mental_floss must-reads

Not only is there a great feature by Rachel Stern about the four most "Eco-Fabulous Places to Live in 2020" in the latest issue of mental_floss, but Maggie Koerth-Baker breaks down the meaning of "organic" in a great little post you can find and read here and in the graphic found below. If you don't already subscribe to the magazine, you can usually find one at your local Whole Foods check-out line.

transparency

Rachel Leven wrote a great investigative post for Slate, Green Eggs and Plastic, regarding the reasoning behind the use of plastic in the organic food market. From the article:

...And the ultimate question: Why does organic food involve so much plastic packaging? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? Yes, it does...

...Enter the plastic. Thanks to the USDA's seal, hippies and Luddites were no longer the major consumers of organic food. The game had changed. Organic shoppers of the mid-millennium now cared less about the sustainability and ethical concerns surrounding organics. Instead, they were concerned with the quality, healthfulness, and (unproven) nutritional benefit. Organics also entered the market as luxury (read: expensive) items, which meant consumers expected more convenience. In this environment, the biggest advantage of plastic cartons was literally clear. See-through packaging revolutionized the egg industry by eliminating the tiring task of opening the carton's lid to check the eggs for quality. The result was comforting and easy transparency, promising a superior product. The plastic carton itself is neither better nor worse for the egg...

Obviously the organic trade isn't the only agricultural sector utilizing plastic packaging and there are plenty of perks to doing so - like guarding against bugs, oxygen, and extending shelf life therefore enabling mass consumption - but at some point branding comes into play and that is why I say: Question everything, folks. Are beautifully packaged "organic" eggs from across the country in any way better than those from the local farmer who can't afford the organic certification label? Probably not. Think globally. Act locally.

not simply organic...

This recent article by Mark Bittman reminds me of so many conversations I've had of late that I simply have to recommend it.

certified organic people?

Tara Parker-Pope put up an interesting post yesterday about going organic - or more specifically, about Dr. Allen Greene's attempt to eat 100% organic over the course of three years (because that is the amount of time it takes to have a breeding animal certified organic by the Department of Agriculture).

As you would expect, Greene joined a CSA, cut back on his meat consumption, and notes the high cost and challenges of eating 100% organic. Check out the entire post here and this interesting tidbit from Parker-Pope's post:

On the road, though, life was more challenging. In corporate cafeterias and convenience stores, he looked for stickers that began with the number 9 to signify organic; stickers on conventionally grown produce begin with 4.

decisions decisions...

As my sister enters her third trimester, the pressure to decide on the perfect "home from the hospital" outfit is on. (My big sis picked out the outfit that our parents brought me home in so in so facto...)

Becky 2.0 is due to arrive mid-January. I've already picked up some warm outerwear but have yet to find the perfect hat, onesie, footsie PJs, socks, gloves, thermal unders, or anything else she may need that meet all the criteria: adorable, cozy, easy on/off, soft, small, not one of those silly star-shaped things, and organic. Don't get me wrong, I haven't heard about any toxic baby clothes - I just want to be sure nothing irritates her little baby skin and this very important trip home - the little noodle needs the safest of the safe EVERYTHING.

So I have spent a good chunk of time surfing the web for baby "apparel." I considered something quirky from baby wit but ultimately decided to wait until Becky 2.0 is at least three months old before I start lobbying for eco-advertising space on her belly. Not to mention, a lot of baby wit's great stuff (like this hat) is out of stock. That means PUR BEBE naturally trendy and Nimli rank highest with me. I love the concept behind Swell Foop and a few designs on eco-chic baby but their selections are limited. What I am saying is... I may to take a vote... or some suggestions. Here are my top picks so far:

ABOVE: simple 100% organic onesie; 70% bamboo/30% cotton onesies; and 100% cotton hand knit hat and booties; all from Pur Bebe. BELOW: 100% bamboo pamplemosses onesie: and bossy baby floral heart romper and hat; all from Nimli.

And lastly, my absolute favorites below: OBLI Organics Elephants from Nimli; and 100% certified organic footie sleeper and organic beanie in Back to Nature - both from naturally trendy.

Organic dessert for dogs

This is a tough one for me. I'm a dog lover/owner as well as a strong believer in getting back to basics in terms of food. And I support the growth and purchase of natural and/or organic products very much, but this new organic yogurt for dogs... well...

After exploring their website I am more and more tempted to treat my little dog Jack to it but... on the other hand... I'd rather treat him to something local like Peanut Little Bites from the Baltimore Dog Bakery www.baltimoredogbakery.com

But what do y'all think? www.yoghund.com

Bug Bites you will like

While shopping at David's Natural Market last night I came across these adorable, bite size, ethically traded, certified organic chocolates. Both milk and dark chocolate squares are gluten free and Kosher. Dark chocolate is suitable for a Vegan as well.

Here's the best part: Each individually wrapped square contains one (sometimes two) of 32 insect trading cards. How fun! Maybe the mystery bug has a trading card?

As expected, proceeds benefit the National Wildlife Federation and their Backyard Habitat program and of course their mission is aligned with that of Endangered Species Chocolate.

Here is the nutrition information for both the milk and dark chocolate treats:

Organic versus Natural: What's the difference?

I spent a few minutes last night trying to explain the difference between produce labeled "certified organic," yogurt "made with organic ingredients," and a "natural" skin care product. I'm not an expert but I am a nerd so I did a little research (big surprise) and thought I should share my findings on the blog. So here goes:

Organic and Certified Organic
The term "organic" suggests that a botanical product was grown in an environment free of chemicals, fertilizer and pesticides. Chemical products are replaced by natural ones making the organic item bio-compatible with our bodies, more readily absorbed. The final product must be at least 95% organic in order for it to receive the Certified Organic stamp of approval. The Certified Organic label also assures that the producer passes regular inspections of their facilities, ingredients and practices as well as pays a fee for the certification. Some products will boast that they are "made with organic ingredients." This means that at least 70% of the material used is organic. The other 30% (or 5%) may or may not include additives and preservatives.

Natural
Now it gets complicated. Products labeled "natural" ensure that the final product is made solely from botanical resources without any use of additives or preservatives. We often see the term natural used in regards to meat and poultry. This means that the livestock was raised without the use of sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics, growth stimulants, etc. The USDA says:

"...the term 'natural' may be applied only to products that contain no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives; and the product and its ingredients are not more than minimally processed. Minimally processed products that do not contain these types of ingredients, such as fresh meat and poultry, will automatically qualify for the use of the term 'natural' on product labeling."

Bottom Line
Look for the certified organic seal of approval on produce and anything packaged. When it comes to meat, which it's my my understanding should be consumed sparingly, opt for natural or free range. For more information, look around on http://www.organic.org/

(thnx Niko)