|
|
|||
|
||||
| | ||||
| | |||||
 Email this page to a friend
Green Living Q&A Blog At Home With Debra ...How I Really Live
About the links Toxics Air (Indoor) |
 |
Organic FoodWhat I love about organic food--in addition, of course, to being free from pesticides and contributing to rebuilding the fertility of the land--is that it tastes sooooo good! Have a delicious experience eating your way through these links...Resources
An inspection, certification and labeling program for meat, poultry, egg and dairy products from animals raised to humane care standards. It is a voluntary, user-fee based service available to producers, processors and transporters of animals raised for food. The standards require that "livestock have access to clean and sufficient food and water; that their environment is not dangerous to their health; that they have sufficient protection from weather elements; that they have sufficient space allowance in order for them to move naturally; and other features to ensure the safety, health and comfort of the animal." Producers who are certified under the Certified Humane Certificate Program may use the Certified Humane Raised & Handled logo on their packaging. Site includes a page that allows you to search by state for stores that carry certified products.
The official FDA site for food labeling reguations.
A user-friendly yet comprehensive web site whose mission is to educate individuals and families about the benefits of organic food and lifestyle. It offers the latest in relevant news and articles, a forum for the organic community to exchange ideas and share thoughts, a Just for Kids section where children can learn healthy eating habits, and an extensive recipe database complete with nutritional information. Organic resources include links, an advice column, and organic FAQs, and an organic food store and farmers' market locator.
"For Wise Traditions in food, farming, and the healing arts." This organization does ongoing research an education according to the philosophy of Westin A. Price. Dr. Price (1870-1948) was a Cleveland dentist who looked for the causes of dental decay and physical degeneration that he observed in his dental practice by searching for shining examples of fine teeth and good health. He found them the world over in isolated human groups, including villages in Switzerland, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides, Eskimos and Indians of North America, and other remote locations. Over and over, Dr. Price found exceptionally healthy bodies where people ate their traditional diets. This website has an extensive library of information on traditional foods, problems with modern foods, and how we can create more traditional diets in our modern times. I am in complete agreement with their philosophy. Look here if you want a diet as close to nature as possible.
A fascinating site devoted to selecting, preparing, and enjoying "the world's healthiest foods"--foods that are nutrient dense, whole, familiar, readily available, affordable, and tasty. Entries on each food give nutritional content, health benefits, description of the food in its natural state, history, how to select and store, how to enjoy, serving ideas, and a whole list of scientific references to support their information. Plus, all about organic foods, seasonal food features, healthy cooking, how foods affect your health, and more. Whatever your dietary choices, you can learn something about the foods you eat from this website that celebrates what's right about food!
General 
"Gourmet Organic Food" section has over 3000 food items, including fresh produce, appetizers, baking supplies, beans, beverages, fresh bread, candy, chocolate, coffee and tea, condiments, cookies, dairy foods and eggs, desserts, gourmet cheese, grains and grain products, jam, meat and game, oils, paté, prepared meals, vinegars, salad dressings, seafood and caviar, seasonings, snack foods, and soups. Good one-stop shopping for gourmet items you may not find elsewhere. High prices.
A wide selection of fresh and prepared organic foods with guaranteed overnight delivery to every address in America. Gift baskets.
Enter your zip code to find farms, stores, restaurants, and local mail-order outlets that offer sustainably-raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs in your area.
Organic and natural bulk food items, sold in natural food stores in the bulk foods section, and on-line in one-pound packages. Their list of nearly 1000 items include baking and cooking ingredients, beans, grains and seeds, dried fruits and vegetables, flours and pastas, mixes, soups and broths, soy foods, and sprouting seeds, plus herbs and spices and teas.
A long-time supplier of organically grown, untreated, dried fruits, nuts, dates, seeds, grains, and other organic staples.
Enter your zip code to find small organic farms near you that grow or raise and sell organic food.
 All the basic staples for an organic, vegetarian, macrobiotic diet, including baking supplies, beans and grains, condiments, herbs and spices, sweeteners, snacks and more. Plus vegetarian supplements, organic teas and coffees, cookware, and essential kitchenware. "We focus on supplying the finest quality, organic food and organic lifestyle products with fast, friendly service. We're a family business and only offer products that we personally use and what we feel are the best for everyday natural health and living."
Gourmet organic food products from Italy, "Our products come from a farm or producer in Italy that we have personally visited. Every ingredient is certified organic." Many of these items sound heavenly, like Dolce Nicciola: "Master apiarist Giuseppe Follino blends his organic Tuscan millefiori (mixed flowers) honey with organic Sicilian hazelnuts to create a creamy, rich dessert topping. Giuseppe believes in the health benefits of raw honey, and never allows the honey to be warmer than the inside of a beehive. Dolce Nocciola is pure and simple, containing only hazelnuts and honey, avoiding the use of milk powder, oils, emulsifiers or stabilizers." All the products are like this...
