I challenged Congress (the House) when they came up with the money-saving notion of switching to styrofoam cups in their cafeteria. It seemed like a backwards step then as environmental issues needed to be considered. Now several months later the formaldehyde/styrofoam study has come out, and it validates much of what many of us have believed for a long time. Skip the styrofoam.

The same goes for food on pesticide lists. For a number of years there have been lists of fruits and vegetables that should be considered safe and those that should by default move into the organic purchase pile. There have always been some obvious ones such as the berries which hug the soil. (If you crave strawberries, consider organic).  It was common knowledge that if you could peel it, you could remove many of the invading pesticides. Not so fast, Jones.

The report from The Environmental Working Group points a rather strict finger at a fruit that is readily available and well recognized by most: The Apple. It tops the latest list of fruit-invaded pesticides. Apples have had other issues in the past with spraying, but the common belief has been that you could wash the apple well and solve the problem. This report discredits that philosophy.

So what is one to do? It is true that organics have an increased presence in most grocers and markets, but as we well know, the price for switching from the regular produce aisle to the organic one can greatly increase one’s food bill. Not everyone is a candidate for organic shopping. We want variety, and the apple has often been the mainstay of packed lunches and a go-to snack.

According to the report, the apple has some company that gives pause to summer purchases: Cilantro was tested for the first time, and the herb ranked highest in overall pesticide infusion. Its position gives it the unenvious title of having the most unapproved pesticides in any product since the guide was first started in 1995! Not a good position to be in.

Here are the rankings of the 53 fruits and vegetables from the “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides. Celery is probably pretty happy as it no longer tops the Dirty Dozen; it dropped to 2nd place! Celery, spinach, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, lettuce and greens (kale and collards) are the vegetables most likely to retain pesticide contamination. As for those on the Clean Fifteen, (The vegetables least likely to test positive for pesticides), they found onions, sweet corn, asparagus, sweet peas, eggplant, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms. As for the fruits that score the best, those with the least pesticide residue, think avocado, mango, pineapple, watermelon, and grapefruit.

Just a week or so ago, the USDA introduced The Plate and took the Food Pyramid out of our lexicon. The plate is stacked in favor of fruits and vegetables. A little irony there, as we need to put the safest fruits and vegetables on the plate; not just any fruits and vegetables!

Timing is everything. Don’t forget your reusable container for coffee!

Whatever the words or the products, every little act becomes significant. The impact is huge.

Respect our world and make a difference.

You already know my fondness for the Sodastream product, the instant carbonation machine that has upped my water consumption and moved me completely away from other carbonated products. The company has taken the next step and shown its energy independence and concern for the environment. The original bottle has a long life of usability, but the company’s newest introduction moves them close to zero-footprint packaging.

With the recent introduction of the Bio Bottle, their flavor packaging is eco-friendly as they now can reduce the environmental impact of their syrup containers.  The soda packaging decomposes at a faster rate than conventional plastic.

So as you raise your reusable bottle today, the official celebration of the Earth, recognize that every positive action benefits us all. Every change in this direction is a positive.

Now we just have to teach people how to dispose of their various waste materials. Have you ever seen the way people line up at Whole Foods when they try to dispose of their containers? The way they study the possible receptacles, (trash, compost, and recycle) makes you wonder if companies need to keep a video playing above the disposal areas! You Tube video in the works!

Continuing the eco-theme, have you seen the nifty lunch and snack bags from EcoBags? They are just what we all need  for our snacks and picnic lunches. It is going to feel like a real Spring pretty soon. Be patient. The bags make recycling super simple: Nothing to throw out and a handy, attractive container to use and reuse.

