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2001 » Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | Special Edition
2002 » Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter | Special Edition
2003 » Winter
Inside this issue:On July 18th, 2002, a special General Membership Meeting was held to discuss the plans for the then-proposed store reset. The proposal was discussed, the votes were cast, and the absentee ballots were counted. The vast majority of members who participated voted YES to the reset. The democratic aspect of our Co-op was put to the test, and passed!
Thanks to all who attended the meeting and to those who voted. Some absentee ballets were not counted because they were not filled out properly. Next time you vote, please pay special attention to the instructions on the ballot box!
We will need lots of help from our kind members for the three days the reset will take place. We will be closed on Sunday, September 15th and Monday the 16th. Please look for sign-up sheets at the register and lend a hand to our hard-working staff. You can earn work credit while contributing to the improvement of your Co-op!
I'm sitting at the computer wondering what I should write about. Should I write another article about how I feel about the approaching season? Or should I write about the articles that will be in this edition of the newsletter? I think that I have written about both of these topics and need to find something new. Then I wonder if anyone even cares if the Editor's Letter is in the newsletter or not. Does anyone even read the Cornucopia? The newsletter is here to provide our members and customers information and all the articles are provided by staff and board members. The time has come to have members be more involved in this product. If we don't hear from you am I to think that our readers do not care whether or not we have a newsletter? I hope this is not the case.
These are questions that I would love the readers of the Cornucopia to answer. What do YOU want? I think it is about time that we hear from our readers. I NEED your input. I want to provide the best newsletter possible, and the answers and suggestions lie in YOU, our readers. So stop by the office and talk to me. If I'm not here, leave a note and your phone number and I'll call you back. I just want more members and customers to have input to a product that is created just for them. I think this is a fair request...do you?
Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has served to offset the cost of providing lunches for school children by offering cash subsidies, donated commodities, and free bonus shipments for public and nonprofit private schools participating in the program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that each school in turn meet its requirements set in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are as follows:
No more than 30% of calories in a meal may come from fat
No more than 10% of calories from saturated fat
Lunches must provide 1/3 of Recommended Daily Allowances for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and calories
In a report published in the fall of last year, the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) stated that while they at least offer minimum nutritional requirements for schools to follow, "many doctors and nutritionists argue that these guidelines fall short of what is needed to plan truly healthy meals for children." Specifically, the USDA guidelines make little mention of the quality or types of ingredients used to meet these requirements.
Since one of the benefits of the NSLP is the donation of commodities for school lunches, such foods often make up a large portion of ingredients used. The PCRM report states that "approximately 30% of foods served in schools come from the commodities program." And the five most commonly used commodity foods are ground beef, breaded chicken, cheese, canned fruit, and flour. The commodities program serves two functions. On the one hand, schools are provided with foods for lunches, yet the program is also benefiting the agricultural market. The PCRM report goes on to say that "while the USDA supports the farmers who produce healthy fruits, vegetables, and grains, it is also responsible for protecting the markets for meat and dairy products. Therefore, school children are left with the surplus of high-fat meats, whole milk, cheeses, and butter that consumers are not purchasing."
The study also found cow's milk was often the only source of calcium available, and that half of the school districts surveyed required children to take cow's milk unless they has a note from a doctor or parent. On the topic of vegetarian options, 10 out of 12 districts surveyed said they have "something to serve for vegetarian requests," while only 2 out of 12 districts serve a variety of vegetarian offerings.
While the PCRM study is certainly informative, I felt there were some important questions which were not addressed. To find some answers, I spoke to a representative from the food service department of the Christina School District. This is what I discovered:
Organic ingredients are not important in school lunch planning
While there appeared to be some concern about genetically engineered foods, very little information was known on the subject
100% of ingredients used in school lunches are processed (vs. whole foods), however I was reassured that they were "enriched"
There is absolutely no concern about the effects of bovine growth hormones and antibiotics on developing children who consume factory farmed meat and dairy products
The response to this topic was that all meat is USDA inspected. I would just like to add at this point that the chief of staff to the Secretary of Agriculture is a former lobbyist for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. As nutritionist Marion Nestle stated in an interview in the summer issue of Eating Well magazine, "It's hard to imagine a government worker fresh from the payroll of the beef industry acting completely unbiased by the beef industry's interests."
