THE DETAILS

The Snail of Approval award is a recognition given to food and beverage establishments in western Washington that are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values in their businesses. Awardees are food producers who contribute to the quality, authenticity, and sustainability of our local foodways and are regarded as outstanding among peers.

Unlike other food awards, the Snail of Approval is always awarded locally and through the lens of a sustainable food system. The award is based on evaluations focused on the following six areas:

• Sourcing

• Environmental Impact

• Cultural Connection

• Community Involvement

• Staff Support

• Business Values

OUR GOAL

Our goal is to recognize the impact of vital food organizations and create nationwide awareness of food-related businesses practicing Slow Food values. We can generate greater support for these important businesses by eating, participating, volunteering, patronizing, donating, and spreading the word about their good work.

WHO SHOULD APPLY? READ THIS FIRST!

Regional Slow Food chapters in Western Washington have joined together, increasing our award area to include the following counties: Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis. We encourage applications from food producers who:

• Have been operational for at least one year,

• Produce and/or offer food for public consumption, and

• Are pursuing and practicing Slow Food values of good, clean, fair food for everyone.

This includes, but is not limited to, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, caterers, coffee shops, food trucks, markets, farms, farm stands, ranches, fisheries, bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, cooking schools, and value-added food producers.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

STEP 1: SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

• The application is multiple choice and takes about 30-45 minutes to complete. Here is a link to the national Snail of Approval Eligibility Application.

• If you’d like to check out the application beforehand, here is a preview.

• We’ve borrowed the evaluating principles from B-Corp. The evaluation calls for a minimum score of 56 out of 128 points.

• Applicants who receive a score below 56, don’t worry! The minimum is a very high standard for any food establishment and we completely understand the road to sustainability is a journey. We would love to work with you on ways you can meet your goal so you can reapply whenever you’re ready.

STEP 2: FOLLOW-UP PROCESS

• Applicants who score at least 30% on the national Snail of Approval Eligibility Application will be contacted by a member of our local Snail of Approval Committee to participate in a short 30-minute online follow-up interview. This is a great opportunity for us to get to know you and your good business practices a little better.

• The committee uses a scorecard to guide the conversation. Here is an example SCORECARD we use for restaurants, bars, caterers, and foodtrucks.

• Based on the eligibility application score and the follow-up interview, the Snail of Approval Committee will present their recommendations to the Slow Food Seattle or Slow Food Greater Olympia board of directors, and the board will approve the awardees.

STEP 3: AWARD & RECOGNITION

By receiving a Snail of Approval award, you join a local and national network of like-minded food entities promoting a sustainable food system. As an award recipient, you will:

• Receive an official Snail of Approval window decal for your place of business as well as digital assets for menus, signage, and other digital platforms

• Be featured in Slow Food’s newsletter, website, and social media platforms

• Gain national attention by being listed on Slow Food USA’s map and directory.

MAKE A NOMINATION

Do you have a favorite food producer who practices Slow Food values? Encourage them to apply or send us an email at goslowfood@gmail.com with the business’s name, contact info, website (if applicable) and a short explanation of what your nominee is doing for our food community and how they best exemplify the beliefs and principles that embody Slow Food.