Veterans all across America are returning from war with the same challenge – how to transfer their hard-earned leadership experience and industrious skills while transitioning back into society. Meanwhile, American farmers are confronting their own difficulties – high input costs, increased government regulation, and the exodus of the next generation of family farmers and ranchers. Enter Farmer Veteran Coalition, a nonprofit mobilizing veterans to farm American soil with funding from socially responsible companies like Nutiva. Together, Farmer Veteran Coalition and Nutiva are changing lives.

Like most nonprofits, Farmer Veteran Coalition fills a gap in society by providing assistance to those with specific needs not provided in government and private sectors. Through outreach, training and networking, the nonprofit cultivates a whole new generation of farmers and develops viable employment and careers in sustainable agriculture. A belief in this transition to a green and meaningful path is what draws supporters like Nutiva, which gives away 1% of sales to sustainable agriculture programs that nourish people and planet.

Veterans from all eras of the military are eligible to receive assistance from the Farmer Veteran Coalition, although a majority of them are from the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. They come from all branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Besides their common wartime experience, they all share a desire to seed a better future for themselves.

Veteran Farmers Coalition’s Executive Director Michael Gorman believes that farming offers purpose, opportunity, as well as physical and psychological benefits. He is very proud of the young vets who transform their lives under his program. One such veteran is Tia Christopher, one of 14 female soldiers receiving recognition from the White House.  “We are, of course, very thrilled at her honor,” he adds.

Nutiva is thrilled as well to be able to support such honorable programs and the men and women they help. In our dedication to nourishing people and planet, we invest in communities and sustainable small farming and have the opportunity to watch positive change unfold.

In an exciting announcement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Growing Power, Chicago will soon have up to five acres of urban farming available to help promote and educate residents about sustainable farming. We’re thrilled to see Chicago taking these steps! For the entire announcement continue reading below.

MAYOR EMANUEL LAUNCHES NEW “FARMERS FOR CHICAGO” NETWORK FOR CHICAGO URBAN FARMERS

New collaboration will provide farm trainees with support to launch food enterprises, make five acres of vacant city lots available to farm, and expand local supply chain for food retailers

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – March 15th, 2013

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Growing Power, a leading local urban agriculture organization, today announced the launch of Farmer’s for Chicago, a new program that will make available up to five acres of City-owned vacant lots for urban farming activity, and help expand the supply chain for local neighborhood-level food production and wholesale. The city lots will be prepared for local nonprofits that will be able to install food growing equipment, and train up to 20 people in urban farming and skills.

“Once made available, these vacant lots will help stabilize communities by bringing productive activity to areas that need it around food deserts,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Farmers for Chicago will give local residents a chance to not only learn how to grow food in their communities, but also build their own food enterprise.”

One of the first programs of its kind in the nation, Farmers for Chicago will be implemented over a three year period. With support from the philanthropic sector, Farmer’s for Chicago will help establish the nuts and bolts of a strong local food sector in neighborhoods lacking fresh produce by preparing urban growers with the skills necessary to succeed at food commerce, including growing and packaging fruits and vegetables, and distributing them to up to 20 retailers, including farmer’s markets, local corner stores, grocery chains, and restaurants.

As part of the new city collaboration and with the support of the United States Department of Agriculture and the City of Chicago, Growing Home, Heartland Human Care Services, Angelics Organic Learning Center, and the Chicago Botanic Garden have begun training residents, especially those with limited work history, in how to grow local food. Specifically, Growing Home is expanding growing facilities in Englewood, while Angelic Organics Learning Center will soon break ground on an urban agriculture facility in Greater Grand Crossing and Heartland Human Care Services continues to develop two and a half-acre farm in Humboldt Park.

Farmers for Chicago will recruit 25 trainees from those programs and provide them with technical assistance needed to start a food business, including help with obtaining General Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification required for retail wholesales, building a farm operation, hoop house construction, and building a distribution plan. Trainees will have access to shared tools, space, compost, financial literacy, and other enrichment at Growing Power’s Iron Street Farm.

“I am excited that the City is partnering up with the community on such an important initiative,” said Erika Allen, Executive Director of Growing Power. “Our new pipeline will take Chicago’s local food sector to the next level.”

Growing Home helps empower people and communities with Chicago’s first USDA-Certified Organic, high-production urban farms. With farms in the Englewood and Back of the Yards neighborhoods, as well as the 10-acre Les Brown Memorial Farm in Marseilles, Illinois, Growing Home seeks to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic agriculture as a vehicle for job training, employment, and community development.

In 2011, Growing Home’s Wood Street Urban Farm grew and sold over 13,000 pounds of local, USDA Certified Organic produce, with over $45,000 in earned income. Growing Home sells its produce at the Green City Market, through a Community Supported Agriculture program, and to fine Chicago restaurants. Additionally, Growing Home holds a weekly farm stand for Englewood residents and provides programming on healthy cooking and nutrition to bring healthy options to this food desert.

The city’s role will be to identify clusters of city-owned land at appropriate locations that can be made available to farmer trainees, typically through the land’s transfer to a land trust or through a lease with one of the community-based training agencies that are identified as participants.

The city will make sites available to foster productive uses for formerly vacant land, improve community access to healthy food, help participants to supplement their incomes, and to foster workforce training.

The incubator network will help train people interested in farming, processing, marketing, selling and distributing produce. Specific skills training will range from hoop house construction and compost development to business plan development and retail sales.

There are about 15 acres in the network that either already operating as farming and training sites, being planted this year, or breaking ground next year.

Today’s announcement is another ingredient in the Emanuel Administration’s ongoing support of the emerging urban agriculture sector, both addressing the workforce development needs of residents with limited work history, and bringing opportunities to food desert communities. The Administration has made an annual investment of $750,000 in transitional jobs programs with Chicago nonprofits in the urban agriculture sector. This includes support for innovative social enterprises such as Beeline Beauty Products in urban beekeeping, and Neighbor Carts, which distributes fresh produce in food deserts. These investments are intended to provide training for more than 200 hard-to-employ individuals per year – including ex-offenders and the formerly homeless, and job placement for more than 160 trainees.

Image via Flickr

You may already love Nutiva’s Organic Coconut Oil in your baked goods, in your oatmeal, on pancakes, or when stir-frying vegetables, but did you know that coconut oil is as valuable in the bathroom as it is in the kitchen? This nutritional fat is as good for your skin and hair as it is for the inside of your body. I had no idea just how amazing this seed of a drupaceous fruit is!

Coconut lovers far and wide are incorporating the oil into their skin care regimen in part as a way to avoid the heavy chemicals found in most beauty products. “U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.”

Another reason to use coconut oil on your skin instead of drug store lotions is its soothing, protecting, and healing properties. Dr. Oz revealed on his show how people for centuries have used coconut oil to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Because virgin coconut oil contains lauric acid, Coconut Oil is naturally anti-fungal.

In addition to its purity and healing qualities, virgin coconut oil is an ideal beauty aid because it acts as an emollient, making skin smoother, softer and better hydrated. Because the melting point of virgin coconut oil is less than body temperature, it melts into your skin, feeling oily at first but then soaking in and leaving a shine. The Huffington Post reports, “Commercial moisturizers contain lots of water, which makes you feel like your skin is being moisturized. But as soon as the water dries, your skin becomes dry again….In contrast, coconut oil provides deep and real moisture. It helps strengthen underlying tissues and helps remove excessive dead cells on the skin’s surface .”

Don’t stop at your skin. Coconut oil is a superior hair conditioner, especially for wiry, unmanageable, or dry hair. People are also discovering coconut oil for use as soap, a shaving aid, deodorant, toothpaste, diaper ointment, and a personal lubricant. No matter what room in your house you intend to stock with coconut oil, obtain the highest quality product in order to obtain the greatest benefits and ensure its natural chemical makeup has not been changed by hydrogenation. Therefore, look for organic, cold-pressed, extra virgin, and unrefined coconut oil like Nutiva’s brand.

For three days, 30 Richmond youth showed up at Nutiva’s headquarters to run, dribble, pass, rebound, defend, shoot and swish. For a brief time, Nutiva staff members left their forklifts, production lines, and desks to run drills, check in, serve healthy snacks, and observe all the fun. Above all, the camp provided opportunities for the youth (and us big kids) to be healthy for a couple of hours.

Experts say youth need to engage in moderate to vigorous activity for at least 60 minutes everyday to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle (http://www.letsmove.gov/get-active). Instilling healthy eating habits and introducing nutritious foods is another key for raising healthy kids. Given the rise in diet-related issues such as obesity and diabetes, America’s youth clearly need more opportunities for exercise as well as more opportunities to eat nutritious foods.

Nutiva saw an opportunity to help and stepped in to provide both to local Richmond youth during their Spring Break. Parents welcomed the help, commenting, “This is great for the community, the children need something like this,” and “I’m glad you offered this because my kids weren’t going to do anything during the break.”

The youth responded positively too. Little Maximiliano said at the end of the first day that his bones were tired, then he fell soundly asleep. Others like Manuel were in it for the fun, claiming that’s why he showed up. I heard Nutiva CEO John Roulac on the court saying the same thing!

The fun eventually came to an end, as t-shirts, trophies, certificates, and words of praise were handed out. The kids were both tired and elated, thanking the coaches and asking when the next camp was going to be held. I’m not sure who is looking forward to next year’s camp more, the kids or the Nutiva staff.

Richmond Grows, a non-profit providing seeds to the community through the Richmond Public Library’s Seed Lending Program, got some well-deserved press on NBC Nightly News. Under the program, residents “borrow” seeds and plant them, let some plants go to seed, and then return some of these next generation seeds for others to borrow.

Nutiva has long been a supporter of urban gardening and saw Richmond Grows’ potential and value right away. Shortly after settling into its new community, Nutiva granted through its 1% Program a donation towards the non-profit’s general operations.

This isn’t the first time Nutiva has funded programs addressing the importance of seeds, see the Nutiva-funded film Seeds of Freedom. A grass roots movement is under way in the United States to save the seeds of one year’s harvest to plant in the next. It’s how people farmed for centuries and how many farmers in India and Africa continue to farm. It’s a farming legacy that is in peril.

Commercial seed giants like Monsanto threaten this way of farming by monopolizing seed varieties, creating new GMO seeds, and contributing to the elimination of seed varieties and thus the degradation of genetic biodiversity.

The sixty or so seed libraries across the nation serve to increase the preservation of seed diversity by providing 100s of seed varieties for resident growers. Seed libraries also address the growing concern over food access, see USDA’s newly updated Food Access Research Atlas. Seed libraries provide an opportunity for residents, who can’t otherwise afford to, to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in their own backyards, thus improving their access to healthy affordable food.

Nutiva supports urban gardens, seed diversity, non-GMO seeds, and food access as ways to nourish people and planet, accelerate the organic-food movement, and revolutionize the way we eat.

“We want to get dirty!” hollered a group of 5^th graders from Richmond College Prep School to Nutiva volunteers in anticipation of planting fruit trees at their school. The students did get a chance to get their hands in the dirt and touch worms, show off their knowledge of plant cells and photosynthesis, and learn that they will not be attending the school when the trees mature. In three years when the trees bare fruit, it will be their younger brothers and sisters who get to pick the apples, persimmons, and plums.

Planting for future generations is a sustainability concept familiar to Common Vision’s Project Director Leo Buc, who commented, “The next generation deserves a healthy environment, they deserve access to healthy food, they deserve to see what’s possible.”

Powered by two vegetable-oil-fueled buses, Common Vision just completed its spring Fruit Tree Tour (http://vimeo.com/44339456) of over 30 California public schools. In addition to planting fruit trees at these schools, Common Vision presented live music, storytelling, art, dancing, and puppetry.

Common Vision made a visit to Richmond College Prep courtesy of a grant from Nutiva through its 1% Program (https://nutiva.com/about/donation/). Over the next five years, with Nutiva’s support, Common Vision will plant a fruit tree garden of 10-25 trees in every public elementary, middle, and high school in the City of Richmond. This initiative, the first of its type, will serve as a benchmark for the potential of school gardens to significantly impact a local food-shed and contribute to a culture of healthy eating.

