The lavender is finally planted, I’ve been wildcrafting some of the spring herbs, and took some time to check out this year’s All Things Organic show held in Chicago.  As a member of the Organic Trade Association, I had considered having us set up a booth, but really, I’m not a show kinda person and can’t imagine loading in for such an event. I do love the web and am lazy that way.     

 So, going without the thought of selling was much better.  There were many first time vendors there and I found so many new organic products that Botanical Earth may be carrying in the future!  One of my favorite stops was the SimpleFood.com booth.  My goal is to have Botanical Earth offer organic foods besides just bodycare and pet products.  When I met the people behind this fun, vegan friendly business, I knew this was a company my customers would love!  They create the MOST yummy soynut spread butters – peanut & tree nut free – gluten free – vegan – kosher butters.  My favorite was the Cinnamon Sugar – you have to check out their site.

 One of the most distrubing aspects of the show, but as a business I can see the logic (but just don’t agree with it) was the sales pitch of some of the organic producers.  One booth had the most amazing organic garlic I have ever seen – huge monster garlic!  The problem for me was, the first thing out of the guy’s mouth was “And you can compete with domestic farm garlic with this organic garlic” price wise.  The reason? It came from China where the labor is dramatically different – so after growing it and shipping half way across the world, I could sell certified organic garlic for less or equal to what a local, non-certified organic (and probably even organic certified) US farmers would sell theirs for.  That’s just not what organic is about to me, but I can understand the reason why some stores will buy it – it’s bottom line.  Organics are hot because people are boombarded with toxic scares all the time, and are told organics are the only way to go.  I personally think organics are great, but buying naturally grown (not necessarily organic) regionally, or even in the same hemishpere, grown produce is better.  Maybe next time you go to the store, besides looking for the “Organic” label, look for where the product was grown and see if you have options – by spending a few pennies more, you may be able to support a US farmer with organics.

 So where are all the pictures of this show you ask?  Well, when you take your best friend who is an incredible multi-media artisan, and an amazing cook also to a trade show like this, with the likes of the Fancy Foods show upstairs and the All Things Organic show downstairs offering incredible snacks…..accidents tend to happen……did I mention the organic wine at the show was quite tasty?  The camera ended up with some wonderful South American organic coffee and a bit of organic jasmine tea all over it by the time we left – so no pictures except for one I found to torment Michael with……that’s what friends are for right?