Meriwether Godsey

While doing some trade magazine reading this weekend, I came across some great stuff in the February issue of Bon Appetit (yeah, I’m a bit behind in my reading). There’s a fantastic section on 50 ways to eat green. Great thoughts ranging from #1, eat more chocolate, to #11, becoming a human food processor (you using a knife uses far less electricity than a food processor), to #50, recycle the issue of Bon Appetit by passing it along to a friend. For the full list, go to:

http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/02/fifty_easy_ways_to_eat_green

The other bits of information I want to pass along are some updated definitions and ‘green gauges’ about food/sustainability labeling & what it all means. The below list is pulled directly from Bon Appetit magazine, February ’09 issue, page 73. Thank you BA for bringing us this info!

Product of U.S.A.

New federal labeling laws require markets to state the country of origin of any fresh vegetable, fruit, nut, meat, or fish. Try to buy U.S. products: Foreign produce has been trucked and flown thousands of miles, and was grown to be trucked & flown thousands of miles, not to be as delicious as possible
Green Gauge: probably greener than global, but at least you know where it’s coming from (and you’re supporting U.S. farmers)

Local

If the produce or meat comes from your home state, it’s more likely to be fresher and to have traveled fewer miles.
Green Gauge: the closer, the better

Organic

It may be obvious, but it’s worth repeating: Chemical pesticides can be unhealthful if consumed by humans and can leach into the groundwater, affecting the ecosystems far beyond the farm.
Green Gauge: pretty green

Natural

Doesn’t mean much, particularly for meats. This indicates that the food contains no artificial ingredients or colors, but it’s no guarantee that the animal was treated humanely or that its diet was strictly organic.
Green Gauge: not necessarily green

Free-Range

Sounds more bucolic that it is. Free range chickens are given ‘access’ to the outdoors, but they still tend to stay inside an overcrowded & dirty pen.
Green Gauge: kinda green

Certified Humane Raised & Handled

A new type of certification from a nonprofit organization that works to improve the welfare of livestock from birth to slaughter. (my edit-animals raised this way also tend to be raised without antibiotics, growth hormones or steriods. Many are grass fed, vs grain fed, a difference that most definitely affects the quality, flavor & texture of the meat)
Green Gauge: super-green

Fair Trade Certified

Often found on coffee, chocolate, rice, and other imported foods. Certification requires companies to pay fair prices to farmers and producers who treat their workers well and cultivate their land in a sustainable way. Go to transfairusa.org for more information.
Green Gauge: super-duper green

For several years now, the ‘Green Movement’ has been pressing forward. It’s been heartening to see a world come together, united to save our planet. I’ve read some statistics (read full article):

87% of consumers feel it’s their duty to contribute to a better society & environment

82% feel they can personally make a difference

83% are willing to change their own consumption habits to help make tomorrow’s world a better place.

Now, having said all that, there’s been a lot of media play about the economic downturn bringing the greening of the world to a standstill. I disagree-what I’m seeing is a world becoming more savvy & creative about how to be green on a budget. To me, that’s the underlying message of being green-reduce, reuse & recycle, versus the conspicuous consumption of the 80’s & 90’s.

I’m hoping there will be a similar effect in our industry. Food service companies have struggled to balance environmentally friendly approaches with escalating costs. From cleaning agents to disposables to organics, costs can be 30% or more for green than conventional. Perhaps the bright side of this recession will be creative people finding ways to make these products more accessible and broaden the impact they can have.

And for the first time in my life, I’m not cheap, I’m chic!
Makes me warm & tingly.