Environmentally and Historically Sensitive Transformation of AlUla
Over the past 12 months, Slow Food and RCU have achieved several key milestones in their shared mission to celebrate and preserve AlUla’s rich culinary heritage.
- AlUla Slow Food Community: a local group of producers and consumers committed to promoting sustainable food practices. Extensive local engagement, at the base of Slow Food’s activities in AlUla and Saudi Arabia, was the key to establish a strong community.
- Gastronomic Heritage Studies: In-depth research documenting the tangible and intangible elements of AlUla’s gastronomy, including its unique ingredients, agricultural methods, traditional recipes, local chefs, restaurants, and key stakeholders committed to safeguard and promote the local traditional heritage.
- A study about the future creation of the AlUla Slow Food Center: a center dedicated to the AlUla food system to connect local producers and consumers, as well as tourists.
- Slow Food‘s participation in the AlUla Dates Festival with taste workshops, lectures and gastronomic activities promoted by experts from the movement and chefs from the national and international Alliance of Chefs.
- AlUla Earth Market: 13 local producers and about 800 visitors among families in the AlUla area attended the Slow Food Farmers’ Market, with artistic and cultural activities aimed at sharing the importance of local products with the public.
- A Symposium: a moment to foster the dialogue among the members of the AlUla Slow Food Community, RCU representatives, stakeholders from the local food system and members and leaders of 26 Slow Food Communities based in the different Saudi regions.
