Lead in Reusable Bags?

A news story was published this week regarding tests finding high levels of lead in reusable bags. According to the story, "the non-woven-polypropylene bags, sold by chains including Safeway, Walgreen's and Bloom, all had lead content above 100 parts per million — the highest level that many states allow in consumer packaging. The tests were conducted by Frontier Global Sciences for the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), which plans to release the results Monday."

Here's a link to the article in USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2011-01-23-reusable-bags_N.htm

While we've never been a fan of the non-woven-polypropylene bag, it's been for the following reasons:

1) They are usually not made in the USA

2) Lots of fuel is used transporting them to the USA

3) They are recyclable but not biodegradable

4) The material typically lacks strength and the bags do not withstand heavy loads

And now there is a claim that these bags have a high lead content. We've also heard that the Center for Consumer Freedom - the organization that paid for the funding - is not an environmental or consumer protection group. The Center for Consumer Freedom website describes the group as "a nonprofit coalition of restaurants, food companies, and consumers working together to promote personal responsibility and protecting consumer choices". But there's more! CCF's website goes on to say: "A growing cabal of activists has meddled in Americans’ lives in recent years. They include self-anointed "food police," health campaigners, trial lawyers, personal-finance do-gooders, animal-rights misanthropes, and meddling bureaucrats."

We all know we should always consider who is funding the study and for what purpose. We don't know the purpose behind The Center for Consumer Freedom's study. But if there are high levels of lead in these imported non-woven-polypropylene bags, let's get them out of our U.S. grocery stores.

Here's what we know about our Eat Local Food reusable tote bags:

1) They are made in the USA

2) They are resuable

3) They are made of cotton

4) Cotton is biodegradable

5) They are sturdy and hold up to heavy loads

6) They are washable! (See our related post on washing your reusable bags)

7) They all have beautiful, original fine art designs!

Have a Website? Accept Payments On-line

To be a business with a credible internet presence, it is very important for your website to have the ability to accept orders online and to accept customer payments. You can either set up your own on-line merchant account or use an online payment processor.

A merchant account is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept payments by debit or credit cards. Typically you apply for the merchant account with the same bank that has your business checking account. Fees for a merchant account can be fixed and variable and will vary by bank used. The fixed fees can include the application cost, the monthly cost of having the account, and the annual fee, if applicable. Variable fees include service transaction fees and possible monthly charges that will vary according to your use of the service. It’s important to understand all of the fees you will be responsible for prior to engaging in a contract. Also note that you will be responsible for the security of your system. Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)details a set of rules merchants must adhere to in order to reduce fraud in the credit card industry. You must be able to prove your compliance with these rules.

The advantages of a merchant account include added professionalism and integrity for your business. When your customer receives their credit card statement your business name will appear next to the on-line purchase. Also after the initial set-up the overall cost of this option is typically lower than an online payment processor.

An online payment processor provides ways for you to accept credit cards and other payments online without the extra cost and responsibility of a merchant account. For the ease of using their service transaction fees for the third party processors are considerably higher than for merchant accounts. PayPal and Google checkout are two well known online payment processors.

The advantage of an online payment processor is that the system is easy to adopt and use. Also some customers feel more comfortable using their credit card with a system they are familiar with (such as PayPal).

Special Offer from Eat Local Food

Eat Local Food is celebrating 2011 with a special offer: make any on-line purchase at www.eatlocalfoodstore.com from now until March 1, 2011 and receive 11% off your total. Just enter HAPNY11 in the coupon box during checkout.

At Eat Local Food^®, we provide eye-catching, high quality marketing materials promoting locally produced, farm-friendly, natural, organic and healthy foods. Our products generate sales and increase customer awareness by helping support local farmers and shop owners, and strengthening local economies by keeping the money flowing among friends and neighbors.

Eat Local Food^® products are made in the USA and are proven marketing tools. All of our merchandise is decorative, functional and reusable. Our products can be ordered with or without customization for your business. Custom designed products and art design services are also available; please call us with any special requests or questions.