And for our beverages, it’s time to be reminded about the Hydro Flask. We’ve had enough worldwide discussions about the waste from plastic water bottles, no matter how many times the companies reduce the plastic. Carrying this BPA-free fully insulated container enables you to begin with your morning coffee and then switch to a cooling water beverage. Hot stays hot and cold, cold. You know the drill, but what makes these handsome containers impressive is their double insulated wall. Never lose sight of their give-back program: You designate the charity and 5% of the gross gets donated through their partner program, FivePercentBack.

For the record, I have both the EcoBag and the Hydro Flask and give them both regular workouts! Trust me on their usability and feel good characteristics!

The math on all these programs is simple: We are helping save our planet, one action at a time. Earth Day is still several weeks away, but no single day should be our sole focus.

The specifics are important. First of all they will stop selling (yes, first they have to finish their stock and commitment orders) the wild species they call at the greatest risk of being overfished. That list includes Atlantic cod and halibut, Chilean sea bass, halibut from Greenland, grouper, monkfish, orange roughy, redfish, shark, skates and rays, swordfish and bluefin tuna. They do not plan to reintroduce these fish into their lineup unless the sources are certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The Council identifies itself as “the world’s leading certification  and ecolabelling program for sustainable seafood.”

Secondly, Costco has expanded its relationship with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a non-governmental organization that works closely on sustainable aquaculture issues. Costco has charged them with determining how well the Thailand-based companies that supply farmed shrimp are working to meet the defined standards for shrimp farming. That same approach is being studied with farmed Atlantic salmon. As any Costco shopper knows, Atlantic salmon is a majoone who visits a Costco knows is a major fish product for the company. Again Costco is working with suppliers and making certain that standards are being adhered.

What does this all mean for consumers? Maybe the first step is to applaud Costco’s decision (and other companies that are taking these bold steps) and follow that strategy into our own shopping, regardless of the marketplace. Similarly, when we dine out and find these overfished varietiess on menus, we need to question the establishment. Chefs have plenty of fish to work with that meet sustainability standards and can become beautiful center-of-the plate entrees.

Let’s applaud companies that have solid sustainability programs and likewise recognize restaurants that demonstrate responsible, sustainable performance.

We will all be better off with these actions!

As the country moves toward greater acceptance of composting, recycling, separating materials, it moves away from products that do not fit into this mold. Instead of leading the nation forward in progressive steps, this is a regressive movement clouded under the aegis of cost. Let’s pass the cup and help Congress understand what the rest of us are doing.

Shame on them for trying to save money by spending future dollars on unnecessary clean-up. The current cost argument does not suffice. Maybe the specific approach had inefficiencies, but the concept was strong. Going backwards has little appeal. It’s sending a negative message. Sure there are ways for Congress to show the world how it is saving money. Yet,  if the country is working on environmental solutions for drinking cups and containers (and there are many companies that would willingly supply), then a chance to model the approach would be better for everyone than to undo a program that has proven long-term beneficial value.

The concept is quite simple: You take regular water, preferably chilled, and connect the bottles that come with the tidy, space-saving machine to the unit, give it a few puffs of a button and voilà, sparkling water. You can adjust the amount of bubbly and within seconds enjoy a cold, sparkling drink. No more discussions about flat seltzer; you just bring regular water to life!

This year they have added a full range of flavors, minus the high fructose corn syrup, to make your own specialty drinks including the obvious soda flavors such as cola, cherry cola, ginger ale, and root beer and the new natural line with lemon lime and pink grapefruit. One flavor container makes the equivalent of 33 cans!

Yes, the company talks about cost savings as one liter comes out to about 25 cents! The savings are appreciated, but now you can have the fun of running your own soda fountain. Numerous stores offer an exchange program for your empty cartridge. No waste. The starter pack includes two bottles and a carbonator.

No need to advocate for a company that has provided a simple solution to a basic household beverage, but I’d feel silly if I didn’t share one of my favorite purchases. The company calls it a “drinkmaker,” I call it a fun, interactive experience rather than a ho-hum drink purchase. Why not add a little fun to the home beverage market?

