Bologna market : Mercato Ritrovato/Mercato della Terra - what's the difference ?

[joe]

There's a weekly farmer's market in Bologna, at Via Azzo Gardino 65 (just south-west of the train station), that has two different names for some reason. Both seem to have an emphasis on local products, but it seems that the Mercato della Terra has the affiliation of Slow Food and is open all week, whereas the Ritrovato is only open on Saturdays (but might be an organic market?). Both have their own websites, although the site for the Ritrovato lists only contact info. The latter is also mentioned on the Bologna Welcome site :
https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/h...ries/markets/mercato-ritrovato-farmers-market

What exactly is the difference between them? Is this just some political/bureaucratic separation? Thanks for any info.

 

[Ian Sutton]

I'm guessing different organisers.

The one you link to doesn't stipulate organic, but does have a mission statement that talks of local and seasonal food, with respect to the environment.

Sounds like a bonus having both markets!

If you do go, I'd love to know what you make of them. The best farmers markets in Italy can be exceptional, but there are also others that are 'good but not special'.

 

[Giulia da Urbino]

I googled and discovered that Mercato della Terra was indeed promoted by slow food, while the new Mercato Ritrovato is no longer.
It's the same market, just before and after the Slow Food affiliation.
By the way, if you're into farmer's markets you should keep an eye on the "Genuino Clandestino" markets... Small producers, usually too small to even join in the organic farming schemes (or not willing to join in since they think it's too commercial).
Very interesting tiny productions...

 

[joe]

Ian, we are hoping to be there in the autumn - it looks like I will go to both of these markets, this appears to be an interesting divide. If the plans work out, I will certainly give a description here.

Giulia, that's a great tip you've given me, I was not aware of the Genuino Clandestino mercati. It seems that even the Slow Food organization is too big for them, and they want to promote farmer-consumer networks at an even more basic level. That's what I understand from reading the websites - I can't find any other reason for them not to want to be affiliated with Slow Food : these are both comprised of environmentally-conscious small-scale farmers, but the CampiAperti (Open Fields) group are more grass-roots and perhaps more "anarchistic" than the Slow Food people. Slow Food is also "big agri-business" in their eyes (a claim I can relate to, I've attended the Salone del Gusto), and they want a network that supports small producers that go against the production standards necessitated and imposed by large-scale food production. These standards are too expensive and cumbersome for the small producers, while their products are just as good as, or even better than, the industry counterparts, even though they haven't complied with the industry standards.

http://www.campiaperti.org/chi-siamo/regolamento-dei-mercati/
http://genuinoclandestino.it/

I wish them luck - this is a good cause.

 

[Ian Sutton]

An interesting quandary - why would someone choose to operate outside of SlowFood?

I think you've hit the nail on the head Joe. SlowFood have indeed been prepared to make some compromises in order to generate profits, and put those profits into the campaigning and international support. Compromises such as ensuring Salone del Gusto (and other smaller events) are revenue generating, of partnering with people who may share plenty in common, but are fundamentally aiming to be commercially successful e.g. the early days of Eataly (not sure if the endorsement still stands).

Over here I saw the SlowFood commercialism when they took cooking class / TV food personality Pru Leith's money to take SlowFood UK away from the members whose organisation it was meant to be. I was one of those members (my first... and only year of membership). The members voted against it, but they went ahead anyway, so I let my membership lapse. I've no had anything to do with SlowFood UK since.

On balance I'm still a fan of Slow Food, but had things turned out differently I may be writing here as a more active champion.

 

[joe]

I'll have to ask one of the farmers what exactly Slow Food did to get them irritated (or why Slow Food withdrew its affiliation) - probably too much documentation and fees. Maybe SF have become more elitist in their screening. But paperwork and fees are also a part of getting organic certification (unless you have a system of mutual trust between buyer and seller), so this is all a bit strange. Maybe not enough emphasis on local networks : Slow Food supports this, but is not against marketing products from far away, as long as they adhere to certain standards of quality and scale.
Will be interesting to find out....