INTERNATIONAL TASTE FAIR FROM 21 TO 25 OCTOBER AT LINGOTTOFIERE IN TURIN TAKES ON THE FIGHT AGAINST FOOD WASTE

In 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, after a year off, the International Taste Fair is back at LingottoFiere in Turin, from October 21st to 25th. It will be a remarkable event from the Euskal ham of the Basque region in Spain to wine in amphoras from Georgia; from an emporium of honeys from around the world to the Dinner of leftovers, cooked with the (extraordinary) “scraps” of 5 star chefs such as Scabin or Crippa.

The resources for organizing the Fair are much reduced compared to 2008, due to the crisis, explained Carlin Petrini patron of the Fair, but “it will be an extraordinary exhibition, the greatest in years”. The exhibition-market with stalls selling food and wines from all the wineries in the world that adhere to the Fair-trade philosophy of Slow Food will be flanked by “Mother Earth”, an event that will see the meeting of farmers and workers in food communities from 150 countries.

“Food and Territories” is the highlight of the 2010 edition. The new president of the Piedmont region, Roberto Cota of the political party, North League, last night at a conference said, “recognizing the diversity of territories is a federalist view, so I am in total and complete agreement”. Politics aside, this year to enhance each food reality, the stands will not be positioned according to the type of food (sweets, meats and cheeses, etc.) but according to the region. Each country, region or nation has its own area where you can taste its specialties.



The 2010 edition will pay particular attention to the environment. Thanks to the collaboration with the Turin Polytechnic and the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, the building, transportation of goods, waste management, water and energy will have a reduced impact.
Moreover, the common thread of the International Taste Fair “since it has the same philosophy as Slow Food” and ”since we are in a period of economic crisis”, will focus on waste. The great “dinner of leftovers” organized for October 25th, represents this spirit. The dinner will not, however, be just any leftovers in the fridge, but rather leftovers proposed by 5 star chefs such as David Scabin, Alexandre Gautier, Enrico Crippa, Luigi Taglienti and Michele Buri. Much space is dedicated to the 128 “Taste Workshops”. Chefs and sommeliers will guide tasting and there will be many moments dedicated to international and new foods. There will be a huge array of choices for wine lovers: more than 2,000 wines to taste, among which around 300 are extremely valuable old vintages from the Slow Food wine bank, “Banca del Vino”. Much space is also dedicated to beer, especially from the U.S. and the U.K.

“We’re not schizoid jocks”, says Petrini, president of Slow Food. “We’re just saying we value food more than price. Unfortunately, we are not subsidized by politics or culture”.
“We also say,” he added, “do not glorify, but respect territories. Pay farmers fair prices. Encourage them to continue to cultivate the land - just look at the excessive use of photovoltaics today on fertile soils”. “Despite this difficult economic period the world over,” said the president of Slow Food, Carlo Petrini presenting the festival “I’m sure this will be a great show. Our goal,” he added, “is a show that proposes a system of food production in contrast to the agro-industrial model, the bearer of this global crisis”. Today, said the founder of Slow Food, “we give only monetary value to food and that’s why the numbers of food waste are scary. In Italy alone, 4000 tons of foods are thrown away every day. And, considering food a “commodity” has brought us to pay farmers a pittance: 27 cents per liter of milk, 10 euros for a quintal (100 kilos) of wheat”.