Earth Day

Spring is in the air and with summer rapidly approaching, the minds of chefs and foodies alike turn to early summer’s harvest. Fresh asparagus, ripe red strawberries and green peas brighten even the blandest dishes. For those whom have turned away from the winter’s farmers markets, have no fear, the warm weather will invigorate your minds and palates again. The promise of peaches and tomatoes to come makes us think of a world without the beautiful seasons we have grown so accustomed to.

With Earth Day, we are reminded of our global impact as a high-volume catering company. Larger kitchens are notorious for excessive amounts of waste and deterring from local markets. This year we have vowed to change our thinking and the way our clients eat. Currently we are on a mission to contract with local farms for seasonal produce to better the food we serve and improve local farming communities. We are on the search for a biodiesel producer to recycle our fryer oil each month and convert it to an important energy source for many rural communities. However, with all the changes we are working on implementing, our company is still just a small part of the larger picture.

To honor earth day, we are urging our employees and customers to participate in easy, earth-altering activities. When attending local farmer’s markets, bring your own reusable shopping bags. Even recycling plants have been accused of being phony, so it is always best to reuse resources when possible and your shopping bags are an excellent place to start. When heading out to local farmer’s markets, walk instead of driving. By not driving for 1 day, you could save ¼ pound of air pollution from being emitted into the air. This may not sound like much, but if every Chicagoan participated we could save about 725,000 pounds of pollution in just one day. Last but not least, purchase food items that are organic. By choosing these items you support a movement aimed at improving the environment through natural and sustainable practices such as crop rotation and natural fertilization.

By thinking locally, you can have an impact globally. It starts with just one person, one company or one community. Let’s help keep Earth Day alive by reducing our global impact and improving the lives of those around us.