Trade Aid are really committed to their supply chain; the Fair Trade and Organic Standards are designed to support co-operatives and even out the impact of erratic and low prices on vulnerable and also small producers. Read more about them here:
I wish we could get Fair Trade tea/ coffee/ hot choc at work, but until then I bring my own. See if you can get your office to change their supply to trade aid for a few extra cents and a whole lot more sweet justice!
Different to a large corporate company who tries to tie an ethical line into their marketing, the heart and soul of CeresOrganics is about sustainability. From their story of small organic beginings, to their mission and vision for people, communities and health, even to their new eco building! Their intentions and goals are centred around “doing the right thing” (not, we’d like to if we could be bothered!)
The awesome part about their sourcing and procurement processes are the relational efforts they make to validate each supply line.
Since quitting sugar, I’m not doing a lot of baking, but needed to make some macarons (!) and the awesome thing about Ceres, is their presence in the supermarket! I just ground up their lovely golden sugar to make caster sugar for my organic sugar, fair trade ganache, free range egg Macarons!
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I don’t like Coca Cola, and haven’t really drunk it growing up. I remember my friend’s Mum putting one of their baby teeth in a cup of coke overnight and it went black! I also learned you can clean your toilet with it like you would with baking soda and vinegar.
At uni, my friends in “3D Design for Sustainability” did a project on saving water and we found out that so many communities worldwide are impacted negatively by the production of Coke. ie where water is harder to access and more expensive than coke, because it is being diverted to the factories. Also the harvesting of the sugar in their supply chain was high risk for child labour victims.
And then I realised the other fizzy brands I chose, in order to avoid coke, were owned by the same company! So instead, I will support the awesome work of Phoenix and All Good’s Karma Cola instead.
How can Peace on Earth be found?…
…God gave each of us inherent worth and value; accept it in yourself, discover and encourage it in others and peace may just be possible.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Little Bird Cafe, Ponsonby.
Incredible choice of vegan and raw food, I could basically have anything savoury on the menu, and will most certainly be back for some un-cheesecake! Really exciting to see the range of nut cheese and yoghurt and has inspired me to have a go at making some!
I believe they are using agave which is still 90% fructose, but not bad for a special treat! Not the best for the carnivorous man in your life, unless you can get him to try a weekly veggie day (so we also went up to get him chicken from the new and beautiful Boy and Bird)
Also, so popular you can rarely get a table, which is fine if you want a takeaway, but the decor is so awesome you really want to stay! 8.5/10
Did you know? Most of Chelsea sugar is from Queensland Australia! Therefore, the Fairtrade standard does not apply for this part of the sourcing chain. The processing of Chelsea sugar is also carried out at the plant on the North Shore of Auckland as it all arrives in raw form.
But how can we discern what part of their sugar is from other sources? It is still up to us as consumers to question the integrity of brands we purchase, rather than choosing the cheapest or most familiar option. A blanket greenwashing statement “we believe in doing the right thing” does not mean they ARE doing the right thing! and the link to the Fairtrade website is not directly affiliated with Chelsea.
It is near impossible to search for “fairtrade” on their website, and while we can hope they meet ISOs for farming in Australia, there is no way of knowing (as with NZ) whether overseas labourers work on the farms and if they are actually treated fairly.
Also! While researching sugar and veganism for September, I learned that some sugar is processed using bone char and is therefore not vegan and maybe not even vegetarian!! Although most NZ producers use coal not bone, so check their websites if you are unsure!
Buckwheat Pancakes- with nut cream
Vegan Cheesecake- nutty base, cashew cream filling and arrowroot jelly-tastic top!
I LOVE the REVIVE CAFE cookery books (and actual cafe!) and have been trying out a few of their lush recipes! These are both from book 1 and theres heaps of sweet and savoury ideas in all 3 books- every recipe I’ve made of theirs comes out super-freaking-delicious!
Totally one of the best cookery book purchases- would definitely recommend checking them out!
BRAZILS!!! Boost your selenium with this jolly delicious milk alternative!
*1c Brazils, *2-4 c milk depending if you want it creamier
Apple Brazil cream
*1c Brazils, *1 grated apple, up to 1c water
soak and blend the brazils first with 1/2c water, then bust in the apple and add more water if required, until you get the creamy consistency you require- perf on pancakes!!
“Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world, in fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margret Mead (1901-1978)
Tonight LOUDER NZ kicked off their Social Justice Arts Week with an awesome night of fashion, Artistic expression and opening up conversations about slavery and trafficking.
Check out their page on facebook and events this week including exhibition and poetry from the epic South Auckland Poets Collective.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”
Helen Keller
So its the end of the vegan, sugarless month, and I enjoyed the best cup of tea I’ve had for 30 days! PLUS the most delicious organic sugar soy NiceCream! Thanks Tommy & James!
So I kind of lost sight of the sugar issue, while focusing so much on the vegan, but going forward I am going to do my best to avoid sugar and chocolate which is not certified organic or Fairtrade.
With today being WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY, kicking of Vegetarian month, I am going to re-introduce dairy, eggs and honey (hooray!) but stick with the vegetarian diet and keep exploring sugar!
I encourage you you join in with veggie month or a day a week!
sosweetsofine 