Do you buy organic, sustainably grown food for yourself – but not give sustainability much thought when it comes to what you feed your pet? Annamaet Petfoods wants to change your thinking. They’ve launched “Annamaet Sustain” so your dog and cat can eat sustainable pet food without taking a toll on the planet.

We’re partnering with them on this post to suggest 3 ways you can incorporate sustainable pet food into your dog or cat’s daily diet. We also want to hear from you about what you already do!

Sustainable Pet Food Starts With …

Proteins

When it comes to food, choosing a healthy formula that provides all the nutrients your pet needs without including fattening or questionable ingredients is key. But if you’re also looking for food that meets sustainability goals, look for independent verification by third parties and the appearance of those labels on the products you buy.

Annamaet’s new Sustain formula includes fish from cod fisheries that have been certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

How do you know? Each bag of Annamaet Sustain carries the MSC blue ecolabel.

The ecolabel is important.

It signifies that the product manufacturer actually meets independent standards that verify its product claims.

In this case, the ecolabel indicates that the cod were caught responsibly by a certified sustainable fishery.

Words like “natural” or “pet-friendly” or “planet healthy” mean absolutely nothing in terms of what is actually in the food you feed your pet (or buy for yourself, for that matter).

Look for ecolabels that back up the marketing claims companies make about their products.

Organics

The organic label is another label that you can use to verify a company’s claims. The organic label is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture here. In order for any product manufacturer to claim to be organic or to use the organic label, the company must meet federal organic standards and have its product independently certified.

Claims that your pet’s food are “all natural” or “biodegradable” or “planet friendly” are simply marketing claims that have no actual meaning. The organic label does.

No GMOs or GMO Free

Many consumers want to avoid genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in their own food and that of their pets as well. It’s not clear if the presence of GMOs in grains, sweeteners, dairy products and other foods actually causes adverse reactions like allergies or worse. But mounting scientific evidence suggests that GMO plants could be taking a toll on birds, bees, and other insects and wildlife.

Some products seek certification through the Non-GMO label. Annamaet has gone one step further by getting EU (European Union) certified to contain no GMOs, salmonella or anthrax.

“We like to tell people, not only are we feeding your dogs and cats, we are also feeding our own,” says the company. “We single source our ingredients, meaning they are bought from the same suppliers each time…All of our meats and fishes are certified as fit for human consumption.”

Buying food for your dog or cat can be an extension of the green lifestyle you have chosen for yourself. That has certainly been a driving principle for Rob Downey, Annamaet’s founder.

Downey, who lives in Pennsylvania, named his company Annamaet Petfoods after his late mother, Anna Mae, pictured above.

“Since its inception,” he says, “the focus has been on giving pets the best nutrition possible, focusing on sustainable ingredients that also take care of the environment.”

At Annamaet, “we believe that sustainability and innovation really go hand in hand.” He says the company is linking into “new and original protein sources such as cricket meal and pea protein, which are also very sustainable.”

You can find AnnaMaet Petfoods online here.

You can also plug in your zip code here and find the nearest retailer to you.

Note: Partners and sponsors enable us to provide you with the information you need to live the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

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As green and glorious as your yard may be, it could also be packed with hidden hazards for your pet. In fact, it could be packed with hazards precisely because it’s green and glorious, as hundreds of plants are potentially poisonous to dogs and cats.

We’ve teamed up with PetInsuranceU.com to bring you this list of outdoor plants that could make your cat or dog ill if they munch or brush up against them. We’ve also listed other hazards to keep out of reach of your pet. Many of those you wouldn’t want to be around yourself!

Plants

From azaleas and aloe to wisteria, the ASPCA lists more than 400 plants that are potentially toxic to dogs and cats. Poisonings from plants most frequently involve cats and indoor houseplants, but the plants listed below can also cause pets to vomit, suffer diarrhea, pant excessively, drool, and have difficulty swallowing (symptom will vary depending on the plant).

