Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Did you know:

• The state of California spends $25 million sending plastic bags to landfills every year.
• It costs San Francisco 17c for every discarded plastic bag.
• Only 23% of glass and 7% of plastic disposed is recycled.

So what can you do about reducing your packaging waste?
Buy your groceries in bulk. It’s not just cheaper but eco-friendly too.

At Rainbow Grocery, we are committed to eliminating packaging waste and you can bulk buy practically everything! We carry a variety of scoop-your-own bulk options such as coffee, grains, spices, salt, pasta, olives, dry fruits, nut butters, oils, etc.

You can either bring your own containers and jars to the store, or buy them in various sizes from our aisles. So it’s a good idea to recycle yoghurt containers, jam jars and plastic take-out boxes. Buying in bulk also means that you can reduce food spoilage by taking only the amount you need.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before bringing in your own bulk containers:

1. Since we get plenty of customers handling bulk items, please wash your hands before handling food items.

2. If your container has a barcode, please make sure to cross it off so that you don’t get charged.

3. It’s a good idea to label jars that you bring in regularly – it will make things easier over time!

4. Don’t forget to weigh in your containers before filling them up.

So start saving up  on those containers today and come by Rainbow Grocery. We appreciate you doing your bit to reduce packaging waste, and we will give you a 5c discount for every reused container. Go on… reduce, reuse and recycle.

Earth Day 2012

April 22nd is Earth Day folks and you know what that means. . .

Music! Dance! Eco workshops! Organic food! And this time, it’s going to be even better with holistic healing, activities for kids and a permaculture village lined up for the day.  Rainbow Grocery is proud to sponsor this event each year. Earth Day mirrors our beliefs in creating environmental awareness, being socially responsible and furthering the green/sustainability activist movement.

 

Last year, we were happy to give away some of our fresh, 100% organic produce at the event. It was great to meet so many people from all over San Francisco. We had a chance to teach them the benefits of eating local, healthy food and buying groceries in bulk to reduce packaging waste. We have a few more surprises up our sleeve this year, so do come by and celebrate Earth Day with us on April 22nd, Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco.

 

Local Organic Farming vs. Certified Organic

The promise of certified organic is this: you can improve your nutrition while helping save the planet from the evils of conventional agriculture – a complete win-win. And who wouldn’t buy organic when it sounds so good?

In the US, organic food and beverages made $26.7 billion in the last two years. What is interesting to note, is that upto ten years ago, certified organic did not exist in the United States. This spike in growth happened within the last eight years of USDA’s regulations officially going into effect.

To be certified as organic, farmers and companies must eschew most pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, and radiation. But what the USDA does not specify is the amount – which means that packaged foods can slap the “Made with Organic Ingredients” label if at least 70% of the ingredients are organic. What’s even more alarming is that the USDA permits several pesticides to be used in organic farming – which defeats the whole purpose of organic production in the first place!

In the short documentary, Local, the director, Christian Remede showcases the controversy between farmers who pay for getting organic certified and those who are genuinely local and adhere to the principles of organic farming. The film is a must-watch to understand how local farming means seasonal production, crop rotation and using natural pesticides instead of paying the USDA to just get a stamp of approval.

At Rainbow Grocery, we stock seasonal vegetables and fruits from local farmers in California. We not only check the authenticity of the organic produce, but believe that the best tasting ingredients come from food that is fresh and locally grown.

Earthen Path Organic Farm

Earthen Path Organic Farm in Oak Center, Minnesota is Steven Schwen’s vision of building a strong connection to earth, of living within the circles of life and the cycles of nature. Schwen has a small piece of land, where he raised a generation of children and taught them to live with creativity and within their resources. He has chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys and has farmed with horses since the last 28 years. He wants to pass on not just the knowledge and skills of sustainable farming, but also what he and generations before him have built – barnyards, stables, workshops and pens.

