So since we got the idea to do the challenge I have begun looking at most everything I buy in a normal gorcery store. To my surprise lots of things that I normally buy are made right in WI or at least in the surrounding three states. So I wanted to say to everyone worried that they will only get to eat what they can find at the farmers market or they are worried that an all organic local meal will cost a fortune, there other options. Just look. If the organic bacon found at Just Local is a bit too pricey for you, there is bacon at the local grocers that is made in WI.
It all has to do with label reading. Now I know that Old Dutch Potato chips are made in St. Paul. So fear not chip loving friends, St Paul is in the 100 mile radius. And there are so many products like that out there. You almost can't find cheese that isn't from somewhere in WI. I mean you really have to look for it. And there is local pasta from Madison as well as local sauces and delictable toppings. So make this challenge a fun food finding mission. That way when Sept is over and you have completely been converted to the local ways, there will be plenty to eat and enjoy.
2 comments:
Hey there. Great point, Arwen. Now the devil is in the details. And I hope this blog serves as a discussion point, a way for us to learn more... Labels are an excellent tool to learn more about our food, but unfortunately they don't tell the whole story, and in some cases can mislead us into thinking we're getting something we're not!
A good recent example is the food giant Dean foods and their "organic" dairy line Horizon. They found (helped to create?) loopholes in the federal organic law that allowed them to sell milk from factory farms under an organic label to folks who thought they were getting a superior product when in actuality they were getting pretty much the same old commercial milk, but paying more. Horizon takes the cash and uses it to undermine even more real organic farmers. This is well researched and documented by a locally based non-profit the Cornucopia Institute.
And to nitpick your post, Just Local Food doesn't carry organic bacon. I'm sure you are referring to the Beaver Creek Ranch uncured bacon that uses spinach (yes, he grows that too) as a brine (spinach has naturally occurring nitrates which when used in the proper proportions can serve a similar function to industrial nitrates commonly found in bacon - a process revived by Doug and not to be found elsewhere). While Doug at Beaver Creek Ranch is a certified organic crop farmer in addition to caring for many animals, he does not certify any of his meat because each meat animal type needs separate certification and it's just not worth the effort, since he can sell his product directly to stores that care. Not to mention certifying cots money, so to officially call the bacon certified organic would make the bacon even more expensive. And even though his farm is in Grantsburg, the animals travel and unknown distance to the butcher and back to the farm, then to the stores, so they rack up the miles even being local because there is a regional shortage of meat processors that respect small farmers. Complicated. I don't know the story of other bacon available in stores, or why/how its shelf price is less, but I'd like to know more!
Now you're on to something with Old Dutch. I recently found this info when looking into them... note it says they manufacture chips, curls and popcorn but only distribute the other products... an important distinction when looking for the source of the food. (have you tried bac''n'puffs? might be right up your alley!) the following is a cut & paste, ignore at will...
The Old Dutch Foods plant is in Roseville, MN. Old Dutch Foods, Inc. manufactures Potato Chips, Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Popcorn, Baked Cheez Curls, Tortilla Chips, and distributes other snack foods including: Dips, Salsas, Corn Chips, Pretzels, Nuts, Low/Reduced/No Fat Snacks, Bac’N’Puffs, Crunchy Curls, Caramel Corn, Meat Sticks and Puffcorn Curls. Its distribution area covers Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and parts of Illinois, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. Old Dutch distributes its products via 200 company owned routes and several independent distributors. The facility has two continuous potato chip cookers that can produce a combined total of 5,800 lbs/hr and one batch fryer potato chip cooker that can produce a total of 500 lbs/hr. The packaging area has two separate chip distribution lines, fourteen packaging lines and seven automatic case packers for packaging chips from the two continuous fryers and one distribution line with two packaging machines for packaging of kettle chips. Directions to Old Dutch: To get to Old Dutch Foods, Inc. from the airport go West on 494 to 35W North. Take 35W North past downtown Minneapolis to Exit 22 “Industrial Blvd”. At the light at the bottom of the ramp make a Left (under the Hwy.) to “Walnut Street”. Make a Right and follow Walnut Street ½ mile to a 4-Way Stop on “Terminal Road”. Make another Right turn and you will see Old Dutch Foods Inc. on you Left about a block over on Terminal Road.
I also found out some information on Old Dutch. There is a big difference between where things are distributed from and where they are grown. I emailed Old Dutch's customer service department and asked where the potatoes are grown for their potato chips. I have cut and pasted the email I recieved from their customer service representative below...
Dear Ms. Velleux,
Thank you, for taking the time to contact us. Our potatoes are grown in the Red River Valley area of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Thank you, for your interest in Old Dutch Foods, Inc.
Sincerely,
Deanna McLean
Consumer Care Representative
Old Dutch Foods, Inc.
2375 Terminal Road
Roseville, MN 55113
Main # (651) 633-8810
Toll Free (800) 989-2447
Email customerservice@olddutchfoods.com
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