http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/ Quality Australian Food Experiences Sun, 18 Jan 2015 23:46:15 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/What-Your-Grandmother-Knew There’s a saying nowdays that if you really want to judge the nutritional value of any food, ask yourself the question: ‘Would my grandmother recognise it?’There was a time not that long ago, before monopolistic food chains and supermarkets, before branding and lifestyle choices, before widespread commercial pesticides and the like, when the food we ate wasn’t even called organic. It was simply called food. Nature’s goodness, grown seasonally in the ground, full of rich nutrients and life-giving energy to keep us healthy and strong–and it’s these foods that grandma ate when she was young.Despite around 10,000 years of organic agriculture, the rebranding of organic food paralleled the decline of naturally grown food post-WWII as the grand social experiment of suburbia spread to ever new heights. Food had began to be mass-produced and homogenised for multiple markets as early as the late nineteenth century, when Victorian-era industrialisation gave birth to the factories and assembly lines. Fresh food was processed, preserved with additives and chemicals, canned, packaged and sold to the public in Western nations across the world, challenging entrenched cultural eating patterns and styles.In our grandparents’ time food was still organic–but the corporate growth in the late 1940s and 50s was giving natural food the first stirrings of change. By 1946 more than 400 million pounds of frozen vegetables entered the American marketplace to complement the canned foodstuffs. In the early 1950s refrigeration and the growth of supermarket chains eclipsed local grocery stores as the packaged food-boom rolled out.In counterpoint the organic food industry first crystallised in 1940, when the British author Lord Northbourne outlined an approach to ecologically-balanced farming that eschewed chemical fertilisers and pesticides. "The farm itself must have a biological completeness," Northbourne wrote in his book Look to the Land. "It must be a living entity ... which has within itself a balanced organic life."Decades after the introduction of man-made pesticides used to grow commercial food, pesticides and the like were eventually linked to a number of highly dangerous outcomes, including agricultural dead zones, the death of native flora and fauna, even cancer in humans. Ecologists warned of pollution from the first wave of genetically modified foods, as well as the rise of superbugs from antiobiotics fed to livestock. In the wake of these dangers and the back to the earth movement of the 1970s, organic food farming took off, and has never looked back. By some estimates the organic revolution now counts as many as 1.4 million organic farms worldwide. Now in the 21st century the message that organic food is natural and good for us has been understood, but the general public still has a perception that the neccessity of natural food needs to cost more, which is not necessarily the case. As the backlash against chemical-ladden homogenised supermarket food grows, and the demand for organic food continues to increase, the perception that organic costs more will diminish. Thomas Dobbs, a sustainable-agriculture economist at South Dakota State University claims that if one-third of shoppers bought organic produce, the leverage of scale would bring prices down between 10-30%.And when that happens you and your grandmother can get together in the kitchen and cook up a storm, for organic food will have truly come full circle.?Read more: http://whatgrandmotherknew.com/http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/eat-real-food-44013008http://world.edu/organic-food-history-organic-food/ Sat, 30 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/What-Your-Grandmother-Knew http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-True-Cost-of-Food There’s a perception in the mainstream media that organic food, while being acknowledged as tastier, healthier, and supportive of local markets and farmers, is somehow too expensive compared to normal supermarket food. And while the cost of organic farming may be high, there is a hidden cost in the everyday foods controlled by the large supermarket chains that is invisible to the average consumer: subsidies.Food subsidies are an often controversial tool that developed nations use to support certain foods grown in the farming system, but not others. Not all farmers receive subsidies and that imbalance carries over to the global food market, where some foodstuffs are artificially cheaper than they should be, and thus dominate other markets that can’t compete.The United States, one of the fiercest proponents of food subsidies, spent around $260 billion in the last 15 years subsidising agriculture, but not on the items you might think. The top four ‘foods’ that are subsidised are actually common food addititives in junk food: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch and soy oils, according to the Public Interest Research Group’s study, ‘Apples to Twinkies’. Fruit and vegetable subsidies, on the other hand, get a minute 1% of the government financial support. Corn subsidies for low-level animal feed, as well as corn-based ethanol for petrol alternatives is the highest recipient of this system, distorting the true cost of food and promoting a diet that leads to obesity and larger drains on the health care system.Luckily, Australia ranks low in the agricultural subsidies department, with a 2009 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on global farm subsidies showing only six per cent of Australian farmers income came from government support.Compare that, though, to the support for organic farming here in Australia. The reason organic food costs more than the highly monocultured supermarket chain food is partially economies of scale, and the financial weight of ensuring that no artifical chemicals or pesticides are used, as well as employing more labour to harvest naturally grown food (in 2010 it was estimated that the organic industry employs here employs around 25,000 people).Then there is the considerable cost to primary producers to secure organic certification, and insurance. Certification assures quality of the organic ‘brand’ in the public eye, but the cost to small organic farms, or those wanting to be, can be high. Every aspect of their farming, from production, storage to sale is monitored and assessed, with extensive documentation needed, including soil and water tests, annual on-site inspections, and an annual certification fee, which can run into the thousands of dollars all up. On top of all that it takes three years to become an Australian Certified Organic producer, which keeps the quality high but also the costs to the producers. When you factor in all of the subsidisation