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Environmental Quote
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FOOD: SHOP and LET SHOP
There is not a day that goes by that I am not filled with gratitude. When I received this letter from Theresa Marquez from Organic Valley Coop this past Monday, my cup runneth over.
(Open Letter to Mrs. Green)
Theresa Marquez, Mission Exec.
Organic Valley Coop
August 11, 2013
So, a debate we still keep hearing is that Walmart is the boogie man and Whole Foods Market (WFM) is not far behind. How is one to be politically correct? CROPP Cooperative sells in 50 states and I have had and still have the privilege to get acquainted with many retailers in the U.S. My background is also 15 years in retail (schlepping groceries) before I worked for CROPP/OV, so you might say I have hands-on insights. Regarding opinions on who is the most politically correct retailer, I like the saying, "Shop and let shop."
Those who have choices of where to shop are really lucky. For me, I live in rural America. A CSA is great if there is one close by, you can afford it, and have the time and inclination to cook. I am an avid gardener and cook and love to shop at the farmers' market when I can get there-it is 50 miles roundtrip for me. My next choice is the co-op if you are lucky to have a good one in your community. Some people only have a Walmart to shop at and one might say they are lucky, too given that there are communities where the nearest real food store is a 100-mile roundtrip. We sell to some of the Midwest Walmarts and get letters now and then from moms thanking us as that is the only place they can get organic milk. So the bottom line? No retailer is perfect. In fact, as humans aren't we all somewhat flawed? We all have blind spots, too. Even cooperatives have lots of their own problems.
I really admire WFM. They announced that they will require GMO labeling in all of their stores by some date five years from now. That is a huge deal! Because they are big, they can make an impact on GMO labeling and did so. As you know, I am passionate that we must accelerate change for the good in food and agriculture, and that today we are experiencing a kind of renaissance in food. But how can we change if we ignore the mass market? That is where most of the food is sold including organic.
Perhaps it is not where we shop but how we shop and what we shop for, and how willing we are to confront our retailers with the issues we want them to address and the products we want them to carry. If enough of us shop at conventional stores and keep leaving suggestions of what we want them to carry, that we want them to identify farmers, etc., we can make a difference. Retailers want to sell food and they will carry the food their customers want. And WFM along with the Retail Cooperatives are excellent models and places to experience this renaissance of food. And they are not the only ones.
The question I find myself asking more and more is: How do we build bridges between conventional food and ag? We need all the stakeholders involved if we are going to accelerate the change we need for our children's health and future.
There are plenty of table-pounding food activists who are quite adamant that this is right and this is wrong, and this is a good product and that is a bad one, and this is a good store and that is a bad one and so forth. I say, beware the judgmental, vocal minority and those with rigid attitude.
Frankly, some of the most harm done to the organic industry has been done by our own watch dogs. Their attitudes and actions promote elitism. I think they have a role, and I am probably even one of them at times, but the difficult path is somewhere between feeling strongly about what we know and believing while being willing to have a dialogue with those who have different beliefs, (but are willing to dialogue). There are those who we will never reach (certain older male politicians), so don't bother.
As my friend Diamond Dave likes to say, "Cast a wide net, find the common thread and don't panic. Keep it organic." Remember, the earth is always at the end of our fork.
Note from Mrs. Green: Theresa Marquez was a guest on my show in March. Here is a link to the podcast so you can hear her passion, wisdom and strong connection to the Mother Earth.
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Mrs. Green Goes to the Big (Green) Apple - UPDATE
As previously reported, Mrs. Green is going to New York City in September. We are a media sponsor for the Go Green NYC Conference on September 26th as part of Climate Week. The conference tagline? Get Empowered. Get Inspired. Get Connected. And Mrs. Green says: Get ready!
Needless to say, the Mrs. Green Team is busily preparing for a big week in New York City. Not sure everyone knows it is Climate Week, thus a perfect time for Mrs. Green to be on the scene. As part of this excellent adventure, Mrs. Green will be connecting with The Women's Earth and Climate Caucus and attending a press conference on September 24th where some of the major outcomes of this important caucus will be shared. Will someone pinch me?
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UPCOMING SHOWS
Kid Power: Crayola Colorcycle Program
 Land Wilson, parent; and Marianna Stanley, student, Sun Valley ElementaryColor Me Crazy as I share their story about how a really small group of individuals can change the world. I can't write it any better than Treehugger wrote so here it is: Like all schoolchildren, students at Sun Valley Elementary School, in San Rafael, California, just love to draw with colored markers, but hate the waste it produces. Each day, as their young imaginations would materialize on paper, it left behind a hefty pile of empty pens that they couldn't stomach throwing away. Last year, members the school's "Green Team", made up of 1st thru 5th-graders, decided to try to reduce the environmental impact of their creative process -- by looking for a way to give those dried-up markers another life outside the landfill. Led by teacher Mr. Land Wilson, the forward-thinking youngsters made an appeal to the manufacturer of their favorite felt-tipped pens, Crayola, to convince the company to start recycling their empties. And they did it. Join me to hear how, and be as inspired as I was. This show sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona.
