Green Foodservice Alliance News

Green Marketplace Vendors needed for Earth Day Kids Fest at the Chattahoochee Nature Center

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:36:35 GMT

Space available for vendors at Earth Day Kids Fest! See special offer below!

Earth Day Kids Fest on Saturday, April 16, 2011
10 AM – 3 PM
Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075

The Captain Planet Foundation will again join with the Chattahoochee Nature Center In Bringing Local Environmental Organizations Together

Last year we had more than 15 vendors in our Green Marketplace and over 1200 people join us for the festivities. We are extremely excited about the event this year! It will be bigger and better!

We know that times are tight right now and we want to make the festival accessible to everyone! In lieu of the $100 vendor fee, we would like to offer space at our festival for $50 and a donation of goods with a retail value of $50.

Come and sell your environmentally-minded goods in our Green Marketplace! Products can include eco-friendly interior design, tools or materials to for a more environmentally friendly life, or products to lessen one’s impact on the planet. Please let me know if you will be participating by providing a description of your products. We want to include as many groups as possible in pre-publicity.

More information and examples of last year’s organizations and activities can be found at http://chattnaturecenter.org/earth-day-kids-fest.html

Deadline: March 4, 2011

Form to fill out in order to best promote the event and your organization

Slow Food Atlanta is Sevananda's "Be the Change" Partner in August

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:53:38 GMT

Sevananda's "Be The Change" Partner Program is focused on Slow Food during the month of August. The program, which takes its name from the Mohandas Gandhi quote "You must be the change you wish to see in the world," was established by the Cooperative in 1997 as a way to contribute to a healthier Atlanta. Each time one makes a purchase at Sevananda, they have the opportunity to contribute to that month's Be the Change Partner by either donating a specific dollar amount or rounding the purchase up to the nearest dollar. By donating spare change, shoppers are contributing to a better Atlanta.

Remember: on Saturday, August 28th, 1% of total store purchases will go to Slow Food Atlanta.

Please be sure to shop at Sevananda Natural Foods Market during the month of August to show your support for Slow Food Atlanta.
http://www.sevananda.coop

Slow Food Atlanta Wants to Congratulate Georgia's 2010 Terra Madre Delegates

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:52:41 GMT

Slow Food USA had over 1,000 applicants nationwide for fewer than 500 spots. The national delegation has quite a wide array of professions represented. The majority of delegates are food producers (including urban farmers/gardeners; rural farmers; fisherpeople; cheese producers; charcuterie makers; honey producers; preserves makers; bakers; and on and on). Also represented in large numbers are cooks, educators, students and activists. It's an inspiring and staggering mix.

Terra Madre is an international network of food producers, cooks, educators and students from 150 countries who are united by a common goal of global sustainability in food. The "food communities" of Terra Madre come together biennially to share innovative solutions and time-honored traditions for keeping small-scale agriculture and sustainable food production alive and well.

SLOW FOOD ATLANTA WILL BE HOLDING FUNDRAISERS TO HELP SUPPORT TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR SOME OF OUR GEORGIA DELEGATES.
PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS.

IF YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN HOSTING OR ORGANIZING A FUNDRAISER, PLEASE CONTACT SLOW FOOD ATLANTA.

info@slowfoodatlanta.org
or
emailashleyhall@gmail.com

To learn more about Terra Madre, go here.

Get involved! See the Terra Madre video and booklet now.

Slow Food's Second Annual National Day of Action

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:51:45 GMT

SEPTEMBER 25, 2010

This year in Atlanta we are going to celebrate School Gardens across the metro Atlanta area.

We are supporting at least 2 existing school gardens and helping to start at least 2 new school gardens. The Atlanta chapter will use these gardens as a segway into continual community service throughout the year.

We will end the workday at Piedmont Park with our annual Lunch In Picnic.

STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS...

If you are interested in participating, volunteering or planning, please contact Anissa Harris at agh.harris@gmail.com.

“Save & Sustain” Program Helps Small Businesses Reduce Energy Use, Costs

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:50:16 GMT

Georgia Green Loans, a non-profit organization that works to help grow eco-friendly small businesses, products and services, is launching the Save & Sustain program, designed to help small businesses with energy costs.

Energy costs represent a significant percentage of revenue for small businesses–in some sectors as high as 20 percent. But through the Save & Sustain program qualified businesses will receive a grant toward an energy assessment and a low interest loan to make improvements to facilities and equipment. The program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 in cooperation with the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA).