and market manipulation when it comes to supermarket distributed food and weigh it up against the market costs and benfits of organic food, a more honest appreciation of the true cost of food comes to light.And in the end–aren’t you worth it??Read more: https://www.uspirg.org/issues/usp/stop-subsidizing-obesitywww.organicgrowers.org.auhttp://www.australianorganic.com.au/ Sun, 24 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-True-Cost-of-Food http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Naked-Hostess--Naked-Treaties Jemma Gawned is the Creator and Director of Byron Bay-based ‘Naked Treaties Rawganics’, a raw food business, who speaks here with Food Coup about the benefits, challenges and spirituality of a raw food diet.FC: Naked Treaties is a provocative name, tell us a bit about that…JG: It first started out as Naked Sweeties, ‘cause I often call sweet things I love sweeties or treaties, and naked came because all these treats are free of anything that is detrimental to your body; it’s really clean food, so it’s naked and raw. But when I came to buy the domain name Naked Sweeties a teenage porn site came up, so I had to change the name!FC: And what’s your background with food? Most people probably remember you from Season One of Big Brother (2001) and other TV work.JG:  I’ve been into holistic nutrition for about 14 years, even with Big Brother in the house I was dieting and cooking and making things to keep people in there as healthy as I could. So sharing my passion for amazing food has always been a part of my life, and Naked Treaties is a fusion of that passion and my staying completely in integrity with the product. One day I had some really clear guidance that this could be a really good way to share the vibration of love through food. Right from the beginning when I made the Treaties I’ve done a ritual blessing around them to imbue them with the spirit of love, joy, clarity and wellbeing. I know that people can taste the vibration and that intent. FC: What are some of the benefits then of raw food?JG:  We’re born with metabolic and digestive enzymes and when we eat food that is cooked or heated above 50 degrees we draw upon the reserve of those enzymes in our body to break that food down. Food below 50 degrees has it’s own enzymes still intact which means the food starts to digest as soon as it hits the saliva, which saves our own enzymatic stores for cellular regeneration and repair.?As a result of that you end up with a lot more energy because 70% of our energy is taken up in digestion of cooked food. When you lighten the load you make more energy available for your system.FC:  What are some of the Treaties you offer?JG:  All of them began as a creation of something I love to eat. We have cheesecakes, raw tirumasu, a mud cake made with raw chocolate and beetroot, raw bountylicious coconut, vanilla bean and chocolate, a raw cherry ripe, goji balls and snow balls… I used to eat raw seeds and almond milk, cinnamon, tahini and agave for breakfast and I wanted to mush it all together to take with me and that’s how the goji balls were born.FC: You’ve been a healthy eater for ages but when did you first progress to raw foods?JG:  I went raw six years ago because while I’d done heaps of detoxes and diets I never felt really clear. I felt there was something missing there, something better than the diet I had. I fasted for ten days and slowly all the layers started to peel away, until my energy returned better than ever–even more than when I was a child, actually. So I stayed on raw foods when I finished that fast, and after eight of nine months of being 100% raw I felt amazing. Little bits of other food started to creep in, but I’m not fanatical. I see a lot of raw foodies, raw vegans in particular, creating more stress in their bodies by worrying about what they’re eating. For me eating a raw diet is just about putting your body back into balance. One you’re in that space you can feel what your body needs, so if you need a little bit of cooked food every now and again that’s fine, go for it, don’t beat yourself up over it. Raw food is about eating food which keep the cells of your body clear and clean, which means eating food that exits the body quickly. You eat, take the maximum nutritional value out of the food, and expel the rest.Naked Treaties RAW BAR is located at 2/130 Jonson Street Byron Bay NSW.?Read more: http://nakedtreaties.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/about-us.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_foodismwww.thebestofrawfood.com/ Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Naked-Hostess--Naked-Treaties http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Feed-The-People-Manifesto “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.” -Henry KissingerThere’s a revolution underway in the world today and it’s not what you think it is. This grassroots uprising is sweeping the West, and it’s all about the food we eat, how and where it’s produced and how sustainable the practices involved are. The corporate dominated distribution model is also being revisited in an attempt to localise food and revitalise our communities–from the ground up. In Australia, organisations like Food Coup (Change Organic Unification People) are leading the way to reappropriate the systems of food production and delivery and help create more efficient systems of living for us all.Australia's current system of food production and distribution is outdated and unsustainable. At present, the food industry is dominated by two major companies that share more than 85 per cent of the market. These companies dictate products, prices and practices, keeping both farmers and consumers effectively chained to the current food system. By dictating supply and demand, these companies keep Australian farmers firmly under their thumb. Statistics show that farmers receive as little as five percent of what customers pay for products at the checkout while the supermarkets pocket the rest. With grocery prices up by 40 per cent over the past ten years, it is consumers and farmers that ultimately pay the price. Feed The People believes that it is time for a new approach to the way we think about food. We demand an end to the current system of food production and distribution and a return to sane and sustainable practices. The way forward is to find a new food system that is based on sustainability, organic practices and respect.Feed The People is an organic food revolution fueled by love. It’s about taking back our right to eat real food that looks and tastes as nature intended. We believe we all have the right to eat organic food grown free from pesticides, herbicides and other harmful practices, by Australian farmers who love and care for their land and their produce. Organic products provide our body with high-quality nourishment and keep us healthy and strong. Food is fuel for our bodies and the