Pullman's 11th Annual Fair Trade Craft Sale

When: October 30th, 9-5pm & October 31st, 12-4pm

Where: The Community Congregational United Church of Christ
(525 NE Campus Street, Pullman, WA)

From the Pullman Chamber of Commerce website: Highlighting this year’s 11th Annual Fair Trade Craft Sale will be the display and sale of crafts, accessories, jewelry and other cultural products as the result of Singing Shaman Traders’ recent buying trip to Vietnam.

The Fair Trade Craft Sale last year developed into something very special and quite unique. This year, goods have been gathered from numerous struggling small local and Northwest Fair Trade businesses representing hundreds of artists from dozens of countries.

There will be an incredible selection of beautiful jewelry, accessories, purses, ornaments, bamboo, pottery, instruments, baskets, toys, and of course lots of crafts. The products are fairly traded, and come from Vietnam, Peru, Mexico, Thailand, Honduras, Nepal, India, Kenya, and a few more.

Just Fine in Moderation...

From Washington State University's newspaper, The Daily Evergreen:

The CRA is engaging in false advertising
By: Justin Rastelli, columnist

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) would like you to know that consuming high fructose corn syrup is no worse for you than eating an equivalent amount in table sugar. By that same logic, smoking is no worse than shooting yourself, so people should not bother to quit smoking either.

The CRA’s latest advertising campaign is an attempt to change the public view on corn syrup. These commercials all follow a similar story line, featuring two relatively attractive and healthy individuals with one explaining the “truth” about corn syrup. Often the commercials claim that corn syrup is a natural product, equivalent to any other sugar, and is “just fine in moderation.”

These commercials give the false impression that high fructose corn syrup, or any sugar, is not detrimental to your health. They miss the issue entirely. It is not that high fructose corn syrup is any worse for you. The issue is that the amount of corn syrup consumed by an average American is incredibly high.

If you consumed the same incredible amount of sugar as opposed to corn syrup, you would still be scheduling your next visit for liposuction. When doctors and dietitians suggest avoiding corn syrup, they are suggesting that you avoid foods that are highly processed and contain large amounts of sugar. It just happens that most products of that variety contain corn syrup.

High fructose corn syrup is indeed derived from corn, but that is not why many consider it to be unnatural. More often than not corn syrup is found in many products that are highly processed and refined. Cereals, breads, condiments and even cough syrup all contain corn syrup. Let us not forget that high fructose corn syrup is also the main ingredient in foods that contain little to no nutritional value, such as candy or soda.

The amount of corn syrup in products is the main problem. It is proven that consumption of large amounts of any sugar is responsible for a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension and obesity. By producing these commercials, the CRA is trying to protect their investments and trying to confuse you. The issue is not what corn syrup is made of, it is the ridiculous amounts that are consumed by Americans.

That is why it was necessary for them to put the “in moderation” line in their commercials. But without constant awareness, moderation is nearly impossible. If you ever happen to glance at the nutrition label on your can of Coke, you might notice the incredible amount of sugar that it contains.The reason that there is no datum for percentage daily value for sugar is that you do not need any. Any excess is just extra empty calories. In moderation should really mean not at all.

Ultimately, if you want to be healthy, you should avoid high fructose corn syrup. It isn't toxic but most of the products that use it carry very little nutritional value to begin with. Do not let the CRA trick you into thinking that corn syrup is healthy. If you want a healthy life, you should avoid it. Of course, if you want to be a diabetic obese person with high blood pressure, by all means indulge.

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/32949

Chilly, windy days provide perfect opportunity for a cup of organic cocoa

When I drink cocoa, my first thought is usually, I am freezing and the weather is grey and I need something to warm me up. But I had never really thought about how the cocoa bean has to be picked and processed by farmers and workers before it reaches the store and eventually my mug. Last year, I learned about Equal Exchange, a company that sells organic coffees and cocoas. Equal Exchange's cocoa originates in the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Paraguay. It is 100 percent fairly traded. It's a little pricey, but it's important to remember there is a human element in food production and that workers have to earn a reasonable profit from their work, as well. The cocoa is also vegan, and doesn't contain milk for those who are lactose intolerant. You can see what kinds of products Equal Exchange has, here. I know they also sell organic hot cocoa at Safeway in Pullman. So grab a mug, a snuggly blanket and drink sustainably.

