On Valentine’s Day, we think chocolate, and maybe roses, but, OK…mostly chocolate.
Rich, sweet, velvety, dark, crunchy (or smooth) chocolate. Wonderful, comforting, dopamine-inducing chocolate.
Yet there’s a battle being fought for your chocolate heart; that is, your consumer loyalties.
Tags: · AlterEco, Dagoba, Divine, Equal Exchange, fair labor, fair trade chocolate, Green & Black's, Sweet Earth, Theo, Valentine's Day
Organic farmers, food companies and advocacy groups have united to oppose the federal government’s de-regulation of Monsanto’s genetically engineered alfalfa.
A new 20-group coalition announced Tuesday that it also would be opposing the regulatory release of other types of GE (also known as GM or genetically modified) crops expected in the coming months if the USDA approves the unrestricted planting of GE sugar beets, corn and soy crops.
These crops have been engineered predominantly by Monsanto to resist specific Monsanto-created pesticides, including the “Roundup Ready” alfalfa, which was approved for unrestricted planting by the USDA last week.
Organic farmers fear the spread of GE crops because they’re dependent on pesticides, which harm the soil and waterways, and because they can contaminate non=GE crops via cross-pollination. When GE crops invade organically raised fields, they destroy the purity of organic row crops and produce and can cost a farmer his organic certification.
Tags: · alfalfa, Allergy Kids, beets, Beyond Pesticides, Center for Food Safety, contamination of organic crops, corn, Equal Exchange, Eric Schlosser, GE crops, GE foods, greenrightnow.com, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners, Maria Rodale, Michael Pollan, Monsanto, Monsanto chemicals, National Cooperative Grocers Association, NOFA, Non-GMO Project, Organic Farming, Organic Farming Research Association, Organic Seed Alliance, Organic Trade Association, Organic Valley, Robert Kenner, soybeans, Stonyfield Farm, United Natural Foods, USDA
If you want to act on your concern for the environment and human rights this Halloween, give treats that come from reputable local or Fair Trade vendors.
That could mean foregoing some familiar brands.
Hershey’s, under fire for some time over allegations that it fails to ensure its cocoa sources treat labor fairly, came out dead last this week on the “Get Child Labor Out of Your Chocolates Scorecard” by Green America.
Tags: · Alter Eco, chocolate, Coca Zen, cocoa, Dagoba, Divine chocolate, Equal Exchange, Fair Trade practices, Global Exchange, Green & Black's chocolate, Green America chocolate report card, Halloween candy, Hersheys, Kraft, Mars, Shama Sjaak's Sweet Earth Organic, sustainable chocolate, Theo Chocolate
By Laura Elizabeth May
Green Right Now
Now that you have had a month to lose any extra holiday pounds, Valentine’s Day is here and that means more chocolate! Plan ahead this Valentine’s Day and buy Fair Trade chocolates for your special someone, while helping to end world poverty.
Fair Trade chocolate has met certain requirements to ensure that the workers producing the cocoa beans (typically in developing nations) are receiving fair wages. Fair trade also ensures that there are no children enslaved to the process, and that all farmers have a safe and healthy working environment. Purchasing fair trade chocolate lets your sweetie know you care about others as well as him/her.
Tags: · Dagoba, Equal Exchange, fair trade chocolate, Green&Black's chocolate, organic chocolate, recycled greeting cards, Sjaak's Organic Chocolates, Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates, Valentine's Day
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift