We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.

Living the slow life with food as the focus is as rewarding as it is easy, and it can be done daily by each one of us. Living the slow life can also be done with others, because part of the pleasure of slow food and the Slow Food movement is in sharing, which is why the convivia are so compelling. What could be more fun than sharing a passion for good food and wine with other people who feel the same way? Some convivia have only a dozen or so members, while others may have 60 or more, yet each convivium has its individual character and interests.

A convivium can be started by simply calling a few friends who enthuse as much about food as you do, and saying, "I've got a great idea." Once you've gotten together, the ideas about what can be done will flow. Invite a local farmer to come and give a talk, or arrange a visit to a farm or orchard. Ask someone's grandmother to show how she makes hominy grits, orange marmalade, or tamales. The resources in all our communities are endless, especially when we look at all the different backgrounds that make up our wonderfully diverse country. The Slow Food USA National Office will be pleased to help you with your convivium application.

Slow Food is also simply about taking the time to slow down and to enjoy life with family and friends. Everyday can be enriched by doing something slow - making pasta from scratch one night, seductively squeezing your own orange juice from the fresh fruit, lingering over a glass of wine and a slice of cheese - even deciding to eat lunch sitting down instead of standing up.

As each of us changes our pace in life, slowing down, we will have an effect on the whole. You can partake, every time you enjoy these pleasures:

* Join a local convivium
* Trace your food sources
* Visit a local farmers' market
* Join a CSA
* Invite a friend over to share a meal
* Visit a farm in your area
* Create a new food memory for a child! Let them plant seeds or harvest greens for a meal.
* Start a kitchen garden
* Learn your local food history! Find a food that is celebrated as being originally from or best grown/produced in your part of the country.

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