Spannocchia Symposium:
“Food, Landscape and Community in Tuscany and New England”
February 12-15, 2009
Day 3

The day began with a forum of New England and Tuscan chefs describing their commitment to highlighting local products on their menus, and some of the challenges associated with this. The group then took a field trip to the Montevarchi Mercatale, a new market committed to highlighting only locally grown and produced agricultural products. The market showcased the innovations taking place in the region (yes—the farmer’s markets that we are accustomed to here do not exist in Tuscany!), which at its core embraces the idea of local producers having ownership of the market itself and hence control over its management decisions. A lunch featuring Tuscan specialties was served outdoors to Symposium participants at the Mercatale site.

That afternoon back at Spannocchia, Tuscan and New England farmers gave detailed presentations on their farm operations and described various methods they used to grow and market their products. MOFGA Executive Director Russell Libby then provided a perfect summary of the ideas discussed that day by explaining that a local food system must connect a face (a specific grower) with a taste (a specific well adapted variety) with a place (a specific spot on the landscape). The evening concluded with Pizza Night, and much revelry led by youth participant Bennett Konesni who, in addition to being a grower, has documented farm and labor songs from throughout the world, and encouraged everyone to participate in call and response farm songs.


Valentina Pascucci, Alida Payson,
and Russ Libby at Mercatale


Derek Christianson, Lindsay Hancock
and Chris Colson at Mercatale


Bennett Konesni and Brian Donahue
singing work songs


Dancing

Summary - Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4

Feedback from Participants

 “Thanks again for including me in the gathering, it felt great to be able to share my music and ideas with the group, and to feed on their energy! It was a smashing success - congratulations.”