Eco-Chat With Founders of ORGANIC NATION & Pacific Botanicals
Perhaps the least discussed segment of the organic beverage industry is organic liquors. While there are a growing number of organic wineries and micro-breweries, few certified organic distilleries are in existence. We recently had a chance to chat with the Founders of ORGANIC NATION & Pacific Botanicals, who have developed a unique partnership whereby the latter produces organic rye for the former’s organic vodkas. The interview appears here as part of our Eco-Chats series. This partnership allows O-N to source rye from scarcely more than an hour away, as opposed to importing from a much further distance, saving on distribution costs and the environment at the same time.
Both Diane Paulson and Mark Wheeler take their impact on the environment seriously, as these long-time Oregon residents believe in building a business around the principles of sustainability. We enjoyed hearing the story of their ongoing partnership, and hope you do, too.
Organic and Sustainability Resources
We have some new content coming soon (including a great eco-chat with Diane Paulson of ORGANIC NATION, and her organic rye provider, Mark Wheeler, of Pacific Botanicals). Until then, enjoy a few resources that we’ve been meaning to share with the DTE community.
Organic Wine Match of the Day (Denver Wine Examiner)
Well-written reviews of organic wines paired with tasty foods, including reviews of many European and South American wines. A good daily read for all of you foodies with an interest in finding organic drinking companions to pair with your culinary achievements.
TerraCycle Cork Brigade Program
Looking to do something with all of those spare corks, but lack the creativity? New Jersey’s TerraCycle has an option for you. Simply mail them your used corks, and they’ll pay you cash. The corks are then made into a number of different products, including cork boards that are sold in outlets such as OfficeMax. Unfortunately, at last check, they aren’t currently accepting any new applications for the program (bummer).
Online guide that helps you find sustainable and organic food options in your local area (available in the U.S. and Canada). By entering your zip code they will tell you local options for everything from farmers markets to personal chefs.
Nice all-purpose sustainability guide. Includes a lot of user-generated content, including product reviews of all types of sustainable and organic products ranging from beers and wines to vitamins.
Cooper Mountain Vineyards Hearts Dirt
Cooper Mountain's 'We Love Dirt' Promotion
In celebration of soil preservation through biodynamic and organic farming, Oregon’s Cooper Mountain Vineyards will be featuring a special tasting and promotion over the Valentine’s Day holiday on February 14th & 15th. Visitors to their Beaverton tasting room can enjoy special tasting flights featuring strawberries drizzled in Cooper Mountain balsamic vinegar. For $25, you can purchase their ‘We Love Dirt Package’, which features two flights of both red & white wines, along with two logo wine glasses.
No word on whether the worms or manure-filled cow horns will cost extra. Either way, we appreciate a clever marketing campaign when we see one. If you’re in the Portland area, sounds like a lot of fun to us.