Andromedia Japonica, also known as Pieris or Pieris japonica
American Mandrake, also known as Mayapple
American Holly, also known as English Holly or Winterberry
Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Begonia
Black Walnut
Burning Bush
Scented Geranium
Vinca
Iris
Sweet Potato Vine
Wisteria

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Dogs usually don’t eat plants unless there’s something else on the plant that smells good to them, like feces, dead animals, or some kind of food that’s been tossed onto the plants rather than thrown away. Keep an eye on your dog when it’s in your yard, and keep a close watch when walking your dog so it doesn’t nibble on the vegetation along the way.

Cats might nibble on grass when they’re out if they’ve got an upset stomach or just need to clean their guts. The grass or vegetation will make them throw up.

The ASPCA maintains a 24-hour emergency animal poison hotline. The number is 1-888-426-4435.

Poisons

Insecticides, weed killers, plant food, soil additives and fertilizers can be hazardous to pets, especially if they contain iron, feather meal, blood meal or bone meal.

Dogs are particularly at risk since the meal can be rather tasty, but ingesting large amounts can consolidate in the stomach, block the gastrointestinal tract, and lead to pancreatitis.

Iron can be toxic, too, as can even small amounts of a substance found in plant-care products known as organophosphates.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Garden organically without the use of toxic chemicals. Keep all soil amendments, fertilizers, and plant food on a shelf or in a cabinet so pets can’t get into them. When you apply plant food or any other amendments to your plants, keep your pets indoors and away from the treated yard.

Poison Ivy

This nasty plant deserves its own mention – not because it makes a pet sick, but because you can get poison ivy from your pet. The oils in the ivy leaves can get onto your pet’s fur, and you’d have no way of knowing. Then, you could pet your animal and voila! Poison ivy everywhere.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Chop or dig out poison ivy as soon as you spot it in your yard. Make sure to wear gloves, long sleeves, pants, and boots. Dig the ivy out to the roots, and toss it in the trash (but bagged, so the trash people don’t touch it). Definitely do not put it in your compost pile.

Mulch

Mulch may contain cocoa bean shells or husks, by-products of chocolate production. The hulls may also contain caffeine and theobromine, the two poisons that make chocolate highly toxic to dogs and cats.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Use shredded pine bark, shredded hardwood, or leaf mulch rather than cocoa bean shells or husks. Spread the word in your neighborhood so that your dog doesn’t accidentally come across cocoa bean mulch on a walk.

Compost

Compost contains decomposing matter, which can prompt the growth of molds that contain tremorgenic mycotoxins. If ingested, the toxins can rapidly make a pet sick, resulting in panting, drooling, tremors, seizures, vomiting and agitation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Most dogs love to roll around in mulch because they love the smell. Keep dogs away from mulch piles or freshly mulched garden beds until the smell dies down, which it will eventually.

Pests

Fleas can torment your pet with all their biting. Ticks (seen right, in dog fur) can spread Lyme disease to your animal.

Other yard pests can range from foxes to rattlesnakes to raccoons, and skunks to bats and rats.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Apply chemical flea and tick prevention medication with utmost care, following all directions and ensuring the dose is designed for your specific animal and size. Keep on the lookout for animals like foxes and rats that might actually prey on your pet. Every spring a mother fox or two dens in our suburban neighborhood, and once she gives birth, she goes on the prowl for food. We all keep our cats and dogs under watch and definitely inside from dusk until dawn, when the foxes are most likely to be hunting.

Having a poison control number handy can be a helpful measure, as can knowing the number and location of an emergency vet. Since you never know when an emergency may arise – or how much treatment may cost – pet health insurance is another precautionary step for an additional layer of protection and peace of mind.

NOTE: Sponsors like PetInsuranceU.com enable us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks!

SOURCES:
ASPCA
NOLA.com
Pet Poison Helpline
Humane Society Flea & Tick Care 

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If you’d like your dog to eat more slowly and get some brain stimulation while he’s at it, this eco-friendly dog food bowl from Paw5 , called the Rock ‘N Bowl, could be just the thing.

Note: This post is sponsored by Paw5.

Here’s how it works:

The bowl is actually a sort of puzzle. First, you fill the top of the bowl, which adorably looks like a paw print, with dog food.

Holes in the paw top allow some of the  food to fall through to the bottom of the bowl as the dog is eating.

Fido or Fifi smells the food in the bottom of the bowl and begins knocking the bowl over to get the food to fall out of the holes in the sides of the bowl.