August 24
I Am Your Farmer
Annie's Homegrown and Organic Valley
 It seems like a cop-out to post a link for a show description (I don't think I have ever done that), but this one is hard to capture. If you want to hear about an accomplished young farmer named Mathieu (Matt) J. Choiniere who won a $10,000 Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship from Annie's Homegrown, Inc., you may want to read all about him first. Matt, with his sister and parents, produce milk, eggs, beef and vegetables on over 200 acres of rugged farmland. He is a devoted student, gifted athlete, and an integral member of the family farm, where he contributes to daily chores in the barn, repairs and maintains farm machinery, and manages The Choiniere Family Farm website. "My vision of the successful future farmer is one who will educate the consumer as well as supply them directly with their products, but also the byproducts of their cash crop (such as bull calves, heat from milk, fallow grass in buffer strips, and manure), into a value added product," says Choiniere. "I want to continue to push the limits of sustainable agriculture and set the standard for farmers to come." And, yup, he is still in high school. This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.
August 31
How Green is Your Work Space?
 Marissa Feinberg, Co-founder Green Spaces
Marissa is an entrepreneur, marketer, publicist, brand builder and sought after public speaker; she will be a featured speaker at the Go Green Conference in New York. Green Spaces is NYC's and Denver's go-to co-working space for some of the coolest companies changing the world. Green Spaces was inspired by Green Leaders Global, a group she co-founded that unites sustainability change agents for salon-style events and deep dialogue to better the planet.Think Marissa stopped there? Of course not. She just launched Flockd which offers low-tech, tabletop pyramid gadgets, powering productivity and connectivity for innovation in collaborative spaces. Not sure what all that means but she does. This show is sponsored by the Go Green Conference.
September 7
Whole Foods, Real Food
 Patrick Bradley, Regional President, Whole Foods Southern Pacific Region
Whole Foods is what I call a needle mover. They are the hope for more organic produce and for more free range, hormone-free, cruelty-free meats. They are the hope for the little guy wanting to do the right thing. Patrick Bradley puts a face on all of that. As Regional President of the Southern Pacific Region, Patrick oversees the largest region in the company with 41 stores, a commissary, bake house and distribution center. One of the things I admire? In the past twenty-five years with Whole Foods, Patrick has worked his way up the ranks, having held Store Team Leader Positions at three California locations. I am certain he has some very interesting stories to share about his journey. This show sponsored by The Fairfax Companies.
September 14
Miraval: Simply the Best
 Michael Tompkins, President and CEO, Miraval Resort and Spa
I should just give it up trying to write this one. Michael and his team have helped make Miraval the number one resort and spa in the country and world-wide in many, many categories. In fact, Miraval has been publically recognized worldwide, nationally and locally in television, print media and online as one of the world's premier destination spas. Don't believe me? From just doing my own math, they have won over 16 awards so far in 2013. That takes outstanding leadership, focus and building a sustainable workforce to keep the momentum going. What's green about Miraval? A few examples: locally sourced ingredients used in their cooking; teaching classes to help us all create life in balance; their soon-to-be built state-of-the-art water treatment facility. Join us to learn more. The show sponsored by Miraval Resort and Spa.
September 21
Sustainable vs. Resilient Communities: Why We Should Care?
 John Robb, Resilient Communities
I met John in May at the Monterey Sustainable Foods Conference hosted by Seafood Watch. Of all the presenters and amazing people I met, John literally had me from hello. He gets it. He can tell you the difference between sustainability and resiliency and why it matters. What kind of "cred" does he have? Read below and get as excited as I am about this show. From John's about page: "So, rather than provide you a full list of what I've done (an excellent sleep aide), here's a short summary: Tier 1 counter-terrorism operator and planner (you know, the guys that got Osama); a successful serial entrepreneur (I built companies, products, and hired people); inventor, astronautical engineer, top technology analyst; CEO, CTO, COO; professional pilot, author, officer, Eagle Scout, father, husband, and global traveler. In short? I've been there and done that. Fortunately, this broad experience is exactly why I can help you succeed." This show sponsored by Chapman Tucson.
September 28
Focus on our Future: A Global Vision
 Joaquin Ruiz, University of Arizona, Vice President of Innovation and Strategy; Executive Dean, Colleges of Letters, Arts and Science; Dean, College of Science; Professor of Geosciences
Do you think there is more that I can add to the list of who this incredible man is? Yes, I can say that he and his team are literally changing the world every day. As a scientist with equal abilities in chemistry and in geology, Dr. Ruiz addresses many first-order problems in the Earth Sciences, such as the development of new isotope systems for studying ore deposits and the tectonic processes involved in the growth and evolution of Mexico. His research team addresses problems ranging from the origins of life to present-day climate change. A content-rich show guaranteed! This show sponsored by the University of Arizona.
October 5
Focus On Our Future: Rethinking How We Deal with Forest Fires
 Don Falk - Associate Professor, University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment
As a person who lost a cabin in one of the most devastating forest fires in the Southwest, what Don Falk has to say is of great interest to me - personally and professionally. According to Falk, there are at least three areas where we can rethink our relationship to forest fires, their causes and consequences. By far the most important factor is understanding and accepting the reality of climate change. The increases in area burned, for example, are driven by earlier loss of mountain snowpack as well as drier winters and warmer spring and summer temperatures. In other words, it's all about connecting the scientific dots. Are we doing fire suppression the right way? What can be done differently to help minimize the devastating impact of these increasing violent threats? Join me to find out. This show sponsored by the University of Arizona.
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