There are vegetarian options for students everyday
This seemed to be the one topic discussed which parents were equally concerned about.
Although many schools have snack and soda vending machines, they are required to be turned off during lunch
The topic of vending machines in schools is a whole separate issue, and often exemplifies how school children have become targets for corporate marketing strategies. In her interview, Marion Nestle states that "soda manufacturers are allowed to develop contracts with schools whereby they install vending machines in return for money that the schools can use for discretionary purposes. It puts schools in the position of being pushers because the contracts are usually tied to 'performance' targets. The more soda pop the kids drink, the more money the schools get."
There are many influencing factors involved in what children are served for lunch at school. Parents should know they may also have an influence since school districts are usually open to parental concerns and requests.
To contact the food service department of the Christina School district, call 454-2022.
To view a copy of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's report, "School Lunch Program Fails to Make the Grade," go to www.pcrm.org
Codex Alimentarius was established in 1962 as a commission in the World Health Organization (WHO). It covers food safety, additives, and pesticide residues. In 1996, the German delegation to this commission proposed nutrients not be sold for preventive or therapeutic use, that potency levels be drastically lowered, and this action be harmonized on a global scale. All members of the United Nations (including the United States) who signs the GATT treaty would be subject to the Codex restrictions. This means all daily supplements used will be turned into expensive drugs able to be bought with a prescription only. There have been several Codex executive sessions held at the United Nations on this subject, but the United States has just one vote and that is by a bureaucrat within a federal agency. The Codex laws are enforceable by the World Trade Organization's General Agreement, which supercedes our American laws. There are many persons with financial influence over our legislatures in Washington, who think dietary supplements are hazardous because they are unregulated. Yet, our representatives need our vote to stay in office and your vote is the best leverage for effecting change. Contact your representatives and express to them, not only to support freedom of access to vitamins and other nutritional supplements covered by DSHEA, but also your concern about Codex Alimentarius.
Your senators can be reached at: U.S. Senate, Washington D.C. 20510, or by phone at (202) 224-3121. Your Congressmen can be reached at: U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20510, or by phone at (202) 225-3121. Action is the best policy to protect our future health.
In his second attempt to push this topic of GM labeling to a vote, Representative Denis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), in May 2002, introduced 5 bills to establish a regulatory framework for developing and introducing GM foods and this was assigned to a committee. The 5 pieces of legislation cover key issues concerned with working with GM foods, from consumer labeling to protecting farmers from liability. The bills are: H.R. 4812, H.R. 4813, H.R. 4814, H.R. 4815, and H.R. 4816.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) is preparing a similar offer for the senate. If you want more information on this article, contact me or the Product Committee here at the co-op.
$13.5 million towards a national organic certification cost-share program to aid producers and organic produce handlers in obtaining certification.
$15 million toward organic research.
$3.75 million for a set-aside fund for marketing value added organic products.
Establishment of an Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative to aid in organic product marketing and conducting farm research.
Requires the Department of Agriculture to gather production and marketing data on organic agricultural products, to examine the problems caused by federal marketing orders on organic agricultural products, to facilitate access of organic producers to international organic research, and to report back to congress on the impact of this national organic program on small farms
Provision (added) to allow the organic industry to establish a national voluntary genetic-research and promotion program.
How long have you worked at the coop?
Sylvia Adams (S): "Five years."
Jennifer Adams (J): "one month."
How did you come into the COOP family?
J: "I actually was looking for another part-time job. I saw they were hiring and I love natural foods and supplements, it's really my passion. So I filled out an application and here I am!"