“Any small business in the state of Georgia looking to reduce their energy consumption can apply to be part of the program,” Matt Ryder, vice president of programs for Georgia Green Loans said. “We’re ready to help businesses reduce their overall cost of operations while doing their part to protect our planet.” Ryder, a veteran of the operations consulting industry, has an extensive background in helping businesses trim operating costs. As part of Save & Sustain, Ryder will help businesses calculate savings and return on investment for energy efficiency projects.

Innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Georgia received $10 million in competitive grant funds through the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Competitive Grant Program administered by GEFA. The program, which was launched in July 2009, funded 16 projects as a result of the ARRA, including the Save & Sustain program.

The definition of small business follows U.S. Small Business Administration guidelines, generally under 500 employees. Loans for up to $50,000 are available.

To contact Matt Ryder, call 404.863.3510 or e-mail him at ryder@georgiagreenloans.org.

About Georgia Green Loans ( www.georgiagreenloans.org)

Georgia Green Loans offers loans of up to $35,000 to businesses who provide a green service or product or who are seeking to operate more sustainably.

About the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority ( www.gefa.org)

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) provides financial assistance and administers programs that encourage stewardship of the environment and promote economic development statewide. GEFA is the lead state agency for energy planning and alternative fuels; manages the Governor’s Energy Challenge and the Georgia Land Conservation Program; maintains state-owned fuel storage tanks; and offers financing for reservoir and water supply, water quality, storm water and solid waste infrastructure.

Appalachian Community Enterprises

www.aceloans.org

www.georgiagreenloans.org

Javo Vino

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:49:18 GMT

Buy a pound of specially roasted GreenPlate coffee and JavaVino will make a contribution to GreenPlate.

Its a French roast blend containing a bold rich flavor of dark chocolate and smoky caramel.

$10.95lb.

www.javavino.com

Buckhead Beef Increases Supply Of White Oak Pastures Beef and Makes Local, Grass Fed Beef Available

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:47:59 GMT

Georgia Family Farm’s All Natural Protocol Puts Grass Fed Beef in High Demand Among Atlanta Chefs and Diners

White Oak Pastures Owner Will Harris is pleased to announce that Buckhead Beef, the premier “center of the plate” purveyor that specializes in portion control cut steaks, has increased its supply of local, all natural grass fed beef from Harris’ cattle farm. Located in Bluffton, Georgia, White Oak Pastures is the largest certified organic farm in the state and is now supplying Buckhead Beef with additional quantities of lean ground beef, short ribs, roasts, steaks and stir fry. Due to this increased availability through Buckhead Beef, Atlanta restaurants now have greater access to White Oak Pastures’ beloved grass fed beef products that are locally produced on Harris’ 140-year-old family farm.

Harris is committed to the humane treatment of his cattle and allows them to roam freely as nature intended. As a result, the benefits of grass fed beef are numerous. In addition to a better taste, grass fed beef is higher in beta carotene, vitamin E, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega 3 fatty acids, which also makes the beef healthier than other conventional, natural or organic beef. Harris’ cattle are not given any antibiotics or hormone implants and have a naturally alkaline rumen which minimizes the possibility of E.coli 0157:H7 contamination. These cattle thrive on a purely vegetarian diet that contains no animal byproducts to further enhance health and safety for those who eat it. The pasture based agriculture that Harris practices is among the most environmentally friendly of sustainable farming practices.

Buckhead Beef was established in 1983 with a handful of devoted employees and a very simple operating philosophy: to provide the finest quality products at the best prices. Operated in a cost efficient manner, Buckhead Beef is totally committed to customer satisfaction and service. Buckhead Beef has been ranked #1 for the previous nine years of Certified Angus Beef worldwide and grew to become one of the largest privately owned meat purveyors in the United States prior to joining the SYSCO family of operating companies on August 20, 1999 as a Meat Specialty Company. Buckhead Beef operates in Atlanta, Buckhead Beef NE in South Plainfield, NJ and Buckhead Beef FL in Auburndale, FL. These three locations leverage a network of 20 sales and distribution centers along the Eastern seaboard and into the Caribbean. The two newest Buckhead Beef companies, Buckhead NE and Buckhead Beef FL are centrally located to all metropolitan areas and features daily delivery to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and Orlando. In Atlanta, Buckhead Beef is located at 2194 Marietta Boulevard NW. For more information, call (404) 355-4400 or visit www.buckheadbeef.com.

White Oak Pastures is located at 22775 Highway 27 in Bluffton, Georgia. For more information, call (229) 641-2081 or visit www.whiteoakpastures.com.

Holly Full of GRACE

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:46:50 GMT

On November 15 Holly Elmore, GFA founder and Executive Director, received the Innovator of the Year Award at the 2009 GRACE Awards hosted by the Georgia Restaurant Association.