From the protected habitats of Ecuador comes a new all-organic offering from Nutiva,
shipping May 1, 2013! Red palm oil contains the highest amounts of Vitamins A and E of any plant-based oil – healthy antioxidants that support your daily wellness regime.

ORGANIC: Grown in Ecuador on small organic family farms. We partner with Natural Habitats to promote sustainable agriculture.

Nutiva Founder & CEO John W. Roulac with Red Palm farmer in Ecuador

HABITAT-FRIENDLY: Cultivated in harmony with nature. No rainforests or orangutan habitats are harmed.

HEALTHY: Organic red palm oil is a nutrient-dense, versatile baking and cooking oil. Its red color reveals antioxidant vitamins A and E, in the forms of beta-carotene and rare tocotrienols and tocopherols of the vitamin E family.

FILTERED UNLIKE OTHER PALM OILS: Nutiva has developed a proprietary filtering process for red palm that creates a mild, buttery flavor. Ideal for sauces and sauteing.

HOW WE SOURCE PALM OIL

Current cultivation practices in major palm oil production areas of Indonesia and Malaysia destroy large stretches of jungle and endanger the wildlife, specifically orangutan habitats. Most palm oil is also non-organic. Cultivation of non-organic palm oil often results in farmers spraying Roundup™ twice per year per palm tree.

Nutiva’s Red Palm Oil is certified organic. Our red palm oil comes from small organic family farms in NW Ecuador that are sustainable and habitat-friendly. These family farms are not part of the current deforestation and habitat destruction (in fact, orangutans do not even live in Ecuador). Nutiva is working with Natural Habitats to promote sustainable agriculture and social programs including building a small health clinic for the local doctor, and hiring a full-time soccer coach and providing uniforms for the local youth.

WHY IS RED PALM SO NUTRITIOUS?

Red palm oil is a plant-based fat that has been a staple of indigenous cultures for over 5,000 years. Legend has it that this sacred food was revered for its healthful properties and entombed with the pharaohs of ancient Egypt for their enjoyment in the afterlife.

Red palm oil contains the highest amounts of vitamins A and E of any plant-based oil. Its dark red color comes from carotenes, such as alpha-carotene and beta-carotene (vitamin A)—nutrients that provide color to fruits and vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes. Red palm also contains at least ten other carotenes, including the antioxidants, tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E).

SUGGESTED USES

Red palm oil adds a distinctive, earthy flavor and warm yellow color to a variety of dishes. Use in rice, quinoa, muffins, smoothies, spreads, sauces, soups, stews, fish dishes, guacamole, popcorn and medium-heat sautéing. Can also be blended with other oils, such as olive or coconut for baking. For an easy way to add antioxidant-rich fats to your dinner, brush your favorite vegetables with Nutiva Red Palm Oil before or after broiling. Sprinkle with seasoning to taste.

TO COME…

Coming to our Nutiva Kitchen, new recipes featuring red palm oil!

Learn more about Nutiva Red Palm Oil, our sourcing information, and our commitment to sustainable production and habitat protection HERE.

Last week Nutiva chose to unveil its newest product – Organic Red Palm Oil – at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA presented by New Hope Natural Media. Dr. Oz called Red Palm Oil his 2013 Miracle Oil for Longevity and people can’t stop asking where and when to buy it— especially Nutiva’s sustainable alternative to the red palm oil typically sourced from Southeast Asian plantations and harvested at the expense of orangutan habitats. Holly Espiritu, Nutiva’s Sales and Marketing Coordinator, remarked, “When we announced our mid-April launch date, many excited faces clouded with light disappointment, because people wanted it now!”

If you’re into showcasing or sampling the latest natural and organic products, Expo was the place to be. And even if you weren’t there to buy, sell, or network, there was plenty to do. For one, lots of food sampling! Walk down one aisle and feel stuffed by the end of it. Your curiosity is peaked by each booth’s unique display and innovative product offerings. Many expo goers sampled Nutiva’s delicious muffins chock full of our coconut, hemp and chia products. Flavors included Chocolate Banana Hemp, Lemon Ginger Pear and Morning Glory. Go online to Nutiva Kitchen to check out these and other recipes.