The design keeps the dog from eating all its food quickly, and also forces the dog to have to think to get the rest of the food out of the bowl.

Why Is It So Good For Your Dog?

The Rock ‘N Bowl feeds (no pun intended) your dog’s instincts for foraging, like it would do in the wild.

It also helps slow your dog down when it’s eating. A hungry dog might snarf down a bowl full of food in less than a minute. This bowl helps the dog take its time.

Plus, the bowl stimulates your dog’s brain by forcing it to solve a problem if it wants to eat. All good!

What Makes the Rock ‘N Bowl “Eco Friendly”?

Dogs can be as susceptible to toxic chemicals in products as people are. This bowl is made of phthalate-free plastic, so your dog won’t be ingesting any chemicals that could mess with its reproductive hormones. 

The bowl, which holds four cups of food, is manufactured in the U.S., using a closed-loop, zero-waste manufacturing process. 

It’s also durable and dishwasher-safe. 

At Big Green Purse, we’re constantly urging you to shift your spending to greener products as a way to protect yourself and your family, and send a message to manufacturers to clean up their act. You can make those same shifts to protect your dog, and motivate companies that manufacture products for our pets to get rid of any toxic chemicals they might be using.

Thumbs Up, Paw5!

Don’t Miss More Tips on Green Pet Care Right Here.

NOTE: Sponsored posts allow us to introduce you to eco-friendly products that you might not otherwise be aware of. Please know that our editorial opinions remain our own. We do not feature products that don’t meet our criteria for sustainability. Thanks.

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Control Fleas Naturally

In colder climates, fleas often die off after the first frost and don’t rear their ugly jaws again until temperatures rise in the spring. But some veterinarians recommend being vigilant twelve months of the year. Flea-repelling collars and monthly pesticide treatments contain toxic chemicals that you definitely don’t want your kids around, and maybe not your pet, either. Fortunately, you’ve got several safe options.

1) Comb your dog or cat. Use a very fine toothed metal comb whose prongs are spaced so closely together you can barely get a fingernail in between. I have a short-haired dog, and use a comb designed to find head lice. I comb her head to toe at least once a day, but especially in spring, summer and fall. In addition to finding fleas and ticks, the combing makes my dog feel really good. If you have a dog with longer, thicker fur, consider getting the fur shaved or trimmed back during the spring and summer to make it easier to get a comb through the fur. The trim will keep the dog cooler, too. I use the same comb on my tabby cat. It always seems to make him purr.

2) Give your pet a bath at least once a week. Fleas hate water but fortunately, most dogs seem to love it. If your dog is small enough, you can put it in the kitchen sink or bathtub, or maybe a small kiddie swimming pool. My dog weighs almost 80 pounds, so I generally soap her up outside, let the soap stay on for a few minutes, then rinse her off with the garden hose. In the summer, I take her down to our local creek and she jumps in. She comes out dripping wet, but flea-less. If you get a kitten, start bathing it as soon as you can, so you can get it used to the water. I admit, it’s much harder to bathe an adult cat, but some grooming salons and pet spas specialize in cat care and will be able to douse your kitty without too much trouble.

3) Vacuum your house regularly. Capture errant fleas before they have a chance to start biting and reproducing. If you think you may have sucked up a few fleas, remove the vacuum bag, put it into a plastic bag that you can tie securely, and put it outside in the trash. Make sure to vacuum furniture and throw pillows, too.

4) Wash your pet’s bedding. Once a week, launder your pet’s bed or the rugs it lies on, in hot, soapy water.

5) Keep an eye on playmates. Before you set up a doggie playdate, ask the other pet’s owner how healthy their pet is. You wouldn’t let your child play with a friend who had pink eye or a bad cold. You shouldn’t expose your pet to their pal’s fleas.

6) Cover up. You probably couldn’t do this with a cat, but for dogs, you can put protective clothing on them without too much discomfort on their part. If you’ll be walking in woods or tall grass where deer, raccoons, and foxes are likely to frequent, put an old t-shirt on your dog to protect the bulk of his body. Some people even cut the feet off old socks, and then pull the socks up the legs of their dog. Keep your flea comb handy; as soon as the walk is over, you can comb down your dog so you don’t take any fleas home with you.