Chris Coan with Gas South, a GFA Sapling Sponsor, presented the award at the sold-out gala. In her acceptance speech, Holly thanked Ron Wolf, Georgia Restaurant Association CEO, for his vision and support to recognized the GFA as an affiliate of the GRA effective August, 2008.

Restaurant Forum magazine dedicates its entire November issue to the GRACE Awards, with a page discussing to the Innovator of the Year. The best part of the award is the current GFA projects are the low-hanging fruit and we are only beginning our journey … Stay Tuned!!

Atlanta Launched Southeast's First Zero Waste Zone

Kaitlin Follrath — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:45:18 GMT

Downtown Hotels and Restaurants to Work Together to Eliminate Waste

It’s a fact that 82 percent of the materials disposed of in landfills are recoverable products, such as paper, organics and plastics.

In an effort to combat these statistics, Atlanta Recycles has partnered with the Green Foodservice Alliance, and is working in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 and the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division of the Department of Natural Resources to launch the southeast’s first, and one of the nation’s first, Zero Waste Zones.

Zero Waste Zones are designed to reduce the environmental impact of waste in homes, workplaces and in the community. Phase One of the Zero Waste Zone will focus on downtown Atlanta’s convention district and participating foodservice operations. More than 10 participants, including the Georgia World Congress Center, the Hyatt Regency and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse have already pledged to recycle, reuse spent grease for the local production of biofuel and compost or donate food residuals to drastically decrease the amount of waste going to landfills.

In addition, Levy Restaurants, the official foodservice operator of the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome, signed a contract on February 3 with Washington, D.C.-based EnviRelations, LLC – a partner of Closed Loop Organics – to begin composting food items from the two facilities for the next year.

This new composting program is being launched today at the Meeting Planners International (MPI) conference in the Georgia World Congress Center. All food at the luncheon, for the more than 1,000 meeting and event planners attending, will either be consumed, donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank or composted. No food residuals will go to a landfill.

“We are amazed at the enthusiasm shown in support of the Zero Waste Zone,” said Laura Turner Seydel, Honorary Chair of the Zero Waste Zone - Downtown Atlanta. “The composting program is incredibly innovative since there was not a permitted composting facility in Georgia until four months ago. We want to thank Levy Restaurants and the Georgia World Congress Center for their vision and commitment to the Zero Waste Zone,” she added.

Atlanta to Launch Downtown Zero Waste Zone/Add One

“The companies participating in Atlanta’s downtown Zero Waste Zone, the first in the Southeast and one of just a handful across the nation, will recover materials that would ordinarily be sent to a landfill and instead put them to good use,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Region 4 Acting Regional Administrator. “Eliminating waste is important and EPA applauds the Green Foodservice Alliance, the Georgia Restaurant Association and Atlanta Recycles for working with downtown businesses to rethink their foodservice operations with reuse and recycling in mind.”

“Atlanta is focused on becoming a greener city, and the Zero Waste Zone is an excellent step in that direction,” said Kevin Duvall, assistant general manager of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority. “We want to make sure that we are leading the way in recycling initiatives so that conventions, events and meeting planners continue to look upon Atlanta as a great destination city as well as one that cares about the environment,” he added.

Holly Elmore, founder and executive director of the Green Foodservice Alliance, worked hand-in-hand with Atlanta Recycles to lead the initiative to develop the southeast’s first Zero Waste Zone, and will continue to oversee its expansion to additional foodservice operations and local businesses.

In Phase Two, Atlanta Recycles and the Green Foodservice Alliance will develop a model and collateral material to help expand the program to other locations in the convention district. Decals with the Zero Waste Zone brand will be developed and distributed to participants for education of the staff and public.

Phase Three will include expansion of the Zero Waste Zones outside of the downtown convention district to locations including Buckhead, Midtown and other surrounding communities, and Phase Four will expand to other areas of Georgia, the southeast and nationally.

After the press conference, for more information, please contact Holly Elmore – executive director, Green Foodservice Alliance at holly@greenfoodservicealliance.org or 404.261.4690.

About Green Foodservice Alliance
The Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA) is a division of the Georgia Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the American Culinary Federation – Greater Atlanta Chapter, Georgia Organics and the Georgia Grown Program at the Department of Agriculture. GFA’s mission is to increase the supply of local and sustainable products available to the Georgia foodservice industry through efficient and fluid distribution channels.

Contact:
Sharon Goldmacher
communications 21
404-814-1330
sgoldmacher@c21pr.com