Certified organic frozen entrees, rice and grains, pasta sauces, salsas, and salad dressings. "In 1989 we started with a mission—to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable organic agriculture. Put simply, we wanted to change the way we farm and eat. We got into foods because every time we walked our fields we were able to eat flavors, colors, and textures that you just couldn't find elsewhere. So we decided to try and capture them in a range of foods that anyone could have, whether they had a garden or not."
Hundreds, if not thousands, of natural and organic food products (no fresh meat or produce).
This is your basic bulk organic foods--grains, beans, dried fruits, coffee, nuts. All ingredients, not packaged food products. But what a selection! You'll find things here you won't find at your natural food store. Many varieties of beans and dried fruits, and "a grand selection of high quality certified organic herbs, spices and seasonings"--99% of everything on this site is certified organically grown.
 Originally a source for high quality organic coconut products (oil, cream, meat, and flour), they now sell many other organic food products, including grass-fed meat and dairy, wild-caught fish, and other whole foods (no organic potato chips here). Their Healthy Buyer's Club gives a big discount to repeat buyers for a very small fee. "Finding good food sources and healthy products is an ongoing endeavor, and the products represented here are the products I have trusted to meet the needs of my own family. I won't sell you products that I won't use personally or give to my children. We have a strong commitment to family farming and organic standards. But the organic label is not enough for us. We research and find out where the products are produced, and how they are produced. We find some organic standards too loose for our trust, so we look beyond what is claimed on a label. We find out as much as possible about those who provide the products. And if a certain quality of product does not exist, we will work with others to produce that product and offer it to our consumers."
A comprehensive selection of food products made from organically grown ingredients (no fresh foods). "A family owned business commited to bringing you the best quality products with the most organically grown and organically processed ingredients possible. All of the products we offer are USDA Organic or contain certified organic ingredients, are vegetarian according to their listed ingredients and contain no hydrogenated oils. Each item has a list of ingredients available for you to view. We believe the earth, our fellow companions on this earth and our bodies to be gifts bestowed on us. We believe it to be an honor, but an even greater responsibility to be stewards of these gifts. And we feel that supporting organics is one way of trying to live up to that responsibility."
A large selection of 100% natural, organic, and gluten-free foods, snacks and dietary supplements.
BBQ Briquets
Wood chips for barbecuing and grilling made from 100% oak, wine saturated, recycled wine barrels.
Cheese
Award-winning artisinal cheeses made in Pt. Reyes, California, from local organic milk and cream. When I used to live down the road from Pt. Reyes, I would go to this creamery and buy fresh cheese--mmmmmmmm!--and I've been to the farm where they get their milk. Now they have expanded with a store in San Francisco and one in Washington DC, and carry organic and artisinal cheeses from all over the world. On their website they also have a comprehensive "Cheese Library" with pictures of each variety and descriptions which include wine pairings, which you can search by milk type, country, raw or pasturized, and even cheesemaker!
"Since 1980, we have made a fine 'farmhouse' cheddar according to traditional methods, using only the raw milk from our purebred herd of Brown Swiss cows. The cheese is rGBH- and rBST-free and contains no artificial flavors, colorings, or preservatives. The American Cheese Society has consistently honored our cheddar with awards for excellence since 1990." The farm also serves as an educational demonstration center that practices environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable rural land use. Their dairy cows are grass-fed on a pasture rotation, and their acreage of sustainably managed woodlands received Green Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council in 1998. The very interesting website has lots of information and pictures that explain their dairy and cheesemaking procedures.
Farm-fresh cheeses made from the milk of grass-fed cows. The model farm "exists for the sake of helping us all connect with one another, and for us that means with animals and plants as well as with people. Our animals are friendly and gentle, and most importantly, known. We respect them and are grateful for all they are able to produce for us. So we try to provide a good life for them. Our cow, sheep, and goat herds are small, and we have enough grass for them to eat. They come in from the pasture to be milked or checked twice each day and spend the rest of their day roaming about in the fresh air in search of their own grassy version of mesclun!" Be sure to click on "The Farm" button to learn about the health benefits of grass-fed animal products. Proceeds from cheese sales support their educational programs.
Organic, raw, grass-fed cheeses, made by the Amish from cow or goat milk.
Farmstead cheeses made from an original recipe. "The distinctive flavor of the hand-crafted cheese results from the high quality of the milk and the variety of grasses and herbs growing in the pastures...The dairy is pasture-based and managed using sustainable practices. Our pasture and hay fields are managed organically. We strive to provide our cows with a stress free environment. Growth hormones are not used and antibiotics are used therapeutically and as a last option... The only ingredients in the cheese are whole unpasteurized milk, microbial rennet, culture and Celtic Sea Salt."