Put a little more sparkle into your drink portfolio. You’ll enjoy the fresh, flavor profile and at the same time help the environment and lower your per-bottle costs. Why not?

Then there is the grocery aisle with so many plastic containers. Yet, steps are being taken to improve the containers. Look at the plant-based advance just announced by the Stonyfield Farm folks. Their organic multi-pak yogurt, from YoBaby on up the chain, is now made from a new plant-based container. This then is the first yogurt cup made from plant-based plastic. Currently it’s a remanufactured corn-base container, but the most important takeaway is the reduction in carbon fossil fuels. Almost a 50% reduction in the plastic impact. We are talking a significant advancement!

Just think about the impact from just these two examples. How many coffee cups line the trash barrels v those that can be processed and get a second life? Some estimates are as high as 25 billion Styrofoam cups annually are disposed. The numbers alone are staggering, but when you add in the health consequences, you open up a different evil door. Whatever steps we take whether with our yogurt or our coffee can only benefit us in the future.

Time for a small round of applause as we watch for additional companies to come forth and announce their healthy, innovative approaches to save us from ourselves.

I may have found the perfect solution: the new HydroFlask. Yes, a product with such a perfect name should have multiple uses. Today, we concentrate on the coffee test. Let me cut to the chase: Passed with flying colors (that may also describe the product’s choice of bright colors)! Coffee stayed hot; lost none of its prized tastes, and pleased the sipper: Moi.

Most significantly you do not have to panic about the plastic. We’re talking about the all-important BPA-free qualities. A double-wall insulated product such as this needs to pass the BPA-free zone or it won’t last in our environmentally conscious lifestyle. Coffee tasted so good and refreshing even hours later that I tested it on cold water, right from the refrigerated Brita. No metal taste but the same, cool refreshing beverage. Just for the record, I purchased the product and this endorsement is of my own choosing, even though it sounds like a public service announcement! BTW, we’re not talking about carrying around something cumbersome or heavy. Just the opposite: lightweight and functional!

The maxim applies: What’s hot stays hot, and what’s cold keeps the chill. Just the way we want it, regardless of the activity or usage. Another impressive feature is the company’s commitment to the give-back principle as they donate 5% of the gross revenue to a charity of your choosing! A definite win-win.

However you define hydration, this product proves to be the summer winner! Check it out.

Let’s review the issue. The recent negative response is in fear of new regulation that the FDA will assume over food production. Read the release and you’ll see how the Agency has taken all the recent studies into review and now believes that the toxicity factor from BPA products causes more harm than good. Baby bottles as a good example, should be free of BPA. The list is long; we do not need to ingest the chemical. What’s the deal with the  food manufacturers? Sure it will cost record amounts of money to make these manufacturing changes, but health, safety, and well-being should be the focus.

Already one company, Wegmans has distanced itself from some of the negative Association responses. We need to congratulate the company for taking this step. As consumers here is our opportunity to talk with our wallets!

Another company that deserves attention is Nalgene for its move away from BPA (several years ago they took a lot of criticism for not moving quickly enough in this direction). We need to find these companies that have taken a stand and get in line to show our support for their efforts.

Can we ignore a chemical that has a long list of negatives indicating its harmful effects? No, we cannot. We need to protect ourselves by finding products that have eliminated this harmful chemical.

We urge the FDA and EPA to maintain their focus and data analysis. Too many lives are hanging in the balance. Products can be changed.

Eliminating BPA from cans and plastics that come into contact with food should be the focus of this change.

With all the landfill anxiety about plastics and especially plastic bottles, it’s no surprise that one of my new darling pieces of info centers around a reusable water bottle. Yes, I know we all have plenty of reusable containers for water and other beverages, but this one’s unique feature is its ability to provide filtered water in the container. No need to carry your Brita or Pur along for long days to replenish yourself, the Hydros Bottle is a filtered, reusable BPA-free water bottle with a built-in, fast flowing filter that turns water from any source into a safe, drinkable solution.