cleaner that fuel the smoother we run. There is no doubt that organic food is better for your body, mind and spirit. Pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals sprayed on food can have a harmful impact on our bodies, contributing to an array of health problems and illnesses.In recent years more and more people have been choosing to buy organic products. In 2011 organic farming was one of the top five growth industries in Australia, led by the consumer demand for food that tastes good, is highly nutritious and chemical-free. The benefits of organic food goes beyond the body and into the soil and land itself it’s grown in. It’s about being in tune with nature and the seasons and your geographic region–by eating this way we cut down on assembly line produce grown in chemicals that hurt the earth, and reduce the transportation costs and environmental impact in getting it from the farm to you.So join us in taking the power out of the supermarkets and back into the hands of the Australian people and farmers.Join the Food Coup. Love the hand that feeds you.Read more: http://www.feedthepeople.com.auhttp://www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/http://www.organicliving.com.au/www.goingorganic.com Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Feed-The-People-Manifesto http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Rooftop-Gardens-and-Greenscrapers Food security is one of the key issues in becoming a sustainable community, and with 50% of people around the globe now living in cities, it is there that the balance between nature and man must be struck. In downtown San Francisco forward-thinking local government laws have seen the establishment of dozens of rooftop gardens that are open to the public, organic oases where people can re-connect to nature in a micro-environment, grow food and practise urban sustainability all at the same time–what an inspiration!In eco-design circles the terms ‘greenscraper’ and ‘high-rise farms’ have  been coined as a way to retro-fit the urban skyscrapers of the past into more organic eco-systems of the future, environmentally friendly buildings that create much needed food resources. Engineers and permaculturalists alike have synergised a vision where whole floors of buildings can be used to grow food, creating ‘verdant vertical villages’ that supply nourishment to the inhabitants of the building, or the local area. The first public rooftop garden in San Francisco was ‘Graze the Roof’, located at the top of 330 Ellis Street in the Tenderloin district. There the not-for-profit GLIDE foundation has established an urban utopia to nurture and inspire. The rooftop gardens “teach our community and its youth the full circle of urban farming,” they say on their website, where people learn “how to plant seeds, harvest produce, cook healthy meals, compost, and even extract honey from [their] very own rooftop beehives (which contain 50,000 bees!).” Vegetables are grown in hydroponic earthboxes and lightweight garden beds made from recycled shipping pallets and milk crates, and nourished with a worm composting system.The rooftop food gardens of San Francisco can and have be duplicated here in Australia, as the idea of having a living ecosystem on your roof has spread worldwide. Many companies sell the technology to convert your rooftop into a food garden, with the added benefit of absorbing stormwater, reducing temperatures for the building inside and, if enough buildings in a city convert, the city itself, and creating a mini-carbon sink for absorbing CO2. A report commissioned in Toronto, Canada in 2011  found that summer temperatures would drop by 2 degrees celsius if only eight percent of the city’s buildngs had green roofs.Geoff Wilson, the founder of Green Roofs for Australia, told the Brisbane Courier Mail that “Rising costs and pollution caused by transporting food over long distances will become a killer issue. What better approach could you have than growing the food on the roof of the restaurant?" The Central Queensland University also piloted a program in Rockhampton and Brisbane in 2007 to develop rooftop gardens that will process restaurant food waste through worms farms, recycling the nutrients to grow fresh produce that can then be sold back to restaurants. Many more examples exist in all the major cities around Australia, as people take back the rooftops and start growing their own food in the urban environment.And as rooftop gardens and vertical food gardens permeate the industrialised cities of the world, more and more people are coming together to grow food, get their hands in the earth, and form community. So if you want to see the future of urban farming–get up on your roof and start growing!Read more: http://glide.org/gardenhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/19/NS4MTFVTS.DTLhttp://www.gmagazine.com.au/features/2798/gardening-your-rooftop Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Rooftop-Gardens-and-Greenscrapers http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Gourmet-Foods The Perfect Gift Idea:    Looking for the perfect gift for your loved ones? If you love to send out fabulous and unforgettable gifts, why not order a basket of Byron Bay Gourmet Foods?  Amazing wholesome gourmet treats that are locally grown and are made with high quality and fabulous flavour in mind. Available in various gift baskets, each includes more than 8 fine treats from Byron Bay. Elegantly wrapped and packaged complete with a satin ribbon, they are guaranteed to delight the senses.   Byron Bay Gift Gourmet Foods are made using the freshest ingredients. Rest assured that each gift basket contains nothing but the best. Apart from great taste, our gourmet hampers are also known for its organic food selection. Emphasizing the enrichment of one’s health, these organic products are chemical free, Gluten free and others are certified organic.   The robust flavours of each product will not only delight the taste buds but are also guaranteed to warm the heart. Whatever celebration it is, be it Valentine’s Day, Mother’s day, or Christmas day, housewarming gifts, there’s a perfect gift hamper for any occasion. Give your loved one the ultimate surprise with a fabulous array of fine food products including curry pastes, chilli sauces, savoury dips, nuts, jams of all kinds, aromatic teas, robust coffee and cookies, delicious sweets, and more!   Got a loved one’s who is expecting a lovely bundle of joy soon? Why not give them the perfect gift, A baby gift basket! The baskets we offer feature high quality products for new mothers and their little ones. When it comes to quality, we can’t be beat with our organic, all natural gourmet delights, which is great because more and more people are not adopting a much healthier lifestyle. The Byron Bay Gourmet Foods baby gift baskets are filled with organically grown ingredients so mom and babies get nothing but tasty, wholesome gourmet treats with no added preservatives, chemicals, hormones, and pesticides that could harm the body.   