Chocolate
Coffee
Certified Organic Fair Trade coffee, roasted fresh from independent roasters. Arabica beans are available in a wide selection of certified organic and fair trade single origin varieties and blends. Also a large variety of favorite organic decaf coffees, articles about coffee and all the tools for preparation.
Condiments, Sauces, & Dressings
This is a great apple farm, where my husband and I used to stop when we would drive from San Francisco to Mendocino, California. They grow about 100 varieties of apples, and we would stop to try the different kinds that had just been picked. Their apple products--including apple cider syrup, apple cider vinegar, and apple balsamic vinegar--"are the result of many years of experiments with the goal of eventually being able to process all of the fruit that is not table quality. We are very close to our goal and feel we have come up with some exceptional apple products...We have been members of CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) for many years but have found ourselves veering off towards an even deeper commitment. The idea of looking at the farm as a complete organism is central to the practice of Biodynamics, which we began practicing in earnest several years ago. We are proud to have achieved Demeter status this year, making it possible to represent our farm and our apple products as biodynamic."
Organic and natural salad dressings, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, and marinades. "Many of our dressings meet the needs of those on special diets, including diets that are sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and vinegar-free." Some of the products contain organic sugar or honey, others are completely free of any sweetener. They are especially careful to make sure all their ingredients are GMO-free. Purchase at your local supermarket or natural food store or on-line at ShopNatural.
Unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized vinegar that "contains the amazing Mother of Vinegar which occurs naturally as strand-like chains of connected protein molecules...made from the finest organic apples." This vinegar is sweet and zesty and mellow at the same time, and really tastes like the apples it is made from.
Cookware Soapstone cookware in all shapes and sizes. This natural stone cookware is beautiful, warms food quickly over low heat, is bacteria-resistant and naturally non-stick, and is so durable it can be handed down for several generations.
Durable, commercial-weight aluminum-steel sheet pans for baking. Type "half-sheet" and "quarter-sheet" into the website search box to find sizes that fit in home ovens. Use with silicone liners or unbleached parchment paper. Since virtually all aluminum and all steel manufactured contains recycled content, it's likely these pans contain recycled material.
Beautiful black clay cookware, hand made into cookware in many shapes and sizes by artisans in Columbia. "There are no toxins used in the production since no glazes are used and there is no lead in the clay. It can be used in the oven, microware or stovetop."
Pyrex glass cookware and bakeware in a wide variety of sizes and shapes--even a glass roasting pan. Silica (a compound found in quartz and sand) is the main ingredient in making the heat-resistant glass, then "eight ingredients are added and some broken glass". So while it doesn't contain recycled glass bottles, broken glass within the factory is recycled back into the pot. Pyrex is durable (so it can be reused for years without breaking or chipping) and it saves energy (Pyrex glass absorbs, rather than reflecting oven heat waves, thereby reducing cooking time over earthenware, porcelain or enameled dishes).
Clay bean pots, casseroles, and roasters in many sizes (the largest roaster holds a 17-pound turkey) for easy, efficient, healthy cooking. Clay pot cooking seals in nutrients and cuts down on the need for added fats.
I had to look long and hard to find a roasting pan big enough for a turkey that did not have a non-stick finish. This one is not only not nonstick, but it has a wonderfully useful design. The pan has a large oval shape with high sides that hold heat in, and a rack with handles that makes it easy to pull out whatever you are roasting. The lid is flat, so it doubles as an oval skillet, baking dish, or serving dish. The handles are ingeniously placed on the side of the lid, making it easier to fit into my oven.
"America's Original Cookware" is made from simple iron cast in sand molds. No ordering on this manufacturer's website, but you can see all the shapes and sizes, learn about use and care, and enjoy the recipes.
Professional quality copper pots, some styles lined with traditional tin instead of stainless steel. "We consider that a respect for health, which is inseparable from a respect for the environment, must be our first objective. Therefore we use exclusively recyclable materials and prefer manual techniques to chemical processes. We perfect our creations with research into the aesthetic and functional aspects of the shapes, the ergonomics of the handles, the refinement of the details and the quality of the finish."
Over 150 different bakeware and kitchen tool items made from silicone. (purchase gives a small commission to Debra's List)
Search on "silicone" for almost 100 bakeware and kitchen tool items made from silicone.
Visions has long been one of my favorites. It is made from a proprietary glass-ceramic material doesn't leach into food. Because you can see right through it, you don't have to remove the lid to monitor cooking, thus saving energy. Visions wasn't available for a while, but it's back. New pieces are pretty expensive, however, there are quite a few pieces of used Visions cookware on eBay at very reasonable prices. I buy pieces when I find them at thrift stores and flea markets.
Dairy
The #1 site for grass-fed food and facts. Provices information (including scientific references) about and sources for natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork and dairy products. Their state-by-state guide Directory of Pasture-Based Farmers list more than 800 farms in the United States and Canada. To be listed, producers must certify that they meet the Eatwild criteria, ensuring that the animals and the land are well-treated and that the products are exceptionally high in nutrition and are free of antibiotics and added hormones. Many of the farms are organically certified; others lack certification, but follow many of the organic standards. State-by-state includes local farmers markets, stores, restaurants or buying clubs that feature grass-fed meat and dairy products.
No online ordering, but site includes a local store finder. Premium certified organic dairy products, eggs, juice, soy and meats, widely distributed (even in supermarkets). "We are the only organic brand to be solely owned and operated by organic farmers. Part of our success is due to the fact that as farmer-owners, we pay ourselves a stable, equitable and sustainable pay price. In an era of rising and falling agricultural prices, the family farmers who produce our organic milk, juice, eggs, meat, and produce can rely on a stable, living wage to stay in business in their home regions." Common practices of Organic Valley farmers include humane treatment of animals (access to the outdoors, fresh air, pure water, sunshine and exercise), rotational grazing, pasturing animals, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
DishwareThe largest collection of glassware and dinnerware made from recycled glass that I've found--covering all price ranges. Choose from affordable everyday dinnerware to one-of-a-kind pieces made by Fire & Light and Green Glass.
Hand-poured recycled glass dinnerware and giftware in eight luminous colors. I couldn't resist purchasing two lavender bowls years ago in a gallery because they are just so beautiful, and I use them often as part of my everyday dishware. The business began in 1995 as a partnership between the Arcata Community Recycling Center in Humboldt County, California, and a group of local investors who wanted to develop an innovative plan for using crushed, recycled glass. The crushed glass is melted in furnaces, pigment is added, and the molten glass is pressed into bowls, plates, and glasses. A great example for other communities to follow.
Elegant glassware made from empty, discarded bottles, using a unique patented process. Some are etched with lovely nature-oriented themes.
Though their website doesn't tell the good they do for the environment, their Onyx and Seastone glazes are actually recycled. In their manufacturing, they spray their glaze onto pieces which results in over-spray collecting on the walls and base of the glaze booth. At the end of each day, the waste glaze is scraped up and combined with other collected waste glaze to make a new glaze base. Various tints and other materials are added and the result is a post-manufacture recycled glaze. Its actual content varies according to the glazes they have been using in production. They are also doing experiments to come up with new clay formulas, with the idea being "to not dispose of any of the waste material created during our manufacturing process, but to turn it all into functional product."
Absolutely stunning plates and bowls made from recycled plate glass. "Plate glass (from windows, shelves, doors etc.) is usually excluded from most other recycling programs. Many recycling centers accept only bottle glass. To keep plate glass out of the waste stream, Recycled Glassworks creates products that are both functional and infused with a unique aesthetic." While you might not use these for everday dishware, each is a work of art and would be suitable for gifts or special occasions.
"An exercise in sustainability that reincarnates existing products. Used or unwanted ceramics are redesigned and resurfaced then presented as new collections. Interesting designs and modern colors enliven the dish, extending its life cycle past the thrift store or overstock pile." Designs are bold and bright, dishes are machine washable. No online ordering, but site contains a national list of stores, and custom work is available.
Fish & Seafood
Sustainabily-harvested wild salmon and other wild fish from the pristine waters of Alaska--free of antibiotics, pesticides, synthetic coloring agents, growth hormones and GMOs. Sold flash frozen, smoked, made into sausage and burgers, and in cans and pouches...and Alaskan salmon caviar. Also sugar-free organic blueberries, strawberries and red raspberries, organic herbs and spices, organic cooking oils, and more good organic foods.
Live lobster from "the pre-eminent lobster fishery in North America...At Grand Manan Lobster, we go beyond "sustainable fishing" to honor the local, multi-generational traditions of Grand Manan Island's fishing community. "Grand Manan Island, located at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy off the coast of New Brunswick between Maine and Nova Scotia, is the pre-eminent lobster fishery in North America." We call it "Thoughtful Harvesting." A catch is truly sustainable when fished with thought and consideration for the catch of the next day, next year and next generation. Every day's fishing effort bears a moral responsibility to the island's future generations. This is the way Grand Manan's close-knit fishing community maintains its continuing livelihood.
An international organization that "works to safeguard the world's seafood supply by promoting the best environmental choice." Click on "Fisheries" tab to read their standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries. Click on "Where to Buy" for retailers that carry their certified seafoods.