Whole Foods Market announced its commitment to full genetically-modified organism (GMO) transparency by 2018, making it the first national grocery chain to make this claim. The fact that so many of the brands advocating for this call-to-action exhibit at the show and are in retail stores such as Whole Foods demonstrates Expo West’s critical mass to push this GMO Labeling campaign forward. Nutiva’s CEO, John Roulac was seen strategizing with David Bronner of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and GMO Inside Director, Alisa Gravitz at Expo West.

Topping exhibitor and attendee records, more than 63,000 industry members and over 2,400 exhibiting companies packed the Anaheim Convention Center from March 7 – 10, 2013. Expo allowed attendees a unique view into the product trends fueling the growth of the global natural products industry in every category which includes food, beverage, supplements, beauty, household and pet products.

Following the move of our corporate headquarters from Oxnard, in Southern California, to Richmond, in the San Francisco Bay Area, on September 1, 2012, we are delighted to announce the kick-off of Nutiva’s first dry goods production line on February 4, 2013. Over the last 6 months, our Operations group has been busy remodeling the 104,000 square foot Richmond facility, hiring and training a talented and diverse new team of workers for our first production line. Already during the first month, our production team has been busy successfully packaging Chia Seeds and Hemp Protein.

Eight of the nine production team members are locals. One of our Production Leads transferred up from Oxnard to take advantage of the company’s enormous rise in sales. We are thrilled that many of our new employees come from the local Richmond-San Pablo area. Others commute from Oakland, Vallejo, and Pinole. Together they have many years of food production experience in machine operations, packaging, shipping and receiving. One of our employees previously worked in packaging at Kaia Foods, makers of Kale and Veggie Krunch. Another used to work at Grace Baking Company/Maple Leaf Foods. Other team members’ prior employers include Safeway, Rubicon Bakery, Jelly Belly, Alan Ritchey, Abbott Nutrition, UPS and Western Container Corporation, the premier manufacturer of plastic bottles for Coca-Cola.

Not only are their skills multi-faceted, this is also a multi-culturally diverse group of people as we noted at the company’s recent Valentine’s Day potluck where the tastes and smells spanned the globe to include dishes from the Philippines, India, Mexico, Italy and Asia.

Over the next several months, Nutiva expects to add 2-3 new production lines. In doing so, it will expand its existing dry packaging capacity as well as coconut oil products. Greg Phillips, Plant Manager in Richmond states, “This is a very exciting time in our company’s history. Everyone is learning quickly and stepping up to the challenge. I’m very proud of how our team has come together and is setting new milestones every week as we continue to move the business forward.”

To further our dedication to a healthy and sustainable world, Nutiva partnered with nearby Dominican University’s Green MBA program to perform eco-audits on our Richmond facility to determine our eligibility toward a Bay Area Green Business certification. Three stellar MBA students created an audit team called the Nutiva Divas and proceeded to leave no stone unturned in their quest for our ecological footprint.

Nutiva opened its warehouse and corporate office to Angela, Emily and Martha’s intrepid pursuit of information about our waste, water use, energy use, and pollution. We confirmed that Nutiva has a high level of commitment to green business practices already, and discovered only a few steps remain toward our goal.  Stepping in and out of our compost pile and dumpster confirmed that, according to the Divas.

Team Diva commented, “Nutiva’s passion for sustainability and active participation in this project has been greatly appreciated. We commend you for your diligent efforts to reduce your energy, water, waste and pollution impacts. By doing so, Nutiva has a great opportunity to become established as a leader in green business practices.”

Nutiva is already widely implementing sustainable business practices and is on its way to exceeding those steps and further reducing its ecological footprint. In addition to sourcing only sustainably grown organic products, Nutiva’s Green Committee has already addressed several of the remaining certification requirements, including instituting green office policies and minimizing landfill waste through better composting. Retrofitting our old building may take some time, though. Nutiva committed to addressing the remaining steps requiring capital expenditures by the end of this year.

We appreciate all the efforts from our passionate and committed Nutiva Divas, and look forward to our upcoming Green Business certification!