The filter (filters last several months) removes chlorine, chloramines, and particulates. BTW, it takes just 20 seconds to fill the 24-ounce bottle with odor-free, good tasting water. Such products do not come inexpensively ($29.99), but think of the environmental savings and the opportunity to have water on the go.

The company also points out that last year alone consumers spent over $15 billion on disposable water bottles! To help countries without potable water, they have an impressive give-back program (Operation Hydros) that helps communities in need of safe drinking water, and there are over a billion people worldwide who do not have access to safe, drinkable water!

It’s spring. Get ready for your run, hike, or bike. You now know you can stop anywhere and fill up your container with water that will be transformed into a safe drink.

Let’s start with the compost pile. It sounds like an ending for many of our thoughts, but today we focus on its multi-tiered value. For instance, every time you avoid running your garbage disposal, you are saving electricity. Create a compost pile or collect your compostable items and take them to a business that accepts them. A number of farm markets or green grocers are happy to let you join their efforts. Look at what New York City is doing. All that waste has a great second life. If you have the space, purchase a composter, but buy one that makes it easy to turn the contents so that you are diligently mixing up the items and making terrific compost. Numerous examples.

For many people, this week needs a heads-up on being a locavore, being a consumer of goods that we can purchase locally from nearby growers and producers. Those who live close enough to a farm market have a distinct advantage; a parallel to those who live in the country and can easily visit the nearby producer. For others, great distances are involved and then the inverse question needs to be asked: How much money does one save by supporting local if we are adding significant carbon miles to our outings? Likewise, if the farmer travels great distances, what impact does his farm market participation have? OK, the obvious answer is, he has an outlet for his products and we as consumers have the advantage of purchasing truly fresh foods. We are helping maintain a farm.

The emphasis on buying local has convinced numerous grocers to sign agreements with producers as consumer awareness, especially at the beginning of the farm-fresh, produce season, is focused on buying local. Many grocers now have huge entryway signs telling us how many local products they have for purchase each day. More grocers are making deals with the nearby producers giving us an additional outlet to support the smaller grower. Freshness remains unmatched; we just need to calculate the distance and put it into the equation.

Maybe this is the week you focus on your own growing efforts. We are just weeks away from being out of the frost zone in most parts of the country. The markets have plenty of starter plants. Plenty of opportunities to have your own garden. Nothing more local than that!

One day; one week: It will take an on-going dialogue and action to help put our house in order.

The same conundrum applies to the consumer who stands in front of a product and wonders Organic or Conventional. The health value and the good-for-you feeling may win over the shopper but not everything we purchase needs to be an organic product. Here’s a good list of products we are better off purchasing as organics and those in the no-need column. Print it out and keep it handy as we move into the summer growing season when all the market attention gets focused on LOCAL, you’ll see the double winner signage: Local Organic.

So what is a consumer to do? Decide your family’s needs and budget and do the math. With young children in the household, purchasing organic dairy products are a wise, health-proven choice. You’ll even find that the dairy cases at markets that have an organic focus often have organic products that are less costly than the more limited organic supplies at regular markets: Significant savings.When meat is discussed, there are numerous grocers who carry products from non-antibiotic feeds for their poultry and meats. This strategy is a welcome middle-ground for many. As for produce, if you only purchase some of the organic selections, refer to the list of the most harmful products, those that retain the pesticides, and buy the organics most recommended.

Here’s your opportunity to do a good job for your family and our environment. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle means making numerous purchasing decisions that are beneficial for all of us.

Let’s begin with a look at sustainable fish and ways to not depleting our supplies. Poor fish report cards have had their effect on Trader Joe’s and Target, and they promise to join the legions of grocers who support the sustainable movement.