Choices 2011: Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives

Register now for this year's Choices Conference! To be held March 9 & 10 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan, this year's conference theme is "Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives".

Each year, this conference strives to present the latest ideas in food, health and fitness. If you are a farmer, nutritionist, educator, food activist or parent, Choices 2011 will have a topic of interest to you. Here are some of the themes in this year's conference:

• Learn how to engage audiences more effectively in learning about healthy eating
• Discover nutrition education trends impacting Michigan families
• Learn how to select and prepare heart-healthy, child-friendly and vegetarian meals and snacks that will become family favorites
• Become leaders in promoting healthy weight
• Discover innovative ways to promote physical activity
• Explore strategies for teaching nutrition education through school gardening

At Eat Local Food, we’re proud to be working with the Michigan Nutrition Network on the Choices Conference for the 5^th consecutive year. Eat Local Food’s “Shake the Hand that Feeds You” was selected by the organization as the image to represent this year’s conference. Attendees will receive, among other materials, an Eat Local Food conference tote featuring this striking image of a local farmer.

Registration is now open at http://www.minutritionnetwork.org/choices/

Participants can attend for one or both days. There are also special rates for those who participate in SNAP-Ed.

Choices is sponsored by the Michigan Nutrition Network at the Michigan Fitness Foundation with Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Department of Education.

Marketing in 2011: Easy as ABC

A: Accept technology. Computers are no longer just for recordkeeping and cell phones for phone calls. Internet based marketing is here to stay and you need it to further your business in 2011.

B: Be consistent in your marketing approach and save yourself time and money.

C: Choose your marketing expenditures carefully and evaluate the sales response to each proposal you consider. (print advertisments v. e-newsletters etc.)

Step "A": Accepting Technology:

Accept the internet! Many on-line marketing schemes are free and easy to use. The internet offers you an immediate means of staying in touch with your customers. A strong relationship with your customers helps to ensure they will buy from you over and over. You can let customers know what you are selling at this week's farmers market, take orders on-line, provide customer testimonials and offer recipes, coupons and gift certificates.

• If you don't have a web site get one
• Market your web site so customers can find you
• If you sell product on-line, accept credit cards (click here to read more about how to do this)
• Start issuing a monthly e-newsletter (use a paid service to ensure compliance with spam laws)
• Learn how to use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. and determine which social networking websites are right for you
• Start writing a blog (Blogger, WordPress, etc.)
• Seek out free on-line advertising but only utilize ad sites relevant to your business

What NOT to do:

Don't try to do it all yourself: enlist the help of a family member, or hire an intern. Local college students typically know how to use current internet-based tools, usually need to work and are always building their resumes.

Don't have someone write the content of your blog or e-newsletter. You know your business best and your customer correspondence should be in your voice.

Don't spend a lot of money on a web site until you know what you want and what type of site would work best for your business. For example, selling your product on-line may not be feasible and a simple informational site might be all you need to promote your business.

Don't sign up for unneeded maintenance contracts.

Don't let the unknown territory of technology prevent you from growing your business in new ways.

Coming soon.....more on accepting technology and steps "B" and "C". Stay tuned.

New Hoop House Resource from Michigan State University

If you are a farmer, farming non-profit, researcher, or garden hobbyist interested in season extension or year-round farming using hoop houses (aka high tunnels, passive solar greenhouses, unheated greenhouses) you'll find some great information at Michigan State University's new hoop house website.

On this web site you can register for upcoming workshops, download research and watch videos on hoop house building with instruction by Adam Montri, Hoop House Specialist at MSU. Use the map to locate Michigan hoop houses or add your own hoop house and farm information. You’ll also find info here about other season extension techniques like row covers, quickhoops, low tunnels, and 3-season high tunnels.

If you are an established farmer or an interested beginner - the Michigan State University Hoop House web site has something for you!

Web site design by Bob Rozelle of Eat Local Food LLC