Black Lives Matter: A Statement from the Slow Food Greater Olympia Board
Slow Food Greater Olympia stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. We’re committed to taking an active role in the dismantling of White supremacy and systemic racism. We acknowledge that our society’s oppressive systems deny a disproportionate number of Black and Brown people access to nutrient-dense, fairly sourced food that is sustainably grown, raised, gathered, or harvested. White supremacy is baked into our institutions and systems. As a historically White-led organization, we acknowledge that we have perpetuated harm and upheld inequalities inherent in these systems.
In order to live into our tagline—“good, clean, fair food for everyone”—Slow Food Greater Olympia commits to exploring our inherent biases. We ask to be held accountable for learning about racial injustice in ourselves, our community, and our local food system and taking concrete steps toward greater racial equity. In the immediate future, our board pledges to identify specific ways for our board and chapter center and listen to the voices of Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) within our local food system. As a start, we will act on what we learn by amplifying the efforts of local farms, businesses, programs, and community efforts that make access to good, clean, fair food more attainable and to advocate for food policies that address racial injustice.
One of five beef-centered courses at the annual Colvin Ranch dinner (2013)
What is Slow Food?
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 linking the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
Our Olympia chapter carries out the Slow Food mission on a local level. We advocate for sustainability and biodiversity through educational events and public outreach to promote the appreciation and consumption of seasonal and local foods and the support of those who produce them.
We believe that the food we eat should taste good. It should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare, or human health and its producers should receive fair compensation for their work. For more information about the Slow Food movement, visit the Slow Food USA website.
Our local chapter focuses on...
Providing support to local farmers, educating the community about the value and benefits of local food, and providing opportunities for members to learn about and enjoy local and heritage foods through social interactions. We promote and support local restaurants that serve local, organic, and heritage foods and support other local organizations with common values that strive to preserve farmland, educate the public about the importance of food diversity, reduce global warming, and establish backyard gardens. We support school gardens where young children learn to plant, care for, harvest, and enjoy the bounty of local, organic produce.