Flavoring Extracts
"Premium quality line of baking flavors and extracts...100% natural, sugar-free and contains no added colors. These natural flavors are also vegetable-glycerin based, so they're alcohol-free...flavors and extracts offer superior flavor to enhance baked goods, and most are made using earth-friendly certified organic ingredients."
"100% certified organic flavoring extracts for all your baking and flavoring needs. These superior quality extracts were developed by flavoring institutes to provide exquisite retention of flavor when used in baking and cooking. Produced in a base of grain alcohol and water; these completely natural extracts do not contain any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Every extract we offer is 100% certified organic through OTCO and certified Kosher." Hazelnut, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint, and Vanilla.
Food Colors
I was thrilled to find these natural food colors after years of trying to figure out how to write "Happy Birthday" on a cake in a color other than chocolate brown. The colors are suspended in a corn syrup and glycerin base, so they're not free of refined sugar, but you use so little (1/8 to 1 1/2 teaspoons per cup, depending on color and depth and medium) that they hardly add a calorie or a carb. A great substitute for artificial colors in all kinds of foods. Instead of looking garish, like artificial colors, these are soft, lovely, and, well, "look good enough to eat!" Kit comes with five basic colors-- Yellow Light, Sage Green, Orange Nasturtium, Blue Violet and Rose Madder Red--which you can mix like paints to create the palette of your choice, and full instructions on how much to use to achieve "pale," "half tint," and "full tint" for different types of frosting and icings, meringues, sanding sugar, candy, marzipan, whipped cream, sugar cookies, white chocolate, and coconut.
Natural food colors made without added sugar. Some are purely fruit or vegetable juice concentrates, others contain sweet vegetable glycerin, which has no calories or carbohydrates.
Food Service
Disposable cutlery made from renewable wheat or corn. Both biodegrage in 4-6 weeks.
Recycled and biodegradable/compostable food service ware made from corn, potatoes, sugar cane fiber, recycled defective milk cartons, tree cellulose, and other natural materials. Items include plates and bowls, flatware, hot and cold cups and lids, sample cups, straws, napkins and wraps, "to-go" containers, food and sandwich bags, and more. There is a $250 minimum order, so find some friends to share with.
Fruit
100% certified organic fruit snack bars--made entirely from fruit--let you carry whole fruit with you, without refrigeration. Each bar contains more than one apple (including the nutrient- and fiber-rich peel) plus cherries, raspberries, or blueberries. "Made from organic fruit grown in the Pacific Northwest, this bar embodies the purity of organic fruit right off the trees."
Chewy snacks made from 100% dried fruit - no sugar added. Some flavors are made with organically grown fruit.
Grains
A line of organic sprouted flours "that digest as vegetables!" Sprouted spelt, wheat, and rye flours, and sprouted cream of spelt cereal. The website has interesting data on the nature of grains and many recipes for using their sprouted flour. Though this sounds strange (how can sprouts be flour?) it looks just like flour. You can see in pictures how it is made on the website. I tried their pancake recipe and it was delicious.
Kitchenware
"Unique hardwood implements handcrafted from figured, rare and unusual tropical and domestic hardwoods...we are inspired by each trees' individuality. We recycle trees downed by storms, development, etc. The natural characteristics of the wood are emphasized in the design of each piece." I found these craftspeople at a fair and couldn't resist their whimsical designs.
Cutting boards made from FSM certified sustainably harvested wood.
This "functional and whimsical line of natural loofah kichen scrubbers" is made from organically grown loofahs fashioned into colorful and decorative scrubbers. Fruits, vegetables, and other designs will bring a smile every time you use them. While they aren't 100% natural (2% is polyethylene sponge), the loofah is certified organic and fair trade, helping to employ native peoples in Paraguay and preserve forest habitat. Check out their website to learn more about the product; all styles can be purchased from Kitchen Classics.
"Unpaper Towels" made from natural color hemp-cotton fleece, chosen for it's super absorbency and "withstand anything" durability. Sold in various sizes for various uses.
Simple, imaginitive spoons, spatulas, tongs and other woodenware, handmade in the Pacific Northwest from locally harvested woods: peach, black walnut, maple, oak, cherry, madrone, myrtlewood, and the wood from pear trees removed from orchard service after years of bearing fruit.
Cutting boards in various styles made from 100% virgin old-growth wood, salvaged from the depths of the Great Lakes and other US and Canadian waterways. This wood is 300 to 1200 years old and has abundant figuring, tight grain, and unique colors created by the leaching of minerals from the water.
