Green Book Review: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
There should be a warning sticker on the front of this book. I think something to the extent of, “may cause intense inspiration for personal gardening and vocal opinions of our national food systems,” would do the trick.
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The next time you’re at the grocery store, looking for something scrumptious for dessert, check out the new earth-friendly and health-conscious offerings by Liz Lovely, Inc.
This Vermont cookie maker recently re-released its entire line of cookies as Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade and Certified Vegan, making it the first nationally distributed product in this segment to acquire all three certifications.
Despite the switch, the suggested retail price of the cookies remains the same: $3.99 to $4.39 for “two big ones.”
While many natural foods companies look outside their business for recipe formulation and manufacturing resources, Liz Holtz, president and founder of Liz Lovely, does not subscribe to this approach. “We have an artisan philosophy,” she says. “Everything is made from scratch in our own bakery, not in some giant contracted food factory.” Holtz added that her firm is extremely excited about the new organic recipes, adding, “they’re uncompromising in flavor and in their commitment to social responsibility.”
According to Dan Holtz, Liz Lovely’s vice president of sales, customer demand for organic and fair trade products is huge, and still growing. Liz Lovely is leading the charge in the organic cookie market. “We’re first-to-market with these certifications, and it was not easy to achieve all three certifications. Our new recipe uses only sustainably harvested organic palm fruit oil in place of the processed egg and butter substitutes we were using previously. It’s also important to note that, unlike palm kernel oil, palm fruit oil is heart-healthy and 100 percent free of trans-fat.”
Liz Lovely partnered with the Vermont chapter of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association and TransFair USA to identify available ingredients, set up audit trail systems, and prepare the business for Organic and Fair Trade certification with the respective organizations. Liz Lovely has been Certified Vegan by Vegan Action since the company’s inception in 2003.
Liz Lovely, Inc. bakes and distributes Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Certified Vegan cookies to leading natural foods retailers throughout the country. Flavors include Cowboy, Cowgirl, Peanut Butter, Ginger Snapdragon and Macadamia Mountain. Liz Lovely also sells eco-friendly baked goods and gift baskets for consumers, corporate giving, and events directly from the company’s web site. Its socially responsible mission is summed up in its tagline, Baking a Difference™.
Liz Lovely was founded in 2003 by Liz and Dan Holtz, and is located in the Green Mountains of Vermont. For more about the company and its products, visit
www.lizlovely.com.
By Jessica Wronowski
As the trend toward green living grows, more people are seeking foods that fuel the body, appease the mind and sustain the planet. This often translates to a healthy diet that emphasizes organic and local produce, while minimizing a dependence on meat and pre-packaged foods. The organic lifestyle, however, doesn’t have to chain you to the kitchen. In Connecticut, a number of dining options exist for those who desire wholesome options, but refuse to scrimp on taste. Each of the following restaurants begins with a philosophy and adds a big dash of creativity to cook up some truly inspiring, organic cuisine. AllGreen Magazine takes a close look at five Connecticut restaurants that strive to create savory, organic meals to help nourish the body and replenish the earth.
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By Heather Burns-DeMelo
Like most, I've gotta have that first cup (or two) of morning Joe. I buy organic and fair trade whenever I can, but I've recently learned that buying Certified Shade Grown coffee helps conserve vital rainforest habitat for the birds that we rely on for help pollinating our food supply (and not to mention the rainforest is our greatest defense against global warming).
According to experts with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center's Coffee Corner, an exploding demand for coffee has led to the increased production of sun-grown coffee, which grows more quickly and produces higher yield. The problem is that sun-grown coffee is usually grown where shade (or forest) plantations used to exist. Now farmers must use high levels of fertilizers that lead to soil damage and the destruction of forest as a long-term resource for native peoples and wildlife.
There are 150 species of migratory bird species that rely on tropical forest canopy for survival, and studies show that the diversity of migratory birds plummets when coffee plantations are converted from shade to sun. When buying coffee, check the label or ask your grocer for certified shade grown coffee and sit back and relax.
Tis the season to be with friends and family and what better time to partake in some organic beverages than the holidays? Beer and wine that is made from organically grown plants is healthier for our bodies and better for the planet. Synthetic pesticides and herbacides found in the soil and plants of conventionally grown grapes, barley and hops have been shown to be less healthy than crops grown without them. Since these chemicals leach into the soil, they contaiminate our drinking water and eventually make their way into our streams, rivers and oceans.
This holiday season, ask your grocer or local package store for their selection of organic beverages. Many have a few varieties already in stock, and all of them can pick up the phone and place a quick order.
Food
