A thank you for the opportunity
My wife Amy and I would like to offer a big thank you for the opportunity of Terra Madre. We are sorry for taking so long to get this out, but our hearts are still racing from the fast pace 4 days. Our minds are still trying to process the sights, sounds, taste and information that was thrown to us. We visited some of the sessions, but the greatest work were the Cattlemen from around the world that would meet up and discuss the different production methods and differnt rules and regulations.
We spent a lot of our time walking the streets of Italy learning how the producers market their products. We had several goals to accomplish while we were there. One of them was looking for ideas of different meat products that is not offered here in the states. Bringing a different product will allow new consumers to experience Slow Food and continue to bring the conventional minded people over to sustainable agriculture.
Another goal was to learn the different production methods that other countries are using. We were able to pull information that have a chance to make our farm even more efficent.
Although there were many other things to learn the major goal was discussing with other producers from North America about issues that hinder the growth of sustainable livestock production. That is one of our crusades in North Carolina. While we were in Italy, I was arranging a dinner that was held at Duke University East Campus Dining Hall. We invited 45 people that represented both state and federal legislatures; lobbyist organizations that are concern about agriculture, environment, and economic renewal; and conventional minded pillars of the community. The great thing about Terra Madre was that the speakers were talking about the need to bring these groups and others together because of the lack of understanding. Although the dinner was being arranged I still didn’t quite know the message that I wanted to deliver. But Terra Madre allowed me to pull it together. We listed to the world message that was being preached and pull it together to deliver to our audience.
The evenings was great fellowship with producers from around the world. We met a man from Holland that had translated old Italian recipes to Dutch. He presented the collection to me and now I have a man from Amsterdam translating the recipes back to engish so we can share them with the people of North Carolina. We also met a fellow livestock producer from California that is facing the same issues as us. We spent several nights discussing how we can work in our communities to overcome these problems.
Being from Eastern North Carolina, many in the agriculture are not sure of the Slow Food production. We now have a huge arsenal of information and ideas that we are beginning to share with farmers that will have the opportunity to convert and better our food production and society standards in North Carolina.
Being new to Terra Madre, I didn’t know what to expect. I can say without a shadow a doubt that Terra Madre is an experience that I will never forget. There was much work that was accomplished from the time that we woke to the time we went to bed. Although the intense 4 days is over, Terra Madre is greatly alive in Amy and I. The opportunity was a push for us that will further advance the Slow Food movement in NC.
Thank you again for the opportunity,
Patrick and Amy Robinette, Harris Acres Farm