Page 99 - How to Be a Conscious Eater - Making Food Choices That Are Good for You

how well it matches Seafood Watch’s recommendations for
twenty-six commonly sold species; and, importantly, label-
ing and transparency, which includes how carefully sourcing
data gets tracked and communicated to customers. In the 2018
report, Whole Foods Market, Hy-Vee, and ALDI took the top
three spots out of twenty-two major American grocers. They
were considered “leading,” whereas the bottom of the barrel
was occupied by Wakefern and Save Mart (both considered
“failing”) and Price Chopper (which got a “passing” grade,
though it just squeaked through by a few tenths of a percent).

Source directly. Think farmers’ markets and community-
supported agriculture (CSA) boxes. Grocery shopping this way
can increase traceability and reduce the likelihood of fraud
because your products touch fewer hands. The saying “Know
your farmer, know your food” applies to food from the sea as
well: Know your fisherman, know your food. Sign up for a com-
munity-supported fishery box (search at localcatch.org). When
eating out, support restaurants that grow or raise their own
ingredients (a practice also known as “vertical integration”) or
that source directly themselves. For instance, you can opt for
restaurants participating in programs like Dock to Dish, which
is all about the concept of restaurant-supported fisheries. In
direct-sourcing models, traceability is high, sustainability is
central, and the opportunity to try a wider variety of foods
can be exciting as a diner. These programs are supply-driven,
flipping the script from the usual demand-driven model. This
improves earnings for local farmers and fishermen who no
longer have to sell through middlemen.

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