7) Repel the little buggers. Some people have found that spraying their dog’s fur, legs and paws with a solution of apple cider vinegar diluted with water works like a charm – just be sure to avoid your dog’s eyes, nose, mouth and ears. Others dab their dog’s collar with an oil essence, such as lavender, eucalyptus, or geranium, though many vets recommend against putting the oils on the dog if they can lick it off, as that could make them sick. I have never tried giving my dog garlic or brewer’s yeast, though some people believe this works.

Have you tried any natural flea control remedies? Let us know how they worked.

RELATED

Green Pet Care

Make the Earth Friendly for Pets, Too

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It’s one thing to protect yourself from fallen snow; here are the top ten tips for that. Banishing ice is much harder – literally. If it’s thick, you have to chop it up before you can shovel it off. If it’s thin, like the ice I’m dealing with today, you’ve got three choices:

* Scatter something like sand or grainy kitty litter to create traction. The downsides? Neither actually melts ice, and both leave a big mess you’ll have to clean up later so it all doesn’t wash into the storm drains. Plus, you have to wait until after the ice forms. If you throw it down before hand, the ice will simply bury it, and you’ll have to do it again later so it stays on the surface and actually creates resistance when you walk on it.

* Just stay inside until the temperatures heat up and the ice melts on its own. Probably for most of you, that’s not really an option!

* Treat with an environmentally-friendly de-icer that’s safer for pets, too. Upsides? You can pre-treat to prevent ice from building up, and treat again as the ice forms to keep your steps, driveway or sidewalk from getting too slick. Downsides? It’s confusing to figure out which de-icer to buy. Some de-icing products are bad for wood (like my wooden steps). Some can’t be applied to new concrete. Most salt-based de-icers can stain carpet and flooring when tracked into the house. Some products say they’re eco-friendly, but turn out to contain ingredients like rock salt, urea, or sodium or magnesium chloride – chemicals that can burn plants and irritate pets that walk on them. Plus, they can claim they’re “natural” or “eco friendly” because the use of those words isn’t regulated by the government.

Here are the best options I’ve found to date. All of them can be purchased online. Many of them may be sold in your local hardware or pet store; if they’re not, ask the store manager to stock them so other shoppers can buy them, too.

Safe Paw Ice Melter– This de-icer is the only one recommended by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit organization focused on environmental research and advocacy. It’s 100% salt free and leaves minimal or no residue when it degrades. The green pellets make it easy to keep track of where you apply it.

Storm Team Plus Liquid Ice Melt –  The advantage of Liquid Ice Melt is that it can be used on wood and all kinds of other surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, and even satellite dishes. If you order online, you’ll need to buy a pack of four 1-gallon jugs, which can get expensive, and a sprayer if you don’t already have one. Either share the cost with neighbors, or ask your local hardware store to stock and sell individually. Ice Melt Pellets are also available, but they can’t be applied to wood or new concrete.

Ice Clear Liquid De-Icer – I haven’t tried this, but it looks worthwhile. The ingredients are derived from agricultural products and contain no salts. It comes with a sprayer for easier application.

Whatever de-icer you use, keep in mind that you will use less if you:

1)   Apply before the snow and ice fall. Pretreat surfaces an hour or two in advance of precipitation.

2)    Shovel snow and ice before they have a chance to accumulate. Once snow is deep, don’t throw de-icer on top of it. Wait until the snow stops falling, then shovel down to bare cement before applying de-icer again.

3)  Shovel off the slush as the snow and ice melt. Otherwise, they’ll refreeze and you’ll have to apply all over again.

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Start with the fun stuff: toys! Don’t spend a fortune on plush new chew toys your dog’s powerful jaws could demolish in a few days. Shop yard sales and thrift stores for used rubber dolls or balls and stuffed animals that pooch will enjoy just as much as if they were brand new. When you do buy new, choose toys like those from West Paw’s Zogoflex line that are tough, pliable, non-toxic and designed to be recyclable. An added bonus: they’re dishwasher safe.

• Also, check out West Paw’s inexpensive Eco Bones, which are made of 85 percent re-  engineered recycled IntelliLoft fibers that offer Fido a strong, squeaky and eco-friendly way to exercise his jaws while saving you money on the real bones you might otherwise buy every week.

