Why organic?

The range of food choices for Americans has never been greater than today. However more people today are taking a closer look at what type of food they are eating. The growing epidemic of obesity and other health concerns have led many people to seriously consider what they are eating. This has given a huge boost to the rapidly growing organic food trend. The quality of organic cuisine is consistently above that of processed food. It retains many of the vitamins and minerals that we need to get through our diet. Taste is another key factor in selecting organic-the richness and full body flavor of the food is not compromised through processing. At the other end of the food chain it is better choice for the farm land as the balance between preserving the quality of the land and the animal habitat that exists within the farming community is preserved. Farm workers are also not exposed to harmful pesticides that are often used in highly processed food. Organic means that food has not been processed by using genetic engineering or ionizing radiation. It is easy to identify true organic food by it's certification by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Why Fair Traded?

This term refers to food items that are purchased using primarily small family farmers and how they are compensated. Often this group of farmers have the least ability to sell their products on the open market for a price that will sustain them. Fair traded products are purchased from this group of farmers using pricing that adjusts their compensation to provide a fair price for their products. Fifty percent of coffee, which is one of the most commonly purchased fair traded products is grown by small farmers. By purchasing fair traded coffee it allows those growers access to better health care, safer working conditions and improved education through a sustainable living wage. While the price to you is only minor it can provide a new and just opportunity for growers of not just coffee but other products a chance to have a better life.

What is "natural" food?

This would refer to food and drinks that do not have chemical additives or have been artificially processed or altered. The natural meats we serve are raised without growth hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. In general natural foods are minimally processed foods that avoid using artificial additives and preservatives. This market has exploded as people have become more concerned about the quality of the food and drinks they consume. The market for these products has grown to over $27.5 billion dollars in 2007 with now well over 266 million consumers. Haagen-Dazs has long been the natural ice cream choice. Because of their desire to be only a high quality ice cream they have not added chemicals or other additives but only used fresh fruit, milk and sugar.

What is sustainable agriculture?

The final product that makes up the panini or a hot cup of hearty soup had a long path before it arrived on your table. How our food is grown has become more of concern as that clearly has an effect on our health and our environment. Some of the issues raised in modern day food production are the rampant use of pesticides, a wide range of chemicals, topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, the decline of the family farmer, increasing costs of production and the disintegration of economic and social conditions in rural communities. During the last two decades a growing movement to reverse these trends has risen dramatically. As the end provider of food products we feel it our duty to carefully source what we serve to provide our customers top quality food and beverages with careful screening of our sources. We have strived to provide our customers with the highest percentage of organic and natural products. Our preparation methods take into account how to preserve the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals so that the food does indeed nourish our body. We have taken these extra steps prior to presenting to you the customer a delicious breakfast lunch or dinner so that you can eat with confidence!