Investigating the Slow Food - Place relation: An empirical study of dairy communities in Abruzzo

The paper examines the relational processes characterizing the life of Slow Food communities (or presidia) of dairy producers in the Southern Italian region of Abruzzo. The study uses the notion of assemblage to theoretically approach and empirically analyse these processes. The paper investigates the links between Slow Food and the different actors involved in the development of the presidia, thus providing an interpretation of the communities as the result of complex participatory processes. It also explores the relations in place between presidia and then the links between various products, localities, and food traditions. Through this analysis, the paper demonstrates how the territories considered are linked by the presence of interdependent food productions and by the existence of strong connections between different groups of activists and producers. The study contributes to the understanding of the dynamic and composite nature of Slow Food in terms of its relationships with other similar assemblages and with the territories in which the movement operates. • This analysis explores Slow Food's nature in relation to other similar assemblages and the places where it operates. • The territories considered are linked by the presence of interdependent food productions. • The concept of participatory process is a key element for understanding the origins of Slow Food communities in Abruzzo. • Assemblage is used to analyse the relationship between different Slow Food communities and the composition of each community.