P.S. There is a fair-trade sale coming up this weekend in town. I'll post the details soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

You are what you eat

Denise Chin discusses her view on the meat industry in a Daily Evergreen column:

"Be more aware when you eat"
10/18/2010

I love food. I love biting into a juicy steak and savoring its succulent flavor, appreciating the blend of herbs and spices that complement the meat.

I love the excitement of looking through a menu and finding that one item that calls my name. I love being inspired by recipes and cooking up a storm. I love thinking about my next meal.

Despite my fondness for all of the above, what holds my heart more is the fact that I have an assertive conscience. It has taught me, especially this year, to appreciate food on a much deeper level.

Last spring break, I went on a service trip with WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement and learned about sustainable agriculture and being actively involved in the food chain, from serving at organic farms to helping at food banks in Western Washington.

Not only was I completely out of my city girl comfort zone (I felt like I was in "The Simple Life"), I was also forced to think about my food choices — something I had evaded for a long time.

I met people who had absolutely no problems about not eating meat, and I wondered how they could be so cool while resisting some deliciously greasy bacon. At the end of the trip, I had a new appreciation for farmers and food, yet I was unsettled about my own eating practices. I had to do something about that.

So, I read "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" (willingly and enjoyably, much to the dismay of many freshmen at the time), I volunteered at a farmer’s market, I decided to take a rural sociology class and I did some research that forced me to face the hard facts.

I learned that while I like beef, I cannot live with the fact that breeding cattle emits gases that contribute to a warmer earth; or the fact that livestock are fed corn, something they are not made to eat, and are then injected with antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick; or that workers in the meatpacking industry receive meager wages for working in an accident prone environment.

Read more.

Inside the WSU Creamery

So, I've talked a lot about "organic" so far, but I wanted to keep this blog open to a variety of sustainability issues. Kathy Barnard introduced me to the word "locavore," or someone who eats locally grown/produced food. Eating local helps reduce pollution from trucks that have to deliver products miles and miles away and also helps support local businesses. Ferdinand's is a great place to eat locally because they use milk from the local dairy farm and the profits go toward students and education. Plus, who doesn't love a classic Ferdinand's ice cream cone? So delicious!

Thanks to Creative Commons for the music: Ice Cream Day Dream by Taylor McLaughlin

My Year of Meats

I'm reading this book called, "My Year of Meats" by Ruth L. Ozeki. It's actually for one of my English classes, but I highly recommend it for leisure. It's about a documentarian Jane who creates a Japanese TV show called My American Wife! about classic American families. She goes all over the U.S. looking for families and for each show, the family creates a recipe using beef. (The show is sponsored by BEEF-EX, a big American beef company.) Simultaneously, we get the story of Akiko who watches the show in Japan and whose husband is trying to fatten her up and make her bear children--but she hates the meat and is bulimic. But it is interesting because even though it is a novel, it touches on a lot of the concerns around meat processing, the history of DES in beef and its effect on human reproduction. It's a pretty easy read if you have the time. After watching Food Inc. and reading this book, something I'd really like to try is grass-fed beef. I'll have to see if I can find some in Pullman.

Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel

P.S. Photo credit for the book cover goes to Jennifer Heisey, Derek Askem and Marion Ettlinger.

2010 CROP Hunger Walk

Cost seems to be one of the major factors that gets in the way of making the switch to organic. I was at the grocery store yesterday and there was an organic yogurt for .99 and then the non-organics were like .50. I think it is often hard to focus on sustainable living and eating when so many people don't even have access to basic food and water. This Sunday, the CROP Hunger Walk will be held on the Bill-Chipman Trail at 1:30 to raise money for local food banks. About 25 percent of all donations will go to Moscow Food Band and another 25 percent will go to Pullman Child Welfare's Food Bank. So if don't have plans this weekend, grab some friends, your tennis shoes and take some time to spread a little love and help fill the empty bellies in your community.

-Rachel

To register or for more information go to cropwalkonline.org.