Hats off today to The Cleanfish Alliance. They are all about bringing fish to the marketplace that are not examples of overfishing. They support the efforts of sustainable fisheries and try to establish a link between producers, chefs, and consumers. One of their greatest strengths comes from supporting and finding farmers who are raising fish that many thought had disappeared from the everyday landscape. Some examples of fish that are grabbing headlines are the American White Sturgeon and the all-popular Caviar grown in mineral rich spring water. Laughing Bird Shrimp from Belize, a favorite among grocers broadcasting their sustainable seafood list and from restaurants that proudly list the Caribbean white shrimp. Farmed Arctic Char has become a popular fish both in markets and restaurants.

If you want to study the scorecard and determine which fish are best for eating and not depleting, then check out Seafood Watch from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This will help you make proper purchases and stay within the sustainable guidelines. Check out the sushi recommendations, too.

Good work: Sustainable fish and seafood and healthy green, earth-friendly eating.

We are off to a good start for Earth Week.

Where are all these corks going? Whole Foods will ship them to different vendors who will turn them into new consumer products such as cork floor tiles. Don’t try that one at home!

In a recycling program that began as a pilot test in the Oregon markets, the company has expanded its trial and partnered with Cork ReHarvest to let customers at all their stores properly deposit wine corks. With over 13 billion natural corks produced annually, this system will help reduce the demand on cork plantations and help maintain the ecosystem of the Mediterranean forests.

Here are some interesting cork facts (and reasons to recycle) from Cork ReHarvest:

–Cork is a 100% natural, renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable material.

–Trees are not cut down to get cork but rather the bark is stripped by hand every 9-12 years.

–There is enough cork in the cork forests of Portugal and Spain to last more than 100 years.

Thus we have two dilemmas at once: Many bottlers have switched to plastic stoppers which may prove more difficult to recycle and are possibly not biodegradable. (We already know that the plastic stopper does not easily fit back into the bottle for storage). Second, what happens to the art project? Go get paper and draw. In the meantime, head out with your bagful of corks.

Thanks to Whole Foods’s newest partner that process has become easier and sustainable.

Those who plant vines in soil without chemicals and adhere to the pesticide-free guidelines are bringing an ever increasing new crop of flavor-rich, intense terroir to market. In California’s Mendocino County, there’s Frey Vineyards, a winery devoted to the sustainable, organic, and sulfite-free production since its first plantings in the 1960s. Maybe a better known and more easily attainable wine comes from Fetzer. Their  view on sustainability impacts every part of their wine operation. They admit that there are still a shortage of grape growers producing strictly organic grapes, but see the number steadily increasing. More oenologists are moving in this direction and various organic certified sustainable wine organizations are advocating the message. Grouping these wines together with an easy to recognize stamp or label helps consumers sort through the myriad of wine selections.

So as you go green and think green today, consider the ever-growing Organic Wine market. If your wine merchant does not have an organic section, help educate him to the positive possibilities.

Sip responsibly, go green.

The question always is the same: Who benefits? Is there any proof that the extra nickel helps people put the bottle into the recycling bin? Or is this just an easy tax that the state collects? All those food vendors lining the city streets are probably ready to hike the water cost to $1.25 rather than go up just a nickel and waste time fishing for change instead of filling food orders.

I’ve always appreciated these guys who do just charge a dollar for water as so many other cities demonstrate the spiral effect: Let’s see how much we can charge for a bottle of water that costs us 14 cents when we buy it by the case at Costco! We see these vendors everywhere with the $2 water signs!

San Francisco has a new law that demonstrates the value of recycling. Their original ordinance gave buildings plenty of time to comply. They have the statistics to demonstrate that building recyclables and compostables are going to the right places. They are collecting an extra 100 tons of product than at the outset!

Yes, everyone knows the effect of all those mountains of plastic bottled water, but grabbing water on the run is still a far better option than most other beverage choices.

The irony is that bottled water sales are down. It may be the economy or the environmental truth. A new Harris Poll finds 36% of respondents switching from bottled water to tap water and refillable bottles!

