First Terra Madre Nederland offers a varied program 


Organized by Slow Food Nederland, the inaugural Dutch Terra Madre will be held over the weekend of May 17 – 18, 2008 at Middelburg Abbey. This meeting of Dutch and Flemish artisan and small-scale producers of good, clean and fair food follows the famous example set by the biennial international Terra Madre held in Turin.

Central to the Dutch Terra Madre is the Producer’s Café, providing an opportunity for producers and others to discuss the issues confronting them today and to share experiences and knowledge. Scheduled topics for discussion include restrictive regulations concerning artisan products; raising consumer awareness; taste education in schools; the growth of Slow Food; Slow Food in the supermarket, is that possible? and Setting up food communities. In addition, two panel discussions will be held: The Future of Taste Education on Saturday and Hygiene regulations: useful, necessary or a hindrance? on Sunday.

The event also features a series of Taste Theatres: tasting workshops which provide a further opportunity for exchange and transfer of knowledge. Topics to be covered include cheese, jam, grey mullet, ice cream, Gulpener beer, preserving fruits and vegetables, Oosterschelde lobster, bread & Zeeuwse vlegel bread, viniculture in the Netherlands and the Achterhoekse Naegelholt (air-dried salted beef). Up to 30 participants will participate in each workshop, the majority of which are scheduled to be held more than once over the two days.

Terra Madre Nederland also offers the public a special opportunity to taste produce from a wide range of the country’s artisan producers. The Local Produce-plaza will include de Goede Vissers (sustainably caught fish), Hoekse Chips potato crisps, Het Vechtdal (produce from the river Vecht valley), De Schelfer pork products, De Witte Raaf vegetables, Opperdoezer Ronde potatoes, Oosterschelde lobster, Gulpener Beer, De Kruidenwei organic goat’s cheese, Eemlook garlic and many others. Further, a varied menu of dishes using good clean and fair produce will be available in the Taste Plaza, complemented by a wide range of Dutch wines and beers in the ‘Enoteca’.

An up-to-date schedule of Terra Madre Nederland can be found at www.terramadre2008.nl. Admission is free, except for the Taste Theatres which cost € 10.00 for Slow Food members and € 15.00 for non-members. Tickets cannot be pre-booked and will be available at the entrance on the day.

Terra Madre Nederland 2008 is made possible thanks to the support of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, the Province of Zeeland, the Rabo bank, Gulpener Beer, Jus de Pommes (organic juice company), Kist & Co (manufacturers of wooden crates) and Mets & Schilt publishers.

Background to Terra Madre
Organized by Slow Food, the first international Terra Madre meeting was held in 2004. This world meeting of food communities is held biannually in Turin, concurrently with Salone del Gusto, and brings together artisan and small-scale producers from around the world to discuss themes such as sustainability, biodiversity, regional production and local economies. The event has become an important platform for the exchange of knowledge and sharing experiences and has built an international network. In 2006, over 5000 producers, 1000 chefs and several hundred academics attended the event, representing 150 nations and more than 1600 food communities. Terra Madre 2008 is being held over October 23-27.

Information about Terra Madre Nederland 2008
www.terramadre2008.nl

Information about Slow Food
www.slowfood.nl and www.slowfood.com

Not for publication
We welcome journalists to the event. Please register in advance with Friederike Kleijn and let us know which taste workshops and panel discussions you wish to attend. You will then be given a badge on arrival admitting you to these activities.

Press contacts:
Terra Madre:
Friederike Kleijn T 06 53831209 E [email protected]
Slow Food Nederland general info:
Sándor Schiferli T 020 6250202 or 06 24241550 E [email protected]