S: "I was out of work, totally [Laughter] for three years! Looking for another health food store because I've worked at most of the health food stores around here. I really like the COOP. I knew they didn't have a big supplement section, I thought, maybe, it would be a very big challenge, I could really help out. I came in a couple of times and talked to different people and I said 'you need someone with experience to do the supplement section', so I kept bugging Robin [Lindsey] for the next six months! 'come on give me a job! Give me a job!' [Laughter] I was hired!"
Sylvia, tell us about Jennifer coming to the COOP.
S: "We were putting an ad in the News Journal for an assistant for me and Janey [Bowen] came to me and said, 'I think you really need to talk to this person. We may not have to put in an ad, this person would be perfect for you and guess what her last name is?' I said, 'what?' She said, 'Adams!' And I said, 'OH, NO!' [Laughter]. So I said, 'Fine, 'let me talk to her!' And we talked a few minutes and right away I knew she had the information, the knowledge, everything I needed. I wanted to hire her on the spot but Janey said we have to give her a few days." [Laughter]
What are your strengths in what you do?
S: "Probably knowledge, because I have been in the business twenty-seven years! I've gleaned a lot, studying with the customers, just reading and things like that, so I guess probably knowledge would be my strongest point. I like people. I like to work with people, goof around, joke around and try to have a good sense of humour with people. I have people following me from every health food store I've ever been to for the last twenty-some years, so I guess they like me!"
J: "I think my strengths are just working with people. Communicating with them. I still have a lot to learn about this field but I think I'm like a sponge and will absorb everything I hear. I'm always trying to educate myself so every night I am reading extra material and things so I can keep learning more and more to help people more."
What philosophy do you carry in your life?
J: "My philosophy in life is to live one day at a time and live it to the fullest potential and be as healthy as I can be. Especially being in this field, I want to be a good role model for other people."
S: "Well I'm a very religious person so my strengths definitely comes from God most of the time, all the time I should say! [Laughter] I try to treat people like I want to be treated, all the time, I mean that doesn't always come through but I try to empathize and try to help people as much as I can."
What are your goals here at the COOP?
S: "My goals? RESET! RESET! RESET!"[Laughter]
J: "To organize!" [Again, much Laughter!]
Jennifer, what do you think of being at the COOP so far?
J: "I love it! I think that the customers are wonderful and, everyone who works here is really great! And I can't think of a better, happier and more peaceful place to work at. It's very, very nice!"
Sylvia, what is different here at the COOP than other jobs you worked? Is there a difference?
S: "Definitely! Laid back. Low key. I'm my own boss, basically, we have managers of course but other places I've worked I pretty much had to do what they wanted in the store, what they wanted to do. I worked for myself for a while, I had my own place, so it is hard to be beneath somebody, you know, you have been there! [Laughter] So I am pretty free to do what I need to do here so they have been very supportive! I am happy with the way things are run here most of the time."
Again, Sylvia, what can people expect when they come in here to talk to you?
S: "I try to be courteous, of course! We try to take as much time as we can with each individual. If we have ten people in line, I try to make a little joke, I say, 'I'm sorry guys! You'll have to take a number!' You know, I'm only one person, I have Jen and she can help also! But we try to help them as much as we can. I have never, never told a person something I didn't think was the truth! If I don't know something, I'll say I'm sorry I don't know that but I will look it up for you. We try to keep our products in [stock] as much as possible, so when people come in they are on the shelves and they do not have to go down the road. We really strive hard for customer service, big time!"
What is the most rewarding thing in this business?
S: "The most rewarding thing is when people come back and say I've been living with something for twenty years. I've been to doctors and they haven't helped me and finally I've found someone who has given me something that has totally helped me and I feel really, really good. I just want to thank you for helping me out! I think that's really neat!"
J: "I think it is just hearing those success stories of when people come in and you sort of set them up on a regimen of some things and they come back and say, 'wow this really worked for me!'"
Last question, I promise! What are your interests outside of the COOP?
J: "I'm a certified massage tech. And I also work at a chiropractor's office in Wilmington, Dr. Lenny Costow."