Schwen believes that we, as a society, have been lured down the path of consumerism, and profit, at the expense of the environment and of our souls. “I think it’s important for people to understand that we are all connected to land and labor… And you know, we are helping shape people’s thinking but I think there has been a lot of resistance because of the comfort levels that material security has been providing people. People have been saying, yeah, I want to do that someday. But circumstances are becoming such that people will not have those choices anymore, and people realize that.”

Raising Organic Family Farms

Are you an aspiring organic farmer or sustainable agricultural student looking for a little extra help to promote organic farming? Raising Organic Family Farms is calling for all applicants to send in their entries for what they need to be successful. The last date for turning in applications is March 12, 2012. Judges will be allocating $25,000 in grants and scholarships to selected farmers and students.
To apply, please click here.

The Raising Organic Family Farms is a national program to help nurture, grow and redefine a new generation of organic farmers. Institutions and non-profit organizations, like EcoFarms and FoodCorps, partner to mentor emerging and existing organic farmers. Click here to read how budding entrepreneurs are changing their lives and making a difference with organic farming.

My Grocery List

1. Eduardo’s Whole Wheat Stortini Elbow Macaroni: Eduardo’s pasta, made in the Bay Area, brings homemade flavor that’s free from preservatives, salt and artificial flavors.

2. Rancho Gordo’s Heirloom Santa Maria Pinquito Beans: Pink, hearty Pinquito beans make a yummy chili!  These  old-fashioned heirloom beans are grown in Northern California.

3. Lundberg’s Sesame and Seaweed Brown Rice Chips: I enjoy snacking on these organic, non-GMO, gluten-free whole grain chips.

4. Arrowhead Mills’ Organic Sesame Tahini: Did you know that sesame seeds are a great source of protein?

5. Kaya Sprouted Sesame Seeds: I love these organic sprouted sesame seeds dusted with raw cacao.

6. Koda Farms’ Organic Heirloom Kokuho Brown Rice: This unpolished, organic and GMO free rice adds nutty flavor.

7. 18 Rabbits Organic Granola Bar: Dates and raisins make a comforting and chewy snack.

8. Giusto’s Organic Old Mill Reduced Bran Flour: A flavorful and nutritious substitute to regular flour.

~
Gina Staub,
Proud baker and coop owner at
Rainbow Grocery

The Right to Conscious Eating

I have to admit: I never used to pay much attention to food labels. I never bothered to turn that can of chili and check the amount of sodium or notice the percentage of sugar in my cereal. It was only after becoming a cooperative member at Rainbow Grocery,  that I learned why it was so important to know what you eat. Today, I am passionate about preserving our organic fields and educating customers about conscious eating.

At Rainbow, we are committed to stocking nutritious wholesome food made from organic ingredients and free from misleading claims. Each day, I go over many food labels and work closely with suppliers. Aside from engaging in price negotiations with new suppliers, I submit a report to the board that verifies their organic farming methods and authenticates their pesticide-free fruits and vegetables. When a packaged food claims to be “made with whole wheat,” I check if the label states what percentage of grains in the total product are whole. For example, we are proud to stock Mary’s Gone Crackers – a certified organic company, using only certified organic, non-GMO ingredients.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to have complete information about packaged food. The FDA has not made it mandatory for food manufacturers to label genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) on packaging. Genetically engineered (GE) food contains plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits not naturally theirs. It is estimated that almost 60-70% of processed foods available in grocery stores in the United States contain GMOs.

Isn’t it time we wake up to what’s in our food and making us sick?

Our customers have a right to know!

To make a choice to improve their diet and reduce the risk of diet-related diseases.

Rainbow Grocery has taken a stand and partnered with the California Right To Know/ Genetically Engineered Food Labeling Initiative.

Come by to the store on March 1st/8th/13th/20th to learn more and join the petition.

~
Stuart Krasnow,
Compost addict and coop owner at
Rainbow Grocery