After my last post, I got a thought-provoking email from Kirk at mmm-yoso.
He noted that Slow Food is considered by many of his co-workers to be an elitist organization. He challenged me to defend Slow Food and the organic movement and explain how foodies can justify traveling long distances to eat, when the average person can’t afford to shop at Whole Foods, eat at expensive restaurants, etc.
Jay from The Linkery was also included in this discussion.
I thought both raised some excellent points and, with Kirk and Jay’s gracious permission--Thanks, guys!--I am reprinting our email correspondence here.
Hi Angie - I'm not being negative as I loooove your blog and your writing, and I've always claimed to be your #1 fan - but when I mention "slow food" in our office - the Managers "love it" and the working stiffs say it reeks of "elitism and snobbery", and a marketing strategy. I've tried to show them articles such as these:
Slow Food to Feed Homeless
Slow Food for a Dying Planet
But many people see the "Slow Food" movement as being a way to separate the have's from the have nots....I made the mistake of showing them your blog...and was told - hey, they can afford of all of that gas, they can go to Tokyo - you can afford the gas to LA, you can afford to take trips to Portland. What about me, the working stiff, I can't afford to eat at the Linkery.....geeez, I hate politics!
Now I'm not into the Slow Food/Organic Food movement, but I do respect and enjoy the fruits of enjoying what is locally grown....
So help me out here - give me something I can work with......
Best Wishes,
Kirk
