Eating Close to Home
Buying local is no longer just a green foodie fad. Vittles recently performed a survey of the American Dietetic Association for the California Olive Industry and found that registered dieticians and nutritionists are now gravitating toward foods produced in the states. When asked if they read the labels to find out where their food was from, 69% agreed/strongly agreed that they did read labels.
Rather than focusing on the environmental benefits, this preference appears to stem from the belief that U.S. produced food is more highly regulated than in other countries. To many that means it’s a safer choice. Companies such as FreeBird Chicken produced in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, self-impose even stricter regulations regarding the health and safety of their products. Local producers like these are poised to benefit from this increased awareness of food safety.
How local do you go to feel safe? That’s’ a question only you can answer. Write in and tell us what you think.
Happy Belated Blog Action Day
It’s October 15th…Not exactly, but close enough. So today I’d like to celebrate Blog Action Day. This new virtual holiday is about coming together as a cyber community to create posts relating to a single global issue. This year it’s the environment. Biggies like Google and Wired did it, now it’s my turn.
Coincidently, I stumbled upon a study this week in retailwire that revealed that 92% of consumers in the UK are interested in seeing environmental information on food packaging. If true, this means that companies who pride themselves on sustainable farming, maintaining high agricultural standards relying on pure ingredients are poised to cash in. That is, as long they can successfully communicate this info.
In order to do this, here are a few things to consider. Where will environmental information fit on your package design? How will you convey your message–through copy, graphics, both? How is environmentalism embedded in your company’s heritage? What kind of packaging material do you use?
Any other ideas? We’d love to start a dialog about how you plan to package your brand of environmentalism.
Catching Up with Tomatoes
Have you heard the news? The San Francisco Chrinicle reported that in reaction to corn syrup prices soaring, Heinz has decided to make their ketchup more tomatoey! I know, I know…You’re scared too. What if it tastes like (god forbid) tomatoes?
Fear not my friends. Thanks to the miracles of modern farming they’re working on a tomato that they claim will provide both the sweetness of corn syrup and a little extra body. I’m not sure which is more disturbing, that they’re trying to create another crop that emulates corn syrup or that they’re nervous about the public’s response to a ketchup that’s actually based on more tomato product.
Can’t wait to see the results of this crazy cost saving scheme. Will our nation’s leading ketchup lose the love? Will Heinz really be able to produce a tomato that is 5-10% sweeter than their other tomatoes? Will the American public actually eat more vegetables every time thay grab for a bag of large fries? Talk about anticipation!
Chaos in the Cart
My son has changed the way my family eats. Sure, many moms dummy down their cooking as their families grow and young kids become pickier, but this isn’t it at all. Instead, my 2 1/2 year old has fallen in love and it’s changed everything. The object of his affection: Trader Joe’s. Clearly, it’s not just any old supermarket!
Every Tuesday and Friday of this month (the days he’s not in preschool), we start the morning with a trip to TJ’s. He insists there is something we need. Once there, we do fill up the cart. It’s just not always with anything I ever remember wanting in the first place.
But this is not a case of loading up on Fruit Loops. Last time as we stood in front of the pre-wrapped produce he sang out, “fennel, fennel, mommy, I love fennel…GET IT!” He didn’t use his manners or his indoor voice, but in the name of nutrition I’m willing to take one for the team.
Personally, I adore fennel, but resisted buying it for years thinking no kid would come near it. Left without an option, I brought some home. Later that night, we tossed it in a little olive oil with cauliflower and mushrooms (that he also demanded) and roasted up a mighty good salmon side dish. I’m not saying that every purchase he resulted in a steady membership in the clean plate club, but more often than not, I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
Now, finding your own gung-ho two year old to tote isn’t always easy, so here’s what I suggest. If you’re tired of your hum drum recipe regimen, swap shopping lists with a friend, spouse or some other family member. Maybe a little random chaos in the grocery cart is just what we need to perk up our everyday plates.