In July 2005, Piero Sardo, the President of Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity, visited Transylvania and advised that a range of traditional fruit preserves were the most suitable for launching at Turin in October 2006.

The first Slow Food convivium in Romania was formally established in Sighisoara on 27th July 2005, and the inaugural dinner of Slow Food Sighisoara, was held on Thursday 15th September 2005 at the Casa cu Cerb. Over 40 people attended including local Slow Food members, members of Slow Food Oxfordshire, UK and local dignitaries.

Slow Food accepted the following nine food products for their Ark of Taste, which will increase recognition of the unique products of the area:

Preserves

Cheeses:

• Brinza de Burduf, Brînza de burduf transilvaneana
• Transylvanian sheep Telemea, Telemea transilvaneana de oaie
• Buffalo milk Cascaval, cascaval din lapte de bivol
• Transylvanian whey cheese, Urda transilvaneana

Cured Meats

On 20th June 2006, Carlo Petrini, President and founder of Slow Food arrived with two colleagues to visit food communities in the ADEPT project area. Press conferences were held in Saschiz and Bucharest.

Saxon Village Preserves was created as a presidium food community to promote the high fruit low sugar jams that are traditionally produced in this area. In October 2006, six producers participated in Salone del Gusto and Terre Madre event in Turin. By the end of five day event, the producers were totally overwhelmed by the positive response to their produce and returned to Romania inspired, convinced that markets really did exist for their produce and determined to motivate the other producers.

The Foundation for Culture and Ecology  was also recognised as a food community producing organic milk, cheese and bread and the co-ordinator attended Terre Madre 2006.

In 2007, the name of the convivium name was changed to Slow Food Tarnava Mare to better reflect the activities being undertaken in the area.

Slow Food Tarnava Mare is a founding member of the first Farmers Market to be held in Romania, which was launched on 15th December 2007 at Pita Amzei, Bucharest. The market is based on the Earth Market rules developed by Slow Food.

For more information visit: www.slowfood.com