A large selection of bamboo cutting boards, plates, bowls, and accessories. "Bamboo is actually a grass that grows to a harvestable height between 3-5 years. Some species grow up to 2 feet per day. After harvesting, bamboo does not require replanting. Bamboo has an extensive root system that continually sends up new shoots, naturally replenishing itself, making it one of the most renewable resources known. Our unique bamboo cutting boards are hand crafted using hundreds of tiny laminated bamboo strips. Unlike most other hardwoods, bamboo absorbs very little moisture and consequently does not shrink or swell as much, making it a superior choice of material for cutting boards. It is 16% harder than maple which means less visible knife marks keeping the cutting board looking brand new for years to come."
Carries a large selection of glass food storage containers in many sizes and styles (type "glass food storage" in their search box).
Basic glass food storage containers, including old-fashioned square refrigerator dishes, water storage pitchers, spice jars, and recycled glass service jars (with large openings on the side for easy access).
All kinds of beautiful cherrywood kitchen utensils, handmade in Pennsylvania from locally harvested wood. "My utensils have a unique sense of balance and warmth because they are designed with the hand and purpose in mind. In all of my work I strive for a balance of the use in the tactile and esthetic qualities, with the use of utility and purpose." I first learned about this company when I purchased a pair of tongs in a store. I was drawn to them because of their simple beauty for a utilitarian everyday object.
Unbleached coffee filters, parchment paper, baking cups and cheesecloth. Buy online from greenfeet.com
Meat & Poultry
The #1 site for grass-fed food and facts. Provices information (including scientific references) about and sources for natural and nutritious grass-fed beef, lamb, goats, bison, poultry, pork and dairy products. Their state-by-state guide Directory of Pasture-Based Farmers list more than 800 farms in the United States and Canada. To be listed, producers must certify that they meet the Eatwild criteria, ensuring that the animals and the land are well-treated and that the products are exceptionally high in nutrition and are free of antibiotics and added hormones. Many of the farms are organically certified; others lack certification, but follow many of the organic standards. State-by-state includes local farmers markets, stores, restaurants or buying clubs that feature grass-fed meat and dairy products.
Premium cuts of certified organic, grassfed beef. "To be certified organic, all animals must be certified organic. Our brood stock are certified organic, our bulls and cows are certified organic. All animals are birthed organic. All feed must be certified organic to include pastures, hay and any grain. Our land and everything the cattle are fed are certified organic. Our beef cattle are completely free of steroids, antibiotics, hormones, and genetically-modified foods."
Grass-fed beef (steaks, ground, roasts, brisket, ribs jerky, franks, sausage, bacon, and pemmican), free-range chicken and turkey, natural certified humane pork, grass-fed lamb, gourmet rabbit, and more.
Organic and natural, antibiotic-free meat products, including deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, italian meats, sausages, and more.
100% pure Certified Organic Beef. "Our cattle are never administered antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones, and are fed a strict vegetarian diet that never contains any animal by-products...Dakota Beef's breeding stock is 100% beef cattle. We never use Holstein or Dairy Cattle...Calves in our program are born after their mothers have been moved to certified organic pasture and are raised on their mothers milk. As they grow, they are fed an all-vegetarian diet of certified organic grains and grass. You can be assured that Dakota Beef products are free from BSE." Be sure to click on the "About Dakota Beef" tab to read all the details of how their beef is produced.
Oil
This is my favorite olive oil. The ranch is out on a country road in Marin county, just north of San Francsico. I used to drive on this road when I lived there and actually watched them planting the trees some years ago. The extra virgain oil is fruity and light, made in the Tuscan style from six varieties of certified organic olives. And--"In an effort to see that nothing goes to waste"--when they need to replace a tree, they send the largest salvageable branches to a local wood artisan, who hand-carves bowls and other useful kitchen items.
Produce
Organic fruit gift boxes containing seasonal selections of sweet cherries, tree-ripened peaches, apples and pears from several small family farms located on the high mesas of western Colorado. "Abundant bright sunshine, rich soils, cold, clean mountain water and the careful, conscientious hands of the growers bring you the best in organic high country fruit...Our fruit is picked at its peak of ripeness (unlike most fruit, which is often picked green and ripened later). The "tree ripened" nature of our fruit means you get the sweetest, most delectable fruit you can imagine...Once the fruit comes in from the field...we select the largest, prettiest fruits for shipping to our Web order customers...and ship the order to you as quickly as possible."
Restaurants
A comprehensive list of restaurants across America that cook with organic food , searchable by state or zip code.
Seasonings Pristine crystalline salt evaporated from a primordial sea. When the Himalayan mountain range was formed, this salt was buried, preserving its purity. Because it is hand-mined, hand-selected, hand-crushed, hand-washed, and sun dried, it retains its bio-energetic qualities, just as it was in the primordial sea 250 million years ago. Contains the 84 minerals and trace elements essential to health.