Each hamper is not only made to wow, each food product is gathered together to prepare you for a fantastic feast. Enjoy the wholesome goodness of Byron Bay Gourmet Food today by clicking on the start shopping button. Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Gourmet-Foods http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Organic-Food-Hampers Organic Food Hampers: Good for the Health, Great Choice for a Gift All natural food is definitely better for our health, the environment, and the animals as well. The fact is, it’s possible to produce food without using harmful chemicals without sacrificing taste. Natural foods have more vitamins and minerals because of no use of pesticides. With no harmful chemicals, we can eat nutrient-rich foods and stay healthy. Organic farms maximize nature to produce seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Seasonal production means you can have your food and eat it in its best state. Animals in these farms usually live in comfort. They are less stressed than the conventional farm animals as they can move about freely around the farm. And since the chemicals given to the animals are reduced, our bodies receive a reduced amount as well. Hampers would be great gifts to anyone on any occasion. Whether it’s for your company’s giveaways during the holidays or a present to the parents of your fiancé when you visit their house, there are several choices available for you. All you need to do is to determine the person or group of people as well as the event to come up with the right type of organic foods that you will give. Hampers as Holiday Gifts Hampers make perfect gift for the holidays. You can fill your baskets with foods that your loved ones will surely enjoy. Giving organic foods is a great way to let the person know that not only did you remember them, but you show how you care about their health. Anyone would be happy to accept a delicious hamper as a holiday gift. We all gorge ourselves with greasy, totally unhealthy food during the holidays. Eating organically grown foodstuff is a great way to cleanse the body after days of consuming sinful holiday food. You can also choose a specific theme when coming up with the hamper you want to give. These hampers will definitely be appreciated by anyone and everyone! Giving away healthly hampers to your loved ones will give you a great feeling knowing that they are receiving something that’s good for them. The best thing about it, even though all these foods are healthy, they come in delicious selections. An Array of Choices One of the great things about food hampers is the fact that you have several options to choose from. The most popular choices to include a combination of sweet and savoury in a single hamper. These days though, more and more people are becoming more health conscious especially during the holiday seasons. Finding the perfect organic food hampers for gift giving is not hard because there are great choices lined up for you at Food Coup. If you are unsure about what to include in your basket, you can always ask for the help from the people who work at the shop you are buying the hampers from. They will surely be able to provide valuable suggestions to make the recipient of the organic hamper special. Thu, 24 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Organic-Food-Hampers http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Price-of-Food Did you know that Australians are paying the fastest-rising food prices of any major developed nation? In fact, since the year 2000 the cost of feeding a family has shot up more than 40 per cent.? That is faster than prices have risen in Britain, twice as fast as in France and nearly three times the speed at which German groceries have increased. Experts say the explanation for our pricey produce and soaring staples is not drought, currency movements or transport costs, but rather market concentration in the supermarket industry. Coles and Woolworths account for 80 per cent of groceries sold in Australia and 55 to 60 per cent of consumer spending on grocery items including fresh meat, fruit and vegetables - goes to these two companies. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have found that Coles and Woolworths control a major share of dry packaged groceries sold nationally, and that they set the shelf prices for most of the products, to the extent that even the manufacturers have no power over the pricing policy. Basic economic principles tell us that this duopolistic market structure disadvantages consumers. Within this structure - Coles and Woolworths are able to limit the supply of food items, driving grocery prices up and extracting larger margins on their sales. It is obvious that this sort of system of food supply and production is unsustainable. With major supermarkets monopolysing markets and favoring larger-scale producers (who rely subsidies for chemical farming and then accept lower prices for produce) – consumers are paying prices that are not only inflated, but also do not necessarily reflect quality of produce. As supermarket and convenience shopping replace smaller farmers and local butchers, bakers, milkmen and fruit & vegetable stores - it has become more and more difficult for people to know where their food actually comes from, what’s in it and the conditions under which it was produced. Rural & farming communities in Australia are being disadvantaged by a system that is set up to channel profit to large corporations. The alternative is to support local organic and/or sustainable agriculture. And although this is often seen a more expensive option than buying conventional produce, a simple truth is that organic and sustainable food reflects the true cost of growing, harvesting, transporting, storing, processing and packaging food. To be certified - organic food must meet stricter regulations that govern all these steps in the process. These steps could also be seen to guarantee a high quality of produce. No doubt the higher costs of organic produce can be justified by the fact that smaller organic farms require more time, attention and labor to get produce to market. Whereas a conventional onion grower simply sprays the crop with herbicide, an organic grower must spend far more time working his crops to prevent disease and destruction by pests. This includes hand weeding, proper soil composting (which takes time) and rotating of crops. Organic farmers also have to plant, harvest and package produce in stages (rather than harvesting a crop all at once). Organic farmers also do not receive federal subsidies the same way conventional farmers might, especially large-scale productions of corn, wheat or soybeans – which require huge inputs (in terms of fertilizers & machinery). The price of conventional food does not include the true costs to the community resulting from its production. The cost of long-term damage to the environment as well as the breakdown of community networks, are certainly not factored into the price. The organic market would be made stronger if industrial farmers were to pay their own clean-up costs from land degraded through unsustainable techniques. This would be further enforced if organic farmers were to receive the same subsidies. So when we consider greater nutrition and taste in addition to positive environmental impact of organic foods, then in real terms, organic produce is cheaper than chemically grown produce. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Price-of-Food http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Gluten-Free-Hampers Gluten Free Hampers: Specially Made for People with Allergies Looking to purchase gluten free hampers, then please start shopping. Studies have shown a continuous increase in people who have gluten allergies. Reports estimate that 1 in 167 healthy children (about 0.6%) and 1 in 111 adults (about 0.9%0 suffer from gluten allergy. A study was also made on people who have gastrointestinal problems, which showed that 1 in 40 children (about 2.5%) and 1 in 30 adults (about 3.3%) have gluten allergy. The symptoms of gluten allergies are very similar to those of celiac disease. Treatment of both ailments would mean avoiding the consumption of gluten. The difference is, a person who has a gluten allergy should not be too worried about minimal amounts of gluten while someone who has celiac disease would need to totally eliminate gluten from their diet. Recognizing the Need for a Gluten Free Diet Anyone who suffers from celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis needs to have a gluten-free diet. Commonly present in wheat, gluten is a mixture of a number of proteins. Gluten contains gliadin, which causes celiac disease. Even though there have been several researches made, it is still unclear why gluten is harmful to the stomach. Experts have considered that there is a high probability of an abnormal immunologic response in people who have celiac disease and not an enzyme deficiency as previously thought.  For a diet to be considered absolutely gluten free, any type of food that contains wheat, rye, barley, or oats should be eliminated. Even if some doctors say oats are ok, the Celiac Society recommends the total exclusion of oats in gluten free diet. Food Coup Offers Gluten Free Hampers These days, several businesses that sell food products and ingredients are more aware that some people are diagnosed with gluten allergies. That is why several gluten free products are now being sold in the market in order to cater to their need. Food Coup knows that some people suffer from gluten allergies that's why they came up with gluten free hampers filled with beautifully packaged gluten free food. Each product is carefully inspected, providing totally gluten free gourmet delights. So if you or anyone you know has gluten allergy, there’s a new option. You can now purchase gluten free hampers that are delicious and nutritious. An estimate of more than 1% of the world’s population is affected with celiac disease and gluten allergies. Anyone who suffers from these ailments has intolerance to gluten. This means that they essentially have to avoid any gluten in their diet. It’s can be pretty hard to determine which foods are gluten-free which is why Food Coup  already made a selection of gluten free hampers for you filled with delicious treats. One example of a gluten free basket will contain cookies, muesli, panforte, Byron bay bliss balls, muesli bars. All is specially selected by Food Coup. For fabulous, wholesome treats free of gluten, why not try our gluten free hampers today? Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Gluten-Free-Hampers http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Hampers Byron Bay HampersOur Byron Bay Hampers, at Food Coup, include premium organic and pesticide free, gourmet products from the region. The farms we choose to supply us with our gourmet food range, create their produce without the use of chemicals.Some of the organic farms in Byron Bay create their own soil on their land by collecting kitchen waste from the local pubs and restaurants in the area using a small garbage truck. Using various composting methods these farmers convert the waste into nutrient rich soil and grow fruit and vegetables to sell back to the restaurants. A full recycling loop. The Byron Bay area has been known as the second-best composted soil or humus in NSW. Humus is broken-down organic plant material.Organic farming is all about increasing the biology in the soil. Soil bacteria and worms etc, all contribute to soil health and fertility. Adding livestock to the farm can increase soil health. Cattle lick the grass before biting it off, thereby adding their own bacteria to the soil as well as fertiliser in the form of urine and faeces. Life in the soil contributes to plant health. Plant health then transfers to human health.Byron Bay Hampers have carefully selected products chosen for their superior quality and nutritional content.Some of the farms we gain produce from, for our Byron Bay hampers, have their orchards with fruit trees and bushes dotted all over the farm so that workers can pick and eat food as they work: “The closer we do things to how mother nature works, the less work we have to put in ourselves and so we try to make the farm as self-sufficient as possible.”Byron Bay hampers look to include a product range that is holistic in its farming products, treating the land as well as their workers with care and respect.Byron bay hampers offer a range of exotic foods from the region and can showcase the dedication and passion of the local community for  premium quality food.Take a look at some of the companies that supply Food Coup with our Gourmet Foods for our specialty Byron Bay Hampers. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Hampers http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Journey-Of-A-Thousand-Miles If you’ve ever been through a supermarket checkout you will invariably have been asked if you have signed up to a frequent flyer points program. What they never tell you is that the food you buy has usually travelled further than the most active jetsetter, and can now actively mapped with the practice of ‘food miles’. Food miles was a term coined by Professor Tim Lang in the UK in the early 1990s to understand the dangers and cost to the environment and consumer of transporting food long distances as part of the monoculture approach to supermarket chain sourcing. Economic globalisation in the last few decades has transformed the way trade–and our food supply operate. Large supermarket chains centralise production and transport fresh food large distances to fulfil their supply chains. A report by CERES Community Environment Park in Melbourne cites that the “average shopping basket of food in Australia travels over 70,000 kilometres, or nearly twice the circumference of the Earth before it is purchased.” Still, it’s not just how far your food has come from ‘paddock to plate’ that is important, but the mode of transport as well. Air travel has a huge impact on food miles, carbon dioxide emissions, and the freshness and quality of food itself, where transport by sea has a lower impact. The way food is grown and the energy use around that also needs to be taken into consideration when looking at the environmental impact of our food. If we must eat fruit and vegetables out of season in our local environments, it’s still more energy efficient to grow them naturally in a warm climate and ship them to a cold one, then to grow them artifically in greehouses with high electricity and heating needs. Another factor on the other end of the food delivery line is waste, and the extra food miles the leftover food we discard travels after our plate. According to studies the average household disposes over 3kg of food and 14kg of food packaging per week, which can have a big effect on our environment. Many progressive councils around Australia now proactively promote food self reliance, focusing on community markets and strengthening local food systems whilst encouraging residents to think about the impact of food miles on their environment and our community. The trend towards food localisation took a great leap forward in 2005 when chef and author Jessica Prentice coined the term ‘locavore’ to describe people that eat food sourced from within a 100-mile (160 km) radius. Journalists Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon also published the book The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Eating Locally, which has gone on to inspire a movement that strives to only eat food grown within a 100-miles of their home. Ultimately, being aware of food miles is more than just an ‘green’ gimmick. When we buy our food locally and in season, we are also investing in local–often family–farms, which strengthens the regional economy and supports the community overall. And who wouldn’t rather locally grown produce, high in nutrition and flavour? Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Journey-Of-A-Thousand-Miles http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Organic-Hamper- Wholesome Goodness in an Organic Hamper Coming up with a great idea for a gift is essential in making the person you love happy. You want to make that person feel special and let him or her know that you really spent time thinking what your gift should be. It’s quite difficult thinking of a single gift to give away so why not treat your loved ones to a great collection of organic gourmet delights? Gourmet foods from Byron bay feature great tasting treats that are made with high quality, organically grown ingredients. A gift organic hamper is something that a member of a family or a business client will certainly appreciate. Byron bay gourmet foods have an array of organic hampers to choose from! Not only will the recipient feel how much you care about their health and what they like, these elegant looking hampers are also environment friendly. Naturally Produced Goods Recently, organic products are becoming very popular as more people are adopting a healthy lifestyle. Rather than eating food that are grown using harmful chemicals like pesticides, etc., a great organic hamper from Byron bay gourmet food is good for the health and easy on the pocket. Studies and research reveal that anything produced naturally and even their by-products are much healthier than those that are produced using chemicals, toxins, pesticides and other synthetic compounds when farming.   Consuming organically grown food has the ability to improve health and protect the body from harmful elements, which makes organic hampers the perfect choice for loved ones who love anything that will benefit their health. Organic food is known to aid in respiratory diseases and minimize allergic reactions. Great Options for your Organic Hamper Byron bay gourmet food has great selection of organically produced products that are perfect choices for those who are trying out organic food for the first time. Other choices include organic chocolates, which are known for its health benefits. Treat Loved Ones with Fabulous Gourmet Selections  Dazzle your loved ones and make them feel special, order your very own organic hampers today and give a gift they will not soon forget. Whether as a housewarming gift, holiday gift, birthday gift or just about any occasion, you can’t go wrong with organic hampers from Byron bay gourmet food. To order organic hampers click on the Start Shopping button Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Organic-Hamper- http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Truth-About-Honey Honey… a nectar so divine that we often borrow it’s name for those whom we love. It is the product of much hard work by a highly active and organized matriarchal colony. The Queen Bee runs a tight ship by secreting a pheromone to stimulate behaviors of her honeybee colony, which includes an all female team of up to 60,000 worker bees, plus up to 1000 males, called drones, who do not work but instead spend their time mating. Bees exhibit a behavioral intelligence and mode of communication akin to gorillas and dolphins, witnessed particularly through their ‘Waggle Dance’ – where a ‘pollen scout’ returns to the colony and through sound and movement, conveys the distance, direction and quality of a new food source found, so that all others can find their way. Honey is, essentially, bee vomit. It is made from the nectar bees collect from flowers, which they swallow and then regurgitate, adding enzymes. Busy little bees is an apt description, one worker colony flying the equivalent of three orbits around the earth to produce only 1 kg of honey, with the average worker bee producing only 1/12th of a teaspoon during her short life of five weeks – two months. The colony’s honey production is actually their storage of food for winter, with it’s lack of flowers ( which is not the case in warmer climates) or times of heavy rainfall when they cannot collect nectar from flowers to feed and make honey. Because of using the honey some beekeepers feed their colony sugar water in this time to survive. The facts that, for our honey, we are exploiting the bees hard work in the production they need for self -sustenance and, generally interfering with the bees natural flow for human convenience, are major reason’s that vegans do not consume honey. There is, however, an excess produced compared to what could reasonably be anticipated the bees may need. Bee’s are not, however, confined to their box. It is provided for them as a home, however they are a free creature and the colony could swarm and move if not