THE EAT WELL GUIDE WALKS HOLLYWOOD'S CARPET
Online sustainable food guide attracts attention from Hollywood to New York City
There's a new star on Sunset Boulevard: The Eat Well Guide (www.eatwellguide.org), a free, online directory, searchable by zip code, of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy and eggs from farms, stores, online outlets, and restaurants in the US and Canada. Since its re-launch just last year, the guide has received 7.5 million hits, and the most commonly searched zip code is none other than Beverly Hills, 90210.
The incredible success of the Eat Well Guide hasn't been limited to the glamorous Brendas and Brandons of the 90210 area. Other top guide users hail from: New York, NY; Davis, CA; San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Ann Arbor, MI; Corvallis, OR; and Burlington, VT.
"Not only does Hollywood set the tone for fashion and popular culture in this country, they are now setting the trends for sustainable eating," said Diane Hatz, Marketing and Special Projects Director for the GRACE, one of the organizations behind the Eat Well Guide. "And second to Hollywood is ultra-fashionable New York City."
Some might worry that the zip codes indicate that interest in organics is limited to the upper middle class, but according to Ms. Hatz, sustainable food is being served up all over the country. "Trends do tend to start in places like Hollywood and New York City , but sustainable food is becoming popular all over the country and the Eat Well Guide is helping every type of consumer find these healthier options.” said Ms. Hatz.
The Eat Well Guide was first conceived of by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) as a search engine solely for meat raised without the use of antibiotics. But, in early 2003, IATP teamed up with Sustainable Table, a division of GRACE, to expand the list and include animal products raised in a variety of sustainable ways.
“The popularity of the guide has really taken off over the past couple of months,” said John Kerkering, Outreach Coordinator for the Eat Well Guide, “and not just with individual consumers-- the guide has also played a critical role in helping to bring together local sustainable food groups from around the country.”
From Hollywood to New York and everywhere in between, the Eat Well Guide has made healthy, sustainable food this year's Oscar winner for nutrition.
Sustainable Table is a project of GRACE, a non-profit organization that works to oppose factory farming and promote a sustainable food production system that is healthful and humane, economically viable, and environmentally sound. For more information, visit www.gracelinks.org
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