Have you heard about Slow Food Nation? Planned for over Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, it’s a mega-gathering of people interested in a food system that is “good, clean and fair.”

There are gardens, farms and even fishing fleets to tour, all kinds of food to taste, featured restaurants, classes, rock concerts, advocacy training, an open air dinner for 500 and a gathering for youth in the slow foods movement.

Some events, such as hikes and photo exhibits are free. Many are buy-as-you-eat extravaganzas (including one featuring organic, source-verified fast food). Others, like the all day tour of Marin County creameries, are fairly expensive ($139, and already sold out). Whether you want to meet artisan goat cheese makers or the folks who run a teaching garden to train K-12 teachers in garden-based learning, this is the place and time.

I’m a fan of slow food. Who can really argue with the notion that it’s important to preserve and promote local and traditional food products, along with their lore and preparation? I’d like to go to Slow Food Nation. I think I could learn a lot and meet a lot of people who are doing great things. Maybe, I’d find just the right fit for my next career endeavor. For me, part of the point of travel, is inspiration.

Then again, it’s not cheap to get to San Francisco, or to stay there. And I don’t like crowds. They make me want to run away, in fact; which would sort of defeat the very act of going. And, well, it’ll be the heart of harvest season here.

What do you think — should I go? Are you going? If you are (or wish you were), what part of the event would be a must-see/must-taste for you?

Did you know it’s National Farmer’s Market Week? It’s true. If you haven’t been to your local farmer’s market yet this year, now is a perfect time to visit. It’s harvest time for a lot of local edibles, not the least of which (as Connie pointed out in the last post) is tomatoes.

There are nearly 90 farmer’s markets in Minnesota. If you want to catch one today, try the Midtown Farmer’s Market at Lake and 22nd Ave. in Minneapolis from 3:30-7:30 p.m.

Busy today? You might like to see the whole list of Minnesota farmer’s markets. You can even search by day of the week and then zoom in to your location to see what farmer’s markets are available near you.

Do you have a favorite market or vendor? What’s your experience at farmer’s markets been like? Do you do regular shopping at one, or it is more of an outing where buying produce or products is secondary to the experience?