As professional smoothie-makers at Vega, we’re always creating new, delicious treats with various ingredients. From nut butters to omega oil blends, we constantly push the envelope in pursuit of the best next treat! Along with taste and nutritional considerations, we also think about something equally important: sustainable food.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOOD?
We define sustainable food as food produced in a way that is good for people and the environment. This means that anyone or anything that is involved in its production is affected in such a way that does not harm them.
At Vega, we take sustainability seriously. This means integrating sustainability into everything we do, like using 96% post-consumer recycled plastic in our tubs. As a Certified B Corp, we “meet the highest standards of verified overall social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems”.
While trying to source as many ingredients from local sources as possible, like making your own homemade plant-based beverage and buying local produce from the weekly farmers’ market, some ingredients just can’t be sourced from the 100-mile radius that surrounds you.
Tropical fruits, like coconut and pineapple, have to come from the area in which they grow best. But just because they are a little more remote doesn’t mean they’re off limits. We just need to know how to “shop for tropics” sustainably… and here’s how!
LOOF FOR CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE PRODUCE
You may have noticed some labels and symbols on tropical foods beyond just organic and gluten-free. These are the top third-party certifications to look for:
Fair Trade USA, a non-profit organization, is a third-party certifier of fair trade products that audits and certifies transactions between domestic companies and their international suppliers to ensure that farmers and workers were paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions all while conserving the environment.
The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit conservation organization that certifies farms, ensuring that they meet rigorous standards for the conservation of natural resources and the rights and welfare of workers and local communities.
Fairtrade International is a global non-profit organization comprised of regional producer networks that supports local environmental responsibility, better prices, labor rights and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
Ask employees at your local grocery store and farmers’ markets more about the farming practices of their produce—both local and tropical. If you’re buying a packaged food or supplement, give the company a call to learn more. The more you know, the better decisions you can make.
Just because you don’t live in the tropics doesn’t mean you can’t use them in your favorite recipes and beauty routine. Sourcing these fruits from certified growers who partner with sustainability advocates can be a way for you to enjoy these and feel good about them! So, the next time you are at the store, be sure to ask about sustainability practices! Ask questions, and purchase those tropical goodies in a sustainable way!
How do you incorporate sustainable foods into your life?