An amazing list of several hundred organic and wildcrafted bulk herbs and spices--all "grown, processed and handled with oversight and certification from a third party certification agency...Mountain Rose Herbs has over 8 farm operations, 3 wild harvesting operators, and acts as a direct liaison and processor with farmers and growers all across the globe. We are confident not only in the quality of material you may order but the ethics involved with their preparation and handling... We will continue our work in making organics affordable and have them delivered to your doorstep so fresh and fragrant that we promise it will make you feel good all over." And there are info links for each that give contemporary and folklore data.
A long list of certified organic and natural herbs and spices. These are sold bulk in natural food stores in the bulk section, in brand-name bottles in the seasoning department, and on-line in bottles and one-pound bags.
If you love garlic, you'll love this website. They carry organic garlic in every form imaginable--Organic Toasted Elephant Garlic Flakes, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Garlic Flakes, Organic Heirloom Garlic Flakes, and almost 50 different varieties of fresh organic garlic. Also books, videos, and accessories that help you cook with garlic. (Note this site also sells many packaged foods containing garlic that are not organic, so read descriptions carefully. This is an all-garlic site, but not an all-organic site.)
Supplements
One of the first companies to develop organically grown whole food supplements, over 75 years ago. Their extensive collection of products supports the healthy functioning of specific body systems. They are very potent and sold only through health care professionals who can monitor their use. You can call 1-800-558-8740 or email info@standardprocess.com to be referred to a health professional in your area who can assess your need and provide these supplements to you (many chiropractors recommend and sell them...some websites sell them online, but they do so in violation of their license agreement). Many of their whole food ingredients are grown organically on company-owned farmland and then processed utilizing exclusive low-temperature drying equipment to preserve the maximum nutrients of the whole foods. The company was founded in 1929 by Dr. Royal Lee, a dentist who made a connection between nutrition and tooth decay way back in 1923, showing the necessity of vitamins in the diet. You can see the whole process of making these supplements on their website.
Whole food vitamin and mineral supplements. "We are 100% whole food, all the time...Our purpose is to create the finest products that are truly natural, made of 100% real food and herbs. We have never made products with chemical isolates or solvents, and we won't. We culture all our vitamins and minerals, and we always will. They are not synthetic--they are food. We are committed to supporting and protecting the environment, and our Costa Rican farm is a world model for organic sustainable farming in the rain forest." See pictures of their farm on the site.
Exceptionally pure and hypoallergenic nutritional supplements.
Sweeteners
Sweets
Mints, Sweets, Tarts, and Aromatherapy Pastilles--"all low carb, low calorie, fat free, and allergen free...Oregon Tilth and USDA certified organic...We are proud to say that all of our products are gluten-free, corn-free, casein-free, wheat-free, fish & shellfish-free, nut-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and soy-free. As always, they're 100% vegetarian, and contain no artificial colors, flavors or animal by-products...Our flavors are made from essences (flavor extracts and essential oils) of the actual plant...our Lemon Tarts are made from real lemons, Raspberry Tarts from raspberries...When colorants are used they are also from plants... Watermelon, Raspberry, and Guava contain colorants made from red cabbage. Cherry's stunning red is from black carrots and black currants...Lime Tarts get their green hue from certified organic flavorless spinach."
A line of "candies" made from 100% pure certified organic licorice herb root extract. Some of the products contain sweetener, but many do not. Made in Italy with the finest southern Italian Licorice plant root since 1886. Pure licorice extract tastes sweet without sugar because one of the active components in licorice root, Glycyrrhizin, is 50 times sweeter than sugar (Glycyrrhiza, is derived from the Greek root glukus "sweet" and riza "root"). This is the real licorice, with its medicinal properties. Read more about the properties of real licorice and its health benefits on the website.
Candies sweetened only with honey, including pecan pralines, almond coconut praline, creamy carob fudge, creamy honey mints, honey caramels, a pulled honey taffy containing bee pollen, and more. NOTE: They cannot make chocolate with honey, so all the candies containing chocolate contain chocolate sweetened with refined white sugar. This chocolate is purchased already sweetened. There is no refined white sugar on the premesis where the honey candy is made.
Tea
Teabags filled with "super premium, organic full leaf teas and herbal teasans...Our teas and herbs are certified Organic, Kosher and Halal and we are committed to work with fair-traded farmers....Numi uses only full-leaf tea in their teabags, ensuring a loose-leaf quality tea in every cup...Numi uses real ingredients in its teabags. We do not add any oils or "natural" flavorings...The herbs are cut to bring out their full flavor. We place more ingredients in each teabag (an average of 2.2 grams vs. the 1.8 grams in standard/conventional teabags)...Numi's teabags are made of natural filter paper... Their double chamber allows the water to flow through and release all the subtle flavors each tea and herb has to offer...From the farmer's tea garden to the packaging process to the final soothing cup of tea in your home, every step is guided by our devotion to bringing our customers the finest tastes!" Everything about their website and teas is steeped in quality. beauty and creativity. See especially their "flowering teas"--"handsewn rosettes of fine tea leaves that elegantly bloom into a work of art when steeped in hot water". These flowering teas would make a great gift for a tea lover!
Large selection of certified organic and fair trade certified green and black teas--old favorites plus new delights such as honeybush tea. Also loose-leaf herbal tea blends."Our line of herbal loose-leaf teas are made with certified organic ingredients, and when organic materials are not available, we will opt for carefully wildcrafted herbs. We never have, nor will we ever use conventionally grown materials in our teas...We were the first company to introduce 100% certified organic herbal loose leaf teas in compliance with the USDA National Organic Program and certified organic by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic."
A lovely collection of all-organic teas, chosen by a breast cancer survivor. Five percent of each purchase is donated to the Breast Cancer Fund through January 2007. "Doctor B's Teas is designed to support women and men in their own efforts to forestall and overcome cancers, to strengthen their bodies during treatment and beyond." Each tea is Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International. The website includes information on the health benefits of each of the teas and tips for storing and making tea for the best flavor and benefits.
Good selection of certified organic looseleaf black, green, and herbal teas.
Organic herbal teas based on time-honoredd Chinese, Ayurvedic, Native American and European herbalism, "carefully selected for freshness and potency. All of our teas are tested to be free of herbsides, pesticides, and any contaminants which may affect medicinal quality and flavor."
"Fresh, high quality teas and the products to serve them." I've been exploring my local Teavana stores and have been happy to find a number of organic choices amongst their high-quality teas. These are not inexpensive teas and there is a minimum purchase, but I am finding the teas to be of exceptional value because they are so flavorful and enjoyable. They also sell sweeteners, including raw sugar in crystals and organic honey, as well as beautiful tea pots and cups and various accoutrements. If you don't have a Teavana near you, you can order online, but I noticed the website doesn't indicate the organic teas (the catalog you can pick up in the store does).
Over 300 varieties of loose organic and natural teas of all types, plus all the accoutrements and lots of information about tea. My friend Cathy told me about this site after I commented on the deliciousness of her iced tea. She made it with tea from this site that has bits of real fruit in it, not just fruit flavoring.
Wine
For more quotes like this, sign up for daily delivery of my free Words of Wisdom newsletter. |
|
Legend
  Coloring Springtime Eggs With Natural Dyes Safety of Microwave Ovens & Healthfulness of Microwaved Food The Relative Healthfulness of Foods Cleaning Up the Kitchen for the Holidays Natural, Organic & Grass-Fed Meats
UHT Food Containers - Aseptic Packaging Biodegradable Disposable Picnic Ware Debra's Cookware: -- Cast Iron and Porcelain Non-plastic and Green Lunch Supply Alternatives Steam-in-bag frozen vegetables Trying to replace plastics for outdoor drinks Greenbags for food preservation Where to find the most Natural Vitamins Why You Want to Avoid Genetially Modified Foods non toxic finish for wooden spoons What is the danger of peeled off Teflon Layer ? Bisphenol A in Canned products organic vs local (non-organic) produce How Do I Wash Small Fruits Like Grapes? Magnetically-attractive stainless steel cookware can visions cookware and pyrex shatter while cooking? Is sodium meta bisulphite safe? looking for plastic-free coffee maker and rice cooker apple juice vs apple cider--what's the difference? New book on dangers of RBGH in milk Eco-Friendly Chopsticks for Chinese New Year It Pays to Shop Around for Organic Food Non-Toxic Cutting Board Recommendations? Tierra Negra Clay Bakeware Sale at Crate & Barrel Teflon on George Forman Grills? Pesticide Residues in Brewed Coffee Do some Visions cookware have Teflon? Offgassing From Silicone Bakeware Getting the Smell Out of a New Refrigerator Anodized Cookware in the Dishwasher Using plastic or melamine cups/plates Toaster Oven and Portable Dishwasher Polyester Fabric Sandwich Bags Reusing Plastic Food Containers Aluminum Cookware and Alzheimer's Disease Silicone baking mats vs parchment paper Mineral Oil--Is It Safe and Natural? Wood Conditioner for Cutting Boards and Bowls Alternatives to Soy Milk and Protein Powders The Safety of Pewter (Old and New) Is there formaldehyde in gelatin capsules?
|
|
 |
|||||
Copyright ©2007 Debra Lynn Dadd - all rights reserved. |
|||||
Debra's List
Debra Lynn Dadd
Debra's Bookstore
MCS Recovery
Sweet Savvy
