Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Slow Food Nation?

    Slow Food Nation is a subsidiary non-profit of Slow Food USA and part of the international Slow Food movement. It was created to organize the first-ever American collaborative gathering to unite the growing sustainable food movement and introduce thousands of people to food that is good, clean and fair. Slow Food Nation 2008 brought 85,000 people together in San Francisco for tastings; chef demonstrations; workshops; a conference on food values, social justice and the environment; an urban farm; a music festival; an Eat-In; forums; films and interactive exhibits that all highlighted the connection between your plate and the planet.

  • When and where did Slow Food Nation 2008 take place?

    Labor Day Weekend, Friday, August 29 to Monday, September 1, 2008. Most events were held in Civic Center and Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, CA.

  • How many people attended Slow Food Nation?

    Organizers estimate that at least 85,000 people participated in free and ticketed events over the course of the four-day weekend.

  • Why did they attend Slow Food Nation?

    Everyone has a compelling reason to advocate for reforming the American food system. Slow Food Nation 2008 provided an opportunity to connect to American farmers and producers, learn their stories and gain a deeper understanding of the role we all play in preserving America’s landscape and food traditions. On the eve of a Presidential election, a world food crisis, continued global warming and a controversial Farm Bill, it was – and still is – more important than ever for the nation to come together and build momentum for creating a healthy food and agriculture system that satisfies everyone’s right to good, clean and fair food.

  • How were the farmers and producers chosen for the Marketplace and Taste Pavilions?

    Slow Food Nation released a call for nominations through grassroots networks and received hundreds of responses via nominations from Slow Food USA members, chefs, farmers and individual visitors to our web site. Additionally, the curators of Slow Food Nation were responsible for nominating products for inclusion in the Marketplace as well as selecting products to be featured in the Taste Pavilions. The Slow Food Nation team evaluated these products – and made decisions to integrate forums, films, and workshops into programming – by the criteria established on our value map. The overarching mission of Slow Food Nation is to build a food system that is good (delicious), clean (environmentally sound) and fair (socially just). Beyond the goals we had for shaping an individual’s experience of the event, we established the goal that each product, each panel and each single element of the event tell a diverse and unique story. Ideally, all featured products would have met all of these criteria, but in practice we often had to work to balance this set of values.

  • How was Slow Food Nation 2008 funded?

    Slow Food Nation 2008 was funded by ticket sales (20% of revenue), corporate sponsors (50% of revenue), foundations (25% of revenue) and philanthropists (5% of revenue). Corporations interested in supporting a broad cultural shift towards sustainable food systems and increased consumer awareness of food issues provided Slow Food Nation with the crucial capital necessary to underwrite the first edition of the event. Slow Food Nation also received critical support from forward-thinking foundations, including general start-up capital used to fund the initial operating costs of Slow Food Nation in 2008 and program-specific funding. Philanthropists were also been crucial to supporting Slow Food Nation’s development, providing support for staff hours and the necessary infrastructure development to bring this event to life. Slow Food Nation’s total 2008 budget was just over $2 million, but the actual cost of the event was easily double that if one considers the incredible array of in-kind resources donated by our many partners: the curators, architects, media partners and individuals across the country who have generously given their time, know-how and passion to make Slow Food Nation a reality.

  • What is Slow Food USA?

    Slow Food USA is a non-profit organization that seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. Its programs reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food and seek to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.

    The Slow Food movement was founded in 1989 and flourishes in 131 countries around the globe. Currently supported by 85,000 members worldwide (18,000 members in the U.S.), Slow Food’s ethos is defined by the belief that food is a common language and a universal right and an appreciation for slowing down and savoring the convivial traditions of the table. Established in 2000, non-profit Slow Food USA has grown to 200 local chapters in 47 states. Its members include culinary professionals and food enthusiasts, farmers and food producers, educators and students. Slow Food USA envisions a world in which all people can eat delicious food that is good for them, good for the people who grow it and good for the planet.