happy in their surrounds. Responsible beekeepers will, after one box is filled, provide the bees and empty box and wait till sufficient honey for their needs is produced before taking the contents of the first. They will also refrain from killing off their colony at the end of the season because of the ‘inconvenience’ of winter maintenance. There are some more natural styles of bee keeping around with the choice of the style of bee houses used. A few careful questions at the farmers markets should help you find your ethical beekeepers Einstein has been quoted as saying ‘if all the bees died, we only have four years left on the planet. Although this may have been a fairly extreme perspective, without bees in Australia our diet would be fairly bland. All the windblown pollination crops like grains could remain, but many crops when first bought here by European settlers failed because then there was no honeybees to successfully pollinate and our native pollinators did not meet these crops survival needs. Crops like Avocado’s; Almonds, Apples, Pear’s, Broccoli and Melons rely predominantly on Honeybee’s for pollination. Although they are an introduced species, there has been no sign of honeybees having great ecological impact nor do they appear to compete with native bees for pollen. Actually, honeybees, with their intensive pollination practices may actually help sustain native vegetation. Honey is full of many vitamins and minerals but contains these only in very small amounts. If you want to get these benefits, raw honey is the go as heat processing kills most valuable enzymes. Being fat free and having a low Glycemic Index – meaning the energy is slow-released rather than the quick burn then crash of sugar - are honey’s major advantages over sugar. So sweeten up, honey pie… and enjoy! Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/The-Truth-About-Honey http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Australian-Hampers Australian Hampers: The Perfect Birthday Gifts for MothersThese ampers can solve your problems when giving gifts. Buying gifts for mums is particularly tricky especially on birthdays or mother’s day. The good news is, there is no need to worry about the best gift you can gift to your loved ones. You can spend hours wandering all around the shopping centre to find the perfect gift and it’s highly likely that you will leave empty handed because it’s quite hard to find the right kind of gift that dear old mum will appreciate.So think outside the box, how about a wholesome collection of gourmet foodstuff that will delight the soul and tickle the taste buds? These hampers make perfect gifts for moms and loved ones because they are always fresh tasting and delicious, everyone enjoys good food. You get the best in Aussie gourmet delight in a fabulous hamper, great for sharing, you can either purchase a ready-made hamper or you can personalize the hamper yourself.Personalized  HampersBy choosing the kind of gourmet food styles that come with your hamper, you can control the cost and get better selection to make your gift even more personal. Personalizing the gift hamper is made even more special because you can select the kind of stuff the receiver will appreciate.Hamper StylesWorried that your gift might not stand out? Nothing screams luxury like our amazing hampers! The great thing about choosing Australian hampers as gifts for loved ones is that you can choose from a wider range of styles. If mum loves gourmet cookies, no problem. Gourmet food from Byron Bay includes a selection of cookies. Why stop at gourmet cookies when you can order sweets, crackers, teas, coffees and more. From old favourites to newer culinary delights, the choices are practically endless with our hampers.Food Coup feature a great selection of food products made up in a luxurious hamper. Whether you want to gift them to your loved ones or to your associates, Australian hampers are guaranteed to make everyone smile.Great PricesDon’t think you can’t gift loved ones with luxurious delicious hampers when budget’s tight because you’d be surprised at how reasonable the prices for gourmet delights are! There’s absolutely no need to stretch your budget because there’s perfect hampers that will fit your distinct taste and preferences.So the next time you are stuck with old, boring gift ideas on your mom’s upcoming birthday, you know what she will appreciate the best, a terrific feast courtesy of gourmet foods from Byron Bay! Food Coup’s hampers look fabulous, are very budget friendly, and most importantly, they taste absolutely scrumptious. What’s not to love?To check out the complete list of hampers for any occasion, and order your very own, please start shopping today. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Australian-Hampers http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Gifts- Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Byron Bay Gifts : Food Hampers are Great Gifts for Men Searching for Byron Bay Gifts? At Food Coup, we make sure that only the best organic products are chosen for their gift baskets. Why organically grown vegetables and fruits are better than its commercially grown, pesticide-ridden counterpart is? By going organic, the worms and bacteria help in improving the health of the soil. Even the bacteria from the saliva and waste of animals like cattle and goats act as fertilizer thus giving more nourishment to the soil. If the soil is healthy, the plants that grow on it are healthy. This in turn is beneficial to people. Most men are very conscious when it comes to physical fitness. So if you’re unsure of what to give a man in your life on a certain occasion, you can go for a guy-themed food hamper from Byron Bay gifts. You can add anything you want in a gift basket. Adding a personal touch will make the guy in your life feel more special. All you need to do is consider what products will be most appropriate for the recipient. You can give out Byron Bay gifts either on birthdays, special holidays, or any occasion. Packed in an elegant hamper, Byron Bay gifts are the perfect way to show how much you care. We receive our high quality products from specially picked organic farms that make their produce available to their workers anytime. This just proves how natural their farm is making is easier for them to come up with organic products. Here are a few suggestions on what type of baskets a guy will love: Byron Chocoholics Chocoholics Zentveld'sCoffee Byron Blend 200gByron ChaiByron Chai 100gZentveld'sEnglish Breakfast Tea 100gZentveld'sChocolate Espresso Beans Mixed 50gWildbiteWattleseed & White Chocolate 120gAracariaTea For Life - Herbal Blend 15gRainforest FoodsNatural Macadamia Kernels 200gByron Bay Bliss Balls2 Balls 20g   Otherwise he will love   Byron Munchies BrookfarmMuesli Bars - Toasted Macadamia & Cranberry 4 bars 140gZentveld'sChocolate Espresso Beans Mixed 50gWildbiteWattleseed & White Chocolate 120gByron Bay Bliss Balls2 Balls 20gRainforest FoodsNatural Macadamia Kernels 200gByron Bay Chilli CoCorn Chips 230gByron Bay Chilli CoSmoky Red Bean Salsa 300gRainforest FoodsMacadamia Butter 32gBrookfarmWalkabout Fruit & Nut Mix (Mt Bogong Mix) 75g   Snacks are considered regular meals especially among active men. You can fill your food hamper with treats like chocolate, biscuits, muesli and any gourmet delights that the man in your gift list loves. Start shopping on our site and find the best goodies for that lucky guy who will receive a Byron Bay Gift from you. 