Hemp Collars and Leashes. Hemp is a natural fiber that has been grown for the last 12,000 years in a variety of climate and soils without pesticides and herbicides. Hemp fibers are longer, stronger, more absorbent, and more mildew-resistant than cotton; they’re hypoallergenic, 100 percent biodegradable, odor resistant and anti-bacterial, too.

• Earthdog offers a variety of hemp collars and leashes.
• Planet Dog’s hemp collar is adjustable, and its cozy leash comes with a fleece-lined handle.
• The Good Dog Company Hemp Canvas Collars also come in a variety of colors, styles and sizes.

Eco-Friendly and Comfortable Dog Beds. Dogs sleep at least 12 hours a day if not more, so ensuring they have the best bed possible is a must (and will keep them off the couch!). Beds made from natural materials such as recycled cotton, feathers, wool or kapok fiber offer a healthy ‘green’ alternative to the synthetics found in many conventional pooch pads.

• West Paw Design utilizes eco-friendly materials such as reclaimed cotton,organic cotton, eco fabric and stuffing made with IntelliLoft recycled fibers, recyclable Zogoflex, and recycled fabric that can be used again and again without falling apart.
• Big Shrimpy Planet-Friendly Beds are stuffed with Smartfill, a 100 percent pre-consumer recycled    polyester fiber. The zip-off bed cover and the fill can be washed and dried in your machines at home.

What if it’s chow time?

Pet owners often find that organic and natural ingredients improve their animal’s digestive system while keeping coats shiny and healthy. You can determine what organic food best suits your dog by taking Organic Pet Digest’s Healthy Label Test. Most food coops and many grocery stores carry Newman’s Own Organic Pet Food as well asother organic lines.

Of course, all this is for naught if you don’t keep your home healthy. Pet are just as susceptible to indoor air pollution as people – maybe more so, since they spend so much time on the ground, where they can inhale fumes from floor cleaners and pick up dirt that’s tracked in from outside. Use nontoxic cleansers on carpeting and furniture; both you and your pet will benefit. 

Finally, don’t despair over the two banes of any dog owner’s existence: fleas, and poop. These suggestions for natural flea treatments, along with links to biodegradable poop bags, will help you make your best four-footed friend Mother Nature’s friend, too. (Of course, you could do what I do, and flush my dog’s doo down the toilet. Try it sometime. It’s not nearly as gross as it sounds.)

You’ll find more green pet care how-to here, along with a few suggestions on safer kitty litter.

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Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Environmental Working Group (EWG) studied 20 dogs and 40 cats. The researchers discovered that the animals were contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested. Average levels of many chemicals were substantially higher in companion animals than is proportionally typical for people, with 2.4 times higher levels of stain-and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) in dogs, 23 times more fire retardants (PBDEs) in cats, and more than 5 times the amounts of mercury, compared to the average levels the CDC and EWG found in the people they studied.

How do our pets get exposed to these toxins? They walk across lawns that harbor pesticide residues. They breathe in indoor air pollutants. They lie on furniture or carpeting that’s been treated with fire retardants. Pets play close to the floor, often licking the ground as well as their paws, a habit that greatly increases both their exposures to chemicals and the resulting health risks. And because their lifespans are compressed – dogs develop and age seven or more times faster than children — pets also develop health problems more rapidly.

For pets as for people, the result of seemingly harmless actions is a body burden of complex mixtures of industrial chemicals never tested for safety. Health problems in pets span high rates of cancer in dogs and, as with my Midnight, skyrocketing incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats.

How can you protect your pet?

· Avoid lawn chemicals. Stick to organic fertilizers if you maintain grass. Keep your pet off lawns that have been chemically treated. Replace your own lawn with native grasses, stones, and other groundcovers that require nothing other than local climate conditions to grow.

· Eliminate products that pollute indoor air. Replace aerosol air fresheners and fragrance-based cleansers with fragrance-free options. Substitute non-toxic bug repellents for chemical pesticides. Open windows to air out rooms. Simmer cinnamon sticks and cloves in a small pot of water to refresh your home.

· Clean furniture and carpets with vegetable- based soap and water. Avoid industrial- strength floor cleaners whose left-behind ‘shine’ contains chemicals that could compromise your pet’s health. Ask professional carpet cleaners to use certified eco-friendly cleaning products.

