet Aviator, JT Coffee, Purple Olive, Super Food Truck, and The Floridian. Artisans include Aardwolf Brewery, Alex’s Russian Bakery, Claude’s Chocolates, Engine 15, Gastro Gnome Food Truck, Intuition Ale Works, Jayell’s Coffee, Juniper Market, Minorcan Datil Pepper, Old City Salt, Olive My Pickle, Sweetwater Organic Coffee”]Aardwolf Brewery, Alex’s Russian Bakery, Claude’s Chocolates, Engine 15, Gastro Gnome Food Truck, Intuition Ale Works, Jayell’s Coffee, Juniper Market, Minorcan Datil Pepper, Old City Salt, Olive My Pickle, Sweetwater Organic Coffee and The Hyppo Gourmet ice Pops.

So, get a gang together and meet NE Florida’s farmers, chefs, artisans, and local non-profits who are active in the good, clean, and fair food movement. You will learn about local food production and meet the people who produce it. Everyone is invited to participate–-families, individuals, groups of friends, and cyclists–-make it a Sunday happening.

Visitors are encouraged to plot and plan your afternoon route and ride in groups to navigate from farm-to-farm experience. For easy access, prepay your donation ($5 per adult suggested, children 17 and under are free) online, and bring the printed receipt for quick entry at the Farm Welcome desks.

Don’t forget to bring cash to purchase wonderful farm food and treasures. Cyclists are invited to ride, too–-just follow the map at www.zeemaps.com/map?group=843524. Go to www.slowfoodfirstcoast.org for more information and tickets or contact Carmen at SlowFoodTourdeFarm@gmail.com – plus don’t forget to “like” the group on Facebook, too.

Slow Down
Mark your calendar for the fourth annual “Slow Down” with Slow Food First Coast at Intuition Ale Works on Friday, May 2 (6 pm), which will feature local restaurants, farmers, and artisans who source their produce and ingredients locally. The experience will include locally crafted brews and delicious appetizers featuring fresh, local ingredients from some of the region’s finest small family farms and prepared by some of the top chefs in NE Florida. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes event entrance and food sampling. Money raised will go to Slow Food First Coast.

Participating restaurants include: 29 South, Black Sheep, The Blind Fig, The Chef’s Garden/Café at the Cummer, Café Nola, Corner Taco, Dig Foods, The Floridian, Hawkers Asian Street Fare, Restaurant Orsay, Ovinte, Taverna, and Uptown Market.

Artisans include: Community Loaves, Fretto Prints, Glades Ridge Goat Dairy, Grassroots Natural Market, Green Lotus Organics, Heritage Farms Jacksonville, Intuition Ale Works, Meteor Street Produce, The Spice & Tea Exchange, Trad’s of Jacksonville Garden Center.