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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>   <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>  </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>  /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-style-parent:""; line-height:115%; font-size:11.0pt; "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-"Times New Roman"; } </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Advantages of Choosing Byron Bay Hamper <span> </span>as Birthday Gifts</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Buying the perfect birthday present for a loved one is a real challenge particularly to those who are absolutely clueless on what the other person likes. The fact is, several people have started to recognize the idea of choosing gift baskets as a birthday present because they are fail safe, perfectly healthy and look amazing. You can enjoy several benefits when you go with these lovely packages.<span>    </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">At Food Coup, Byron Bay Hamper are filled with delicious organic and chemical free products gathered from the region. Our suppliers are carefully selected to make sure we get high quality goods and ingredients, which are naturally produced and certified organic to make sure our hampers contain nothing but healthy goodness.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Here are just a few good reasons why Byron Bay Hamper are great as birthday presents:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Choosing a Great Gift is Made Easier</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">You no longer have to spend a lot of time thinking about what the birthday celebrant will appreciate. One of the hardest things to determine would be what gift would the other person would enjoy. Byron Bay Hamper makes gift giving easier for you as they have a wide selection of wonderful packages of health and delicious goodies.<span>  </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Make Your Gift Stands Out From the Others</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Gift hampers breaks the gift giving monotony by allowing you to personalize your package. Why waste time buying a boring gift when you can select some of the best gourmet delights from Byron Bay? With Byron Bay hamper, you can</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN-US">t go wrong. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Surprise Your Loved One</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Gift baskets are set in handy packages so delivering them right to the doorstep of your loved one is fuss-free and convenient. Anyone will be surprised if they receive a beautifully wrapped hamper at home or even in the office. All you need to do is to choose a hamper that you feel will best suit the person and have it delivered. Undoubtedly, the lucky recipient will be surprised and feel very special on his or her birthday. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Let Your Employees Know How Valuable They Are</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">One of the best things you can give to your employees is the feeling that they are important to the company and that you care about them. If you acknowledge them on their birthdays and present them a basket of yummy treats, they will definitely appreciate the gesture. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Do this on a regular basis and give your employees something to look forward to on their special day. This will also make it easier for you to come up with an appropriate gift without wasting a lot of time an effort. You can just pick a suitable gift basket from the wide array of choices at Byron Bay Hamper and send it to your employee who is celebrating his or her birthday.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">With Byron Bay hampers, there</span><span lang="EN-GB">’</span><span lang="EN-US">s no need to stress over what birthday gift you will get. For a complete list of gift hampers, please start shopping.</span></p>   Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Byron-Bay-Hamper- http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Gourmet-Food On the topic of gourmet food we are going to showcase some of the great gourmet food producers of Byron Bay…. Byron Bay is one of the natural wonderlands on earth with an incredible coastline, national exquisite national parks and wildlife. The community of Byron Bay has a love of high-quality foods that are not contaminated by pesticides and herbicides. Some of the products in our specialised gourmet hampers include: Blue Kitchen – Blue Kitchen is a family business – 100% Australian owned. All products are made on the Far North Coast of New South Wales, contain no artificial flavours or preservatives, and are pesticide free. The entire range is vegan-friendly and gluten-free. The company sources only quality ingredients, most of which are certified organic, in keeping with its commitment to provide a better alternative to other chilli sauces, preserves, relishes, and curry pastes. Brookfarm - Founded in 1999 by Pam and Martin Brook, Brookfarm is today Australia's leading producer of premium quality Macadamia products and works on the 3 P's principal, Passion for Quality, Passion for a better environment and Passion for great tasting healthy food. Byron Bay Honey - Byron Bay Honey is a success story of a company following ethical, fair trade principles and distributing natural, unprocessed food to an ever-growing market for health conscious customers. Koala Tea Company - In the years before 1994 - the year Howard & Elle Rubin founded The Koala Tea Company - Australia had no organised herb growing industry, and no Australian made or Australian owned herbal teas. The few herbal teas that were available were all imported.? Howard and Elle left Europe in 1986 when the Chernobyl disaster contaminated their herb farm in Wales, UK. There they had set up an alternative health clinic and a herbal tea company. They decided to start a new life and business in Oz. Click on our production description in the shopping cart to get all the company profiles in our organic gourmet food hamper range. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT http://www.feedthepeople.com.au/blog/Gourmet-Food