S: "Gardening. All organic. I do woodworking, building stuff. I'm into everything but those are my two passions, gardening and woodworking."
Among all of the wonderful women, men, and children who shop, volunteer, or just hang out at the Co-op, incidents still occur that cause me concern. Our casual atmosphere is unique, but may cause confusion for some. Each and every person who walks through our door has the right to feel comfortable and safe. On June 20, 2002, the Board of Stewards made the following an official store policy. I urge each of you to read this carefully and take this statement very seriously. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Sexual and Unlawful Harassment Policy
A strong and healthy respiratory system adds to the vigor and well being of the entire body. The organs that work together to form this system serve, on a physical level, to supply needed oxygen to the blood and eliminate waste carbon dioxide. On an energetic level, the respiratory system facilitates our participation in the give and take with our external environment. As herbalist David Hoffmann writes, "The ebb and flow of life, prana or breath provides us with a direct experience of the vitality and dynamism of our world. All that lives breathes, and we partake of this planetry lung whenever we inhale and give to it with each exhalation. Our oneness with the whole in action" (The Herbal Handbook, page 123). Yet, an increasingly polluted air supply has resulted in a large number of people with compromised respiratory ability.
When addressing chronic respiratory imbalance, many aspects of one's daily life should be taken into account. First, since our lungs connect us to our external world through the breath, the quality of air we breathe should be improved. Eliminate cigarette smoking and avoid places where heavy smoking is a constant occurrence. Frequent places with fresh air and lots of trees. Examine personal use of technologies which contribute to air pollution (cars, air conditioners, lawn mowers, highly polluting forms of electricity...) and eliminate, curb, or find alternatives to their use. This step is especially important because we all contribute to the quality of the air we breathe. Being more conscious of our contribution will help create healthier air for our future.
Next, adjust the diet to eliminate mucus forming and highly processed foods, as well as foods with artificial ingredients and high sugar levels. Also, since the health of the liver affects the vitality of all body systems, include foods that support this organ such as burdock root, dandelion, and bitter salad greens.
Support the kidneys and other organs of elimination, since they will be working harder to compensate for a respiratory problem which impairs that system's eliminatory abilities. Many of the liver supporting foods added to the diet will also support the kidneys (burdock and dandelion for example). Nettle tea may also be drunk regularly as a wonderful kidney tonic.
Along with all this, herbs may be used to soothe and heal an irritated respiratory tract, and to tone and strengthen the entire system. An herbal tea blend of respiratory supporting herbs may be taken regularly as a tonic to help bring this system back into balance. The following blend is one example of such an herbal tonic. You may use this recipe to blend your own tea, or purchase the pre-blended tea from our bulk tea department.
Respiratory Tonic Tea
2 parts Red Clover Flowers(remove toxins, nourish & strengthen system)
2 parts Spearmint (antispasmodic, stimulant)
2 parts Lemon Grass (vitamins A & C, anti-infection)
1 part Coltsfoot (expel mucus, ease cough and breathing discomfort, open air passageways, anti-bacterial)
1 part Mullein (all around respiratory herb: expectorant, demulcent, astringent, tonic)
1 part Rosehips (vitamin C, antioxidant, disease-fighting)
1 part Fennel Seed (dispel cough)
Blend herbs together and store in an air-tight jar. To make a cup of tea, bring water to a boil and pour over 1 to 2 teaspoons of the blend. Allow to steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink. (If you prefer, you may use a tea ball or cloth tea bag for convenience.)
Finally, regular exercise should be added to the program and increased as breathing ability allows. Aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, swimming, biking...will increase the oxygen moving through the lungs and help tone the system. Deep breathing exercises will also serve this purpose.
Remember, chronic imbalances develop over time, thus any treatment program should be incorporated into one's daily life for an extended period in order to be effective and long lasting. Using this program as a guide for making permanent lifestyle changes will help move the respiratory system into balance and health.
*This article is intended as an informational guide. Any serious respiratory condition should be addressed with the aid of a professional health care practitioner.
