WiserEarth Group Support

In conjunction with the Ecological Farming Associations' Eco-Farm Conference the California Farmer's Exchange Alliance and SLOW Food USA a delegation of 12 Italian organic farmers from Umbria will attend the Eco Farm Conference (Jan 23-26)  and then tour California farms and culture for 6 days following.

We are looking for those who love to celebrate the pleasures of the table; that being farmers, chefs and co-producers, to help with the hosting of their California stay. While in California they will be networking and  investigating  California Cuisine and organic farming practices and marketing.  These farmers will then be hosting a delegation of California organic farmers, chefs and co-producers following the Slow Food Terra Madre world meeting in Italy in October/ November of 2008.

The farmers from Umbria are the regions Pioneers in organics and their products and goods are some of the most sought after in all of Italy.






The story

An Italian delegation of Farmers from Umbria will be arriving in San Francisco on Jan 21st 2008!    My wife and I were both delegates to Terra Madre in 2006, as both a food producer and chef, and attended the great Hall of Taste the Salone De Gusto. We made amazing connections while at Terra Madre, and one that lead to an Umbrian Farmer, Alfredo Fasola coming to California last January for the Eco-Farm Conference in Monterey.

From this relationship a dialogue was created which has manifested into a California-Italian Farmer's Exchange for 2008! A delegation of 12 Umbrian farmers will be arriving in San Francisco on Jan 21st and then attending the Eco-Farm Conference from Jan 23-26th 2008

We have set up a farmers tour before and after Eco-farm, exploring the greater bay area from Marin and Sonoma to the interior valleys, visiting farmers and celebrating the pleasures of the table.

These farmers from Umbria are pioneers in organics and their products are some of the most sought after in all of Italy.

In exchange, the Umbrian farmers have coordinated with their regional governments and farmer networks to host a delegation of the 15-20 California farmers and chefs that participated in their tour while here. This 5 day long Taste of Umbria will follow the Terra Madre gathering in November of 2008.

Farms and restaurants alike are taking part in this amazing event. The Executive chef, Jeff Rogers, at the prestigious Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley will be hosting the farmers on Jan 26th and is putting together a whole week of events spotlighting these amazing farmers and featuring the products and dishes of Umbria, the climax being on Jan 26th with an Evening in Umbria Celebration dinner.  Earthbound Farm and the Heller Estate of Carmel Valley will also be hosts and sponsors of this event to serve a dinner that the public will be sure to remember.  

Marin Organics is hosting the group the following day with tours through west Marin. The Occidental Arts and Ecology Center is hosting as the groups tours through Sonoma County.

We will visit to the Mendocino growing areas, Napa and or Ca-pay Valleys, and in the San Francisco Bay area before they depart.  This will include such hosts as Laguna Farms, Solar Living Institute, Frey Vineyards and Full Belly Farm. A Event with SLOW Food Conviva in the Bay Area will end out their stay on Jan 31st.

This tour is based on donation and volunteering. We need to raise funds to be more gracious hosts while these farmers are in our country.  Many organizations such as the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Marin Organics and Quail Lodge have demonstrated their commitment to food and culture by donating generously. Join and help support this growing movement.

Over 200 California farmers were hosted by the Italians for Terra Madre and the Salone de Gusto in 2006 for more than a week,  We know that it will  be a similar case in October of 2008;  thus we are really trying to make the connections for this delegation and be gracious hosts of our international community.  We would like to be as reciprocal as possible in the spirit of SLOW food, which also involves our culture. Our Umbrian friends already have a excellent tour for us in November, which sounds amazing!

All ideas and donations are welcome, however great or small.  As a donor you will receive a complete resource and contact list of the farms in Italy and stay updated about the project. For those who are wanting to participate in the Exchange and visit these farms in the fall please contact us directly.

 This is a very exciting and unique opportunity to take advantage of, not only for SLOW Food as an organization but to inform the greater public of why our food should be good, clean and fair.

   





Jan 21 Monday  Arrive in SFO, 7:50 p.m.
    Stay in Hidden Villa in Los Altos

Jan 22 Tuesday  Drive to Camp Joy, for farm visit and hosted lunch
    Tour of UCSC Farm and Garden


Jan 23 Wed EFA Bus Tour, Central Coast 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

Jan 23 8 p.m. Eco-Farm opening

Jan 24 Thursday 8:30 a.m. Organic farming in Italy Presentation

Jan 24-26  Eco-Farm Conference

Jan 26  Evening Gala Event Taste of Umbria ,Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley
        This evening event is being hosted by the Executive chef Jeff Rogers, to highlight the unique tasteof the Umbrian Countryside. Tour of Earthbound Farms and the Heller Estate in Carmel Valley will be held prior to the evenings event.
        Chef Rogers and some of the top premier Chefs of the monterey bay area will prepare a special evening meal spotlighting the grains, oil and products of the Italian and local California farms.
       

Jan 27 Sunday Marin Organics, Traveling up to Marin and  a tour of Cow Girl Creamery  and Other Marin farmers TBA  Partnership with Marin Organics  accommodations TBD in west Marin

Jan 28 Monday Traveling to Sonoma County.  Visit Benzinger winery, Laguna Farm, and Occidental Arts and Ecology Center with a Community dinner and garden tour of OAEC

Jan 29 Tuesday Day trip to  Mendocino Co. Farms, Frey vineyards, Solar Living Institute, and Sunhawk Farms

Jan 30  Wed. Travel to  Farms of Ca-pay Valley, Full Belly Farm, Maddison, and the Center for Land Based Learning; more details TBA
 
Jan 31st Thursday Marin Farmers Market in the am. Lunch at the restraunt FISH.  Tour and dinner in the Bay Area, in Partnership with SLOW Food USA, the San Francisco and East Bay Convivia; TBA
 
Feb 1st  Depart back to Italy from SFO, depart 2:10 p.m.