Community
Slow Food Meet & Greet connects consumers and local growers

It’s now official! The Crossroads chapter of Slow Food USA is the real deal. Led by SpringHouse Executive Chef Rob McDaniel, the chapter held a Meet & Greet at The Stables on Sunday, September 26. It was a perfect fall Sunday afternoon – cooler with a much-needed light rain. But things were warm and friendly upstairs at The Stables at Russell Crossroads.

The event opened with a social time, allowing people to mingle. And who were these folks? About two thirds were consumers interested in a healthy, sustainable food source. The other third were local growers of everything from vegetables, to chickens, to cattle, including members of the Tallapoosa River Basin Cattlemen’s Association. SpringHouse brought the chili (made with ground beef from White Oak Pastures), and beer and wine were provided.

Members of the Slow Food Crossroads board spoke to those in attendance expressing why this was important to them personally. Later a video documentary was shown, featuring Will Harris of White Oak Pastures. It chronicled their transformation from a typical “feed lot” operation to a sustainable, grass-fed producer. The video can be viewed on the home page of their website.

The mission of Slow Food Crossroads is simple: “Connecting consumers to producers of safe, sustainable food sources through education and programming.”

You too can join Slow Food Crossroads. As of right now, the best way to join is to call 877.756.9663 and register over the phone, specifying that you will be joining Slow Food Crossroads or by visiting their website. Or, you can e-mail membership@slowfoodusa.org and request a Crossroads membership.  Slow Food USA is having a membership drive right now, and it will run through October 15. Memberships are only $25. Most of that membership money will go to Slow Food USA to help with national programming, such as changing school lunch programs, school gardens and low-income community gardens. And, if you would like to make a donation to Slow Food Crossroads, in addition to your membership, please mail it to the attention of Rob McDaniel at 12 Benson Mill Road, Alexander City, Alabama 35010.  Please make checks payable to Slow Food Crossroads.  Thank you all for you support!

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