March, 2008

A recurring theme in our discussions here at RF is that every choice we make has a string of consequences, intended and non-intended. Our goal is to minimize the negative impact we're having on our bodies and the earth, but in the process our goal is not to inflict any more pain on farmers around the world.

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When it comes to the vegetable aisle, the issue of organic and local has become a more mainstream reality. The idea of pesticides is more tangible when you pick up a yellow pepper and wonder what chemicals lurk on its surface. It's easy to label where foods came from so you can know their origin and locality.

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The Columbus Dispatch reports that bee's survival rates have risen this winter, after last year's plumetting bee populations across the nation, a result of colony collapse disorder.

When responsible food advocates list their priorities in food consumption, genetically modification is almost never mentioned as a positive factor.

However, a recent article entitled "The New Organic" in the Boston Globe points out that a realistic answer to both growing populations and a need to grow our food in an environmentally responsible manner is a combination of genetic modification and organic growing practices:

On occasion here at Responsible Food you might notice contradictions between posts, with one advocating for a position and another advocating the opposite position.

This doesn't imply a lack of editorial oversight. It reflects the nature of the debate, and our goal to take you along on our own journey to realizing our goal of Responsible Food.

Seattle has announced that the city government will no longer be buying bottled water or water for coolers, following the example of San Francisco who banned the use of bottled water when tap water is available. In addition to the $58,000 a year in savings Seattle will realize, they also cite the environmental benefits.

A few months back I read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. It was a life changing book. It changed my buying habits and made me actually stop and think about where my food really was coming from- especially about the difference between supporting the local farmer or trying to make sure to get something organic even though it has been shipped halfway across the world.

No matter where you are in the country, this site will help you to find fantastic local farms, farmer's markets and "other sources of sustainably grown food in your area." 

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It has always seemed that San Francisco has existed in something of a bubble of its own making. Lax marijuana laws, a huge emphasis on organic and local food for many years, and cultural traditions that are more permissive than elsewhere in the country all reveal that this is a city that is constantly pushing progressive social trends.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Not So Sweet For The Planet

Yesterday's New York Times ran a feature on two young urban New Yorkers turned rural farmers called Leaving Behind the Trucker Hat, a thinly veiled reference to the popularity of trucker hats amongst Brooklyn hipsters.

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There are a lot of stores out there right now that offer 'organic' foods. The problem is that their names are just a friendly front to the large food corporations we already know and dislike.

The image in this post shows you where those natural-sounding brands are actually produced and packaged.

What good are labels such as organic if they're not accurate or misleading?

Not very, if you ask me.

Toxins Found in 'Natural', 'Organic' Items reports that there are issues in these labels when it comes to cleaning and hygene products like shampoos and soaps. 

Time Magazine has an article entitled Eating Better Than Organic that deals with exactly the issues we seek to explore on Responsible Food.

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Hello and welcome to Responsible Food!

Responsible Food is a blog and website dedicated to navigating the increasingly complex world of what lands on your plate. Organic, sustainable, local; we've all heard these terms and we have to make decisions based on what we think is best for our bodies and the environment.

Oftentimes we receive conflicting information - should I buy local and conventional or organic and shipped from halfway around the world?

Responsible Food is here to answer these questions.