· Buy an organic cotton towel or throw rug for your pet’s bed and for your furniture. Protect your pet from the fire retardants found in most upholstery and carpeting with organic fabrics you can launder in biodegradable detergent.

· Choose safer toys. Muttropolis sells toy flowers for cats made from recycled plastic and certified organic catnip. Olive Green Dog sells toys made from non-toxic plastic for dogs, as well as shampoos, soaps, cookies, and more.

Want a short-cut to more eco-friendly pet supplies? Check out our Amazon store.

Want to read other pet posts?

Spoil Your Pup and Protect the Environment

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The 20 dogs and  40 cats EWG studied were contaminated with 48 of 70 industrial chemicals tested. Average levels of many chemicals were substantially higher in pets than is typical for people, with 2.4 times higher levels of stain-and grease-proof coatings (perfluorochemicals) in dogs, 23 times more fire retardants (PBDEs) in cats, and more than 5 times the amounts of mercury, compared to average levels in people found in national studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and EWG.

“Like humans, pets are also exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis, and as this investigation found, are contaminated at higher levels,” said Jane Houlihan, VP for Research at EWG. “The presence of chemicals in dogs and cats sounds a cautionary warning for the present and future health of children as well. This study demonstrating the chemical body burden of dogs and cats is a wake-up call for stronger safety standards from industrial chemical exposures that will protect all members of our families, including our pets.”

  “This study shows that our pets are susceptible to the absorption of potentially harmful chemicals from our environment just as we are. Perhaps even more troubling is that these chemicals have been found in higher levels in pets than in humans, implying potential harmful consequences for their health and well being and the need for further study,” said Dr. John Billeter, DVM, the veterinarian who conducted the animal tests.

Just as children ingest pollutants in tap water, play on lawns with pesticide residues, or breathe in an array of indoor air contaminants, so do their pets. But with their compressed lifespans, developing and aging seven or more times faster than children, pets also develop health problems much more rapidly. Pets, like infants and toddlers, have limited diets and play close to the floor, often licking the ground as well as their paws, greatly increasing both their exposures to chemicals and the resulting health risks.

Under current federal law, chemical companies do not have to prove chemicals are safe before they are used in products, including pet toys and other products for our companion animals. For pets as for people, the result is a body burden of complex mixtures of industrial chemicals never tested for
safety. Health problems in pets span high rates of cancer in dogs and skyrocketing incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats. Genetic changes can’t explain the increases in certain health problems among pets, leaving scientists to believe that chemical exposures play a significant role.

View the complete research at EWG.

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At least 4,000 dogs and cats have died and thousands more have gotten sick from pet food manufactured in China that contains melamine.  Melamine is an industrial chemical that’s supposed to be made into plastic plates, among other things. Instead, it appears to have been intentionally added to animal feed to trick Chinese farmers into thinking they’re buying protein. It’s ended up in pet food, where it hasn’t turned dogs and cats into durable dinnerware. it’s killed them.

Here’s where the story goes from bad to worse. It turns out that the melamine is showing up in chicken feed, too. On Friday, reported the Associated Press, officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency placed a hold on 20 million chickens raised for market in several states because their feed was mixed with pet food containing melamine.

We don’t know yet if the chickens could harm us. And the 20 million chickens represent a tiny proportion of the 9 billion chickens raised every year in the U.S.

Still, it’s bone chilling to think that we could be eating poultry that was intentionally fed industrial chemicals rather than actual nutrients.

It’s at grim times like these that I’m reminded of the value of locally grown, organic food. When I shop at my farmers market, I have a chance to look the person who grew my tomatoes or raised my eggs directly in the eye. I suppose it’s possible they’d try to cheat me, harm me even, by spiking their feed or their soil with toxic chemicals that might somehow temporarily enrich them while devastating me. But I doubt it. They have too much to lose — not just money or business, but the actual human relationship with their customers that is as valuable to them as it is to us.

Yes, I relish the delicious quality of the locally grown, organic food I buy. But just as much, I savor the accountability and trust I have in the grower.

Buy local. And look the grower in the eye when you do.

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