Carlo Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food movement, died on Thursday in Italy at age 77. His death comes as New York’s farmers markets and outdoor cafes begin to fill with spring produce, a fitting backdrop for a figure who urged the world to slow down and pay attention to what we eat.
Petrini began his work in the 1980s, but the effects of his advocacy are still visible across New York’s dining landscape. At Union Square Greenmarket on Saturday morning, vendors spoke quietly of his influence. Lucia Ferretti, a vegetable seller from the Hudson Valley, said she hoped customers would continue to ask where and how food is grown. "He made us think about the people behind the food," she said.
Petrini’s message went beyond cuisine. He saw food as a way to connect communities, preserve small-scale farming, and resist the pace of industrial production. In restaurants from Carroll Gardens to Astoria, chefs this week cited his ideas in menu notes and chalkboard specials, often highlighting local sourcing and traditional recipes.
Slow Food’s New York chapter has organized a memorial gathering for later this month. Organizers say they plan to focus less on Petrini’s personal achievements, and more on local farmers and artisans. “He wanted us to sit down together and talk,” said Michael Feld, the chapter’s coordinator. “That’s what we’ll do.”