The Tropicana orange juice traveled 4,342 miles from Leicester, United Kingdom to the glass of the fast- paced American in Kansas. While driving furiously to work, all the person thinks about is the conference call in five minutes. Not a single thought is given to where it came from.
PepsiCo, the owner of Tropicana, determined the carbon footprint of the half-gallon carton of orange juice. A carbon footprint is the total amount of green house gasses emitted by an individual, organization or product. The equivalent of 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted per carton of orange juice. Compare that to the 2.9 pounds of carbon dioxide it takes to produce a flat screen computer monitor.
In the United States, about 12 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions result from growing, preparing, and shipping food. That’s too much, according to the owners of The Community Mercantile, known as The Merc, a natural/organic foods store in Lawrence.
How does The Merc solve this problem: local farmers.
The stores emphasis is local foods. Food is considered local if it’s within 200 miles of The Merc.
The store opened in a basement in 1974. The location changed as the business grew. At the current location on Iowa Street, the store was remodeled in 2001. It now includes a meat and seafood department, deli, bakery, café dining area, and eco-friendly refrigeration system.
Community hero: The Farmer
The origin of all the produce is labeled at the Merc. Local produce displays pictures of the farmers. This follows The Merc’s mission of creating a community: “Know thy farmer!â€
Knowing where the food comes from is important at the Merc. It creates a connection and recognizes the community heroes. Putting on face on the food creates a relationship and makes food more than an unconscious habit.
There are a variety of departments that include produce, meat and seafood, bakery, deli, bulk foods, cheese, dairy, breads, coffee and tea, wellness, body care, flowers, and catering. There are over 125 organic fruits and vegetables offered and the only store in Lawrence that has Certified Organic Produce. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, to be certified, the business must have an organic system plan. The plan describes practices and substances used and records of the previous five years are required.
The Merc buys their produce from the Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance, the oldest Midwest vegetable cooperative. Their produce is grown naturally without pesticides and is ecologically sustainable (See Side Bar). Some produce comes from regional locations such as Albert’s Organics in Colorado. They are the nation’s leading distributor of organic produce, providing over 250 seasonal fruits and vegetables. Stepping Stones in Weaubleau, Missouri also provides regional organic produce.
Making meats local
The visibility of the meat and seafood department allows the consumer to watch their meat being cut. It offers locally raised Kansas beef from both grain and grass-fed cows, pork raised according to the Heluka method, free range chicken, Merc made sausages, and fresh cut steaks and roasts. The suppliers ensure compassionate and humane treatment of the animals. All of the meat is compatible with a 100 percent vegetarian diet because no growth hormones or antibiotics are used.
The seafood is delivered fresh four days a week. A variety of wild caught items are sold, including; Alaskan halibut, sole, swordfish, fresh shrimp, diver scallops, sushi grade Ahi tuna, and sockeye salmon.
The in-store bakery provides baguettes, boucles, bagels, croissants and vegan items. The finest ingredients and organic grains create delicacies from chocolate decadent preachers’ cake to moist vegan carrot cake. The selections change with the seasons, but the pastry chef, Chef Sula, always has a treat to please the palate.
The bulk foods selection has as many items as leaves on a tree in mid-summer. Dried fruits, nuts, coffees, teas, rice, flours, pastas, and grains as well as 400 