The Mediterranean Diet recently flew to New York City for the first international mission of Italy which, through the Municipality of Pollica is leading the coordination of the UNESCO Mediterranean Diet Emblematic Communities in 2022.
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The trip included an event entitled “๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ – ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ – ๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐” during which the Italian delegation, along with Stephen Ritz, the well-known, innovative teacher who founded Green Bronx Machine, and the Future Food Institute, planted a school garden with seeds of the Mediterranean. The event ended with Stefano Pisani, Mayor of Pollica, gifting the seeds of the Mediterranean Diet to Kate MacKenzie, Director of the NYC Mayorโs Office of Food Policy.ย
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Planting the garden was a symbolic event to commemorate the launch of a partnership between G. Patroni School in Pollica and the Community School #55 in Bronx, NY.ย This collaboration will include cultural exchanges, missions, and joint workshops involving the children of the two schools.ย
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“The two scientists who first studied the effects of our lifestyle (Ancel and Margaret Keys) lived many years in our dear Pollica, and this relationship gave rise to an exceptional discovery that now is the Intangible Heritage of Humanity: The Mediterranean Diet.
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Today we symbolically reconnect Italy to the United States through the Mediterranean Diet, starting from young people and schools thanks to the twinning between the Institute of Pollica and the Community School 55,โ remarked Stefano Pisani, Mayor of Pollica, UNESCO Mediterranean Diet Emblematic Communityย
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Part of this initiative will also focus on the ecological transition of Italian schools further supported by the Mediterranean Diet Study Center ‘Angelo Vassallo’ and CampuStore.ย
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โThe Mediterranean Diet represents a sustainable lifestyle that truly safeguards individual, community, and planetary health. We are thrilled to further strengthen Future Foodโs relationship with Green Bronx Machine and the people of New York City through this shared exploration of Mediterranean values, climate literacy, and community development,” commented Sara Roversi, President of the Future Food Institute.ย
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Regardless of size, distance, and history, these places are rooted in the healing power of food. The two cities, Pollica and NYC, while vastly different culturally, are equally committed to growing healthy and sustainable communities. We hope these seeds will support the sustainable future of both.ย
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