Wonder what tax is next?

Once again there is a handy fish guide (A Mercury Calculator) directing us to safety and telling us what to avoid. The big question is simply: Is fish safe? Well it depends. Assume there is mercury contamination present in all US-water based fish. Then decide if you are asking about a young child, a pregnant woman, or a healthy adult. Recognizing that some fish contain less mercury than others and some should be avoided all together helps minimally. You need to know which fish to eat; some, such as canned light tuna, you can have multiple helpings of each week. One that is particularly high in contaminants is swordfish, a fish small children and women of child-bearing age should avoid altogether. The EPA even has this “One Fish…Two Fish” poster available as a reminder.

The most recent announcement from the US Geologic Survey says mercury contamination is higher than expected and almost impossible to avoid.

Know what you eat. It just gets harder to find safe, healthy foods.

I’ve been trying to figure out the whole composting ritual. I know New Yorkers who take their scraps in little Ziplocs on the train from the outlying boroughs into Manhattan to the GreenMarket composter. I know someone out in the country who has been swearing by these little green machines. He’s right. I’m sold.

I’ve had it two days and become a master. After all, you know how much coffee I drink and how I revere my espresso, and that coffee grounds make the soil thrive. Am convinced if I just composted the coffee grounds, my soil would be smiling and writing thank you notes. In the two days I have been in love with my new toy, we’ve been to the Farm Market and bought plenty of fresh veggies and fruit. The composter gracefully accepted the tops from the fresh beets, the peach pits, and the inners from the tomatoes.

The important wet-dry balance enabled me to shred all the class Z mail and feed it into the composter. Now we’re talking.

Maybe the best is I’ll no longer have to warn people about olive pits going into the garbage disposal (Yes, I know, we still use the disposal, but use it far less). The composter does not want meats, fish, and dairy, but loves egg shells.  Olive pits get composted, and we all appreciate the quiet.

Step aside, coming through with my kitchen counter gleanings.

This is a perfect solution for hard-rock soil and my newly minted environmental attitude.

I like the new salad bar concept–not pre-made, nor open double-aisled lines where customers create their own salads, but the new counter version where you choose the type of lettuce you want, the ingredients, the dressing, and all the extra toppings. These new places are different from the first entrant, Cosi, which stepped out into this terrain several years ago. These new companies have dedicated themselves to being green or organic and in the process have elevated the overall appearance of the experience and attention to ingredients.

Sweetgreen should be credited with starting the new concept in the Washington DC area with their yogurt and salad menu. Now they travel the city with what they affectionately call Sweetflow Mobile to reach out to more yogurt fans. The concept was created by 3 Georgetown U students (yes, they did eventually graduate), and they have successfully targeted the community’s love for freshness.

Their major new competition is from Organic to Go (OgoBethesda) which had a less pleasant ride into the marketplace including a shift in management and strategy. Their Bethesda, MD location is directly across the street from Sweetgreen and serves as the model for the company’s future expansion. Both have outdoor tables so you can just sit and watch competition in action. It’s a fun game. Yogurt’s not the second focus here but pizza and sandwiches make this concept a favorite for those looking for more than a salad.

Let’s break it down: Both Sweetgreen and Ogo tout their environmentally friendly approach to products (all compostable and recyclable, ecologically sound dining). We should feel good about their purchasing power and supportive of their efforts.

As for the taste test, I prefer the organic approach and the breadth of possibilities at Ogo. So many choices to personalize my meal. I did salad:salad matching of ingredients and preferred the end result at Ogo. Pricewise they scored high as well. They both offer pleasant outdoor dining, so that’s a draw, but Ogo wins the indoor contest as their space is more ample and less claustrophobic. The fact that it is less chaotic makes the overall experience more pleasant.

I have never eaten this much salad in my life. It’s seldom of interest to me, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the new salad experience.

I could grow to like arugula!