Eat Local Challenge: Meet The Winners

There were over 4000 participants in the Slow Food Eat Local Challenge, and choosing three winners was no easy task. So many of you from across the world contributed beautiful photos of your local gastronomy, videos of your cooking, poems about what eating local means, and more. The sheer volume of material we received was almost overwhelming, and we’re extremely proud of the impact the challenge has had: for us here at Slow Food, for the participants and for all their friends and family who saw and tasted the importance of eating local.

Despite the difficulty in boiling it down to just three winners, after several long discussions we managed to reach a decision. So, joining us as guests of honor at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2018 and inspiring others to go Slow, will be:

Rachel Orchard (USA)

Rachel Orchard

“To me everything comes down to food, and I want to feel good about something that plays such a huge role in my life. It’s important to me that I can look down at my plate or roam the aisles of a grocery store knowing that what I’m choosing to eat has been “good, clean, and fair for all” – from the land from which it grew, the animals who ate it, the farmers who took care of it, and now the person who chooses to consume it. Slow Food embodies this desire I have to be fully aware of the impact my food choices have from farm to fork.

Being in an atmosphere surrounded by delicious food and like-minded, passionate individuals from all over the world who are so invested in the future of food and sustainability will be amazing. I hope to learn more about how I can continue to contribute to this movement in the US. I’m also really excited to eat a lot of really, really good food and practice my Italian again!”

Read Rachel’s blog post on the Eat Local Challenge.

Amaliah Amaliah

Amaliah Amaliah (Indonesia)

“I am from Indonesia, the fourth largest country in the world, and one of 17 countries defined as “megadiverse”. We have hundreds of tribes with their own languages, cultures and gastronomy, but unfortunately most people don’t know enough about the treasure trove of their own country. Slow Food can connect us with different peoples around the world, help us to learn more about diversity and how to transform our society to one that is based on good, clean and fair food for all. With food education for children and young mothers it can connect us with the experiences of our elders in the past and help us ensure the survival of our biodiversity.”

Nadezhda Zhdanova (Russia)

“I consider it very important to save traditions, including culinary, so the connection between generations is preserved. Family recipes store family values too. We are all different and live in different conditions. And, thanks to diversity, our world is so beautiful. The preservation of local biodiversity of animals and plants is necessary so that every corner of the Earth remains unique. Globalization erases this uniqueness and makes everything the same. I am sure that by using local products, we not only support small producers, but also help the environment. I look forward to meeting new people and hearing new ideas, projects and plans at Terra Madre. Together, with a united voice, we can spread the word of Slow Food around the world!”

Nadezhda Zhdanova

The Eat Local Challenge was the first part of the wider Slow Food campaign linking food and climate change, Menu For Change. Find out more about how to get involved, make a difference in your community by going Slow and encouraging others to join you!