1. When you think Chicago, you think deep-dish. So in a city famous for its pizza, how would you go above and beyond to stand out amongst your pie-peddling peers? Located in Wicker Park, Crust’s claim to fame is being the Midwest’s only certified organic restaurant. In order to obtain this certification, they had to ensure that at least 95% of their ingredients came from organic farmers and suppliers. They assert that if 20,000 locally sourced slices were consumed weekly, the amount of CO2 emissions that could be eliminated would weigh as much as 5 million pizza delivery guys.
2. In March, Jethren Phillips and Robert Craven launched their collaborative organic effort when they announced NewOrganics, “an organic ingredient company committed to enhancing the health of the world by simplifying the purchase of organic and unique natural ingredients.” Phillips has spent 35 years in the organic and natural products industry, and Craven most recently served as CEO & President of dietary supplement company Garden of Life – which saw its growth rise to $58 million from $16 million during the two years he was there. Craven says that “the launch of NewOrganics allows us to support the industry we love while we focus on bringing best-practices to the business of organics. The company’s focus on quality and customer service will accelerate the broader adoption of organic ingredients into the mainstream of food manufacturing.”
3. Straining your checkbook paying for the gas, for traveling to the market, where you seeming spend your whole paycheck on premium foods at a premium price? Author H.C. Flores thinks you should leave the car in the garage and search for relief in your own backyard. In her new book, “Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard Into a Garden and Your Neighborhood Into a Community,” she stresses the importance of getting the most out of “fertile ground” you naturally have. Planting and growing your own food can be a liberating experience for the entire family, and even the community. Turn your yard into a produce section, and reap the benefits: it tastes better, it’s better for the environment, it’s better for your budget, and nothing feels quite like a job well done.
4. Chico State is going local by growing local – about as local as possible. The Organic Vegetable Project will be growing fruits and vegetables for the Associated Students Dining Services on the University Farm. Students of any major can participate by signing up for PSSC 309, “Direct Work in Field/Row Crops,” or simply by volunteering. Up to 10 acres will be devoted to the project. Lee Altier, the director of the Organic Vegetable Project, stresses the importance of buying locally. “To me it kind of undermines concerns about carbon footprints if you’re buying organic food that comes from thousands of miles away.” While students have expressed interest on multiple levels, requesting organic choices on campus, a project like this also saves money the school money – making it was an easy decision for Associate Director Jeffery Soon. “It cuts so many costs, the biggest of which is fuel. I would much rather be proactive and get as many of these organic products as we can afford to right now.”
5. Do you start your morning with a vanilla latte or a Yerba Mate (mah-tay)? If you haven’t tried Guayaki’s organic blends, you owe it to yourself. “Raspberry Revolution” is the newest addition to their line of award-winning beverages. It features yerba mate, hawthorn, and yarrow – all of which are known for improving cardiac performance – deliciously blended with organic rose hips, hibiscus, raspberry juice, and cranberry juice for fresh flavor. What makes Guayaki Pure Heart so healthy is the depth and balance of the drink. Coffee and energy drinks will provide people with a short-lived jolt of energy, but typically at the expense of stomach discomfort, post-rush crash, or headaches. Yes, Guayaki’s blends offer an organic source of caffeine – comparable to the dose you’d find in other drinks – but it’s “balanced by mate’s content of theobromine (the euphoriant found in chocolate) and another mild stimulant named theopylline.” When you factor in the B vitamins, often called the “anti-stress” vitamins, and magnesium, proven to ease anxiety, it’s easy to see why so many are changing their definition of “perks”.
6. It’s now possible to turn happy hour into healthy hour. “I was shopping in the farmers market, using fresh produce in my cocktails and really loving that high-end cocktail experience,” said Allison Evanow. “But that whole organic kitchen philosophy hadn’t really ever gotten to the bar. Once I had the idea in my head and did a little bit of research, I finally said, ‘This looks like an unmet need.’” So Evanow created Square One Vodka, one of the country’s only entirely organic spirits. Now the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Kimpton Hotels offer organic beverages in their bars. In order to be certifiably organic, all of the grains used must be pesticide and fertilizer-free – and no chemicals can be added to the distilling process. Matthew Von Ertfelda, vice president for restaurants and bars for Marriott International Inc., who believes organic beer and wine have found their way to most imbibers, feels that organic spirits are the next step. “On an annual basis we survey market trends and try to identify any emerging trends that we feel that we should be aware of. The whole organic, greening trend is so widespread now, and guests are increasingly aware when it comes to their beverages.”
7. In the past few years, schools like the University of Florida have begun to offer majors in the field of organics. But in the past few months, Washington State University became the first in the country to offer online certification in organic agriculture. “The U.S. organic food industry has grown at a rate of 20 to 30 percent each year for more than a decade, and is really challenged to find employees who understand the unique approaches used in organic agriculture,” said Kim Kidwell, associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences. “Those who complete the certificate will hold the credentials they need to succeed in one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.” Courses in the major deal with farming and gardening techniques, economics, environment conflict resolution, and a practicum or professional internship in the field.
0 Responses to “What’s New: Organics”