The Earth’s Tasty Bounty
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
In honor of Earth Week, we’re highlighting some foodmakers and farmers on Foodoro making products friendly to our planet! It’s an amazingly array of items sourced from one of the hottest places in North America (Thermal, CA) to the depths of the Pacific Ocean and mountain terraces of the Philippines to coffee farms in South America and Africa.
These featured foodmakers have a collective passion for natural, sustainable, organic and other methods–and they all produce delicious foods!
Their dates are unprocessed and grown in the most ecologically conscious way, with compost soil and aerated water–the purest form of organic.
Their all-natural chips are made from plantains, one of the earth’s most ubiquitous (outside the U.S.) and versatile fruits.
California red abalone is spawned and grown in the pristine waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary under the care of marine biologist Tom Ebert.
Their olive oil comes from olive grown on a ranch that cares as much for its environment as it does for its customers. Their orchards are self-sufficient, utilizing their own water-driven power system and gravity-driven water systems.
Their heirloom rice hails from the famed mountain terraces of the Philippines. The fair-trade company operates in more than 18 communities, directly supporting sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development.
Sacred Grounds Organic Coffee Roasters
They visit farmers, train with their peers and are active in the global coffee community. Their reward is the opportunity to work with passionate people from around the world.
The company was founded on the belief that sustainable sturgeon farming would be a viable alternative to depleting wild sturgeon stocks. For over 25 years, Tsar Nicoulai has become recognized internationally as pioneers in sustainably farming sturgeon for caviar.
Rice farming offered Massa Organics an opportunity to do real conservation work on a farm that has installed recirculation systems to reclaim our irrigation water and does not burn any crop residue. They measure improvements to the farm not just in crop yields, but in the numbers of sandhill cranes and California quail using the land.
This company has been harvesting sea vegetables by hand from the Mendocino Coast in California in an ecologically sound and sustainable way. All sea vegetables are sun-dried in order to preserve all of its nutrients.
Their goal is to farm sustainably within a certified organic, biologically complex system. Their soil enrichment program includes a diverse cover cropping system, microbiological drenches and aged nutritional mulches. As a result, their vegetables acquire vivid color, distinctive texture and intense fragrance and flavor.
Donna’s Tamales is committed to organic farming and sustainability. Working closely with the farmers who provide the raw ingredients for their tamales, they stay attuned to the economics and environmental impact of agribusiness.
They believe that jams and jellies are only as good as the fruit, so Hurley Farms practices sustainable farming. Any produce that they don’t grow themselves comes from neighboring local farms with sustainable practices in the famed Napa Valley.
Fishing Vessel St. Jude Albacore Tuna Products
All albacore is jig-caught one at a time, near the surface of cold waters in the central and north Pacific. Their fishing method ensures that the impact on the ocean’s food chain is very targeted, and they’ve won Best Choice on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s list of seafood recommended to eat in order to save the oceans.
Their philosophy is simple: Take care of the land, and it will take care of us. They are certified organic, but practice sustainable methods that are “beyond organic.” For example, their property is almost entirely powered by solar energy!
The “Zoka Way” ensures that customers get amazing coffee by drawing a solid, traceable line from farm to consumer. They endeavor to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships towards a commitment to improve the livelihoods of our producing partners and bolstering the environment.