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Slow Food in Sonoma County expands ‘Snail of Approval’ award program

Slow Food in Sonoma County, a joint project of two local Slow Food Chapters, Slow Food Sonoma County North and Slow Food Russian River, have been presenting Snail of Approval awards since 2017. The local program is now expanding to join Slow Food’s new national Snail of Approval program. The Snail of Approval award is presented to exceptional businesses in Sonoma County that are working to make good, clean and fair food for all. This powerful award helps bring attention to food-related businesses that are excelling in sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, staff support, and business values.

“I love how easy it is to find restaurants, farms, and producers I can trust. A Snail of Approval means they follow Slow Food's ‘good, clean, and fair’ principles. I've never been disappointed with a Snail awardee,” said Lisa Hunter, a member of the Sonoma County North chapter.

The existing Snail of Approval award winners from Sonoma County will automatically join hundreds of other winners from across the country. Slow Food in Sonoma County’s newest 2021 Snail of Approval awardees include: 4th Street Social Club, DMS Ranch, Epicurean Connection, Farm to Fight Hunger, Geyserville Gun Club, Gradek Family Farm, Jackson Family Gardens, Patisserie Angelica, Relish Culinary Adventures, and SRJC Shone Farm. To see a full list visit Slow Food in Sonoma County’s website at slowfoodsonomacountynorth.org/snail-of-approval/

An interactive Snail of Approval map will allow users to find businesses across the US that are embracing the Slow Food mantra of good, clean and fair for all. The mobile-friendly map can be sorted by business type and whether the business is owned by members of the BIPOC community and women. This will be expanded to include members of the LGBTQ+, differently abled communities, and veterans. Users can go to slowfoodusa.org/snail-of-approval to use this new tool.

“We’re so excited to expand the Snail of Approval program and provide a well-earned spotlight on businesses that are living into the Slow Food ethos,” said Felix Wai, director of network engagement for Slow Food USA. “Through this program, we envision an ever-growing network of consumer, business and environment-friendly food operations.”

The Snail of Approval award has provided international recognition of food businesses who are committed to joy and justice for decades; a limited number of chapters in the US have led their own Snail of Approval programs and will continue to do so under the unified Snail of Approval program.

About Slow Food USA

The Slow Food movement began in 1989 as a rejection of a global fast-food chain opening a restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Slow Food’s goal is ambitious: good, clean and fair food for all. Today, Slow Food is present in more than 160 countries and there are more than 100 chapters in the US. Slow Food USA exists to facilitate and grow individual engagement in the movement, organize gatherings of the Slow Food network, direct campaigns to spread the Slow Food message, and build solidarity through partnerships with organizational entities both internal and external to the Slow Food network.

About Slow Food in Sonoma County

Slow Food Sonoma County North and Slow Food Russian River were two of the first chapters to be formed in the US. Slow Food Sonoma County North was chartered in 1997. The two chapters collaborate on a number of projects: presenting the local Snail of Approval awards, protecting heirloom crops like Bodega Red potatoes and Gravenstein apples, and supporting local school gardens. They hold regular meetings to share information across Sonoma County food communities. To learn more about the chapters, visit the Slow Food Sonoma County North and Slow Food Russian River websites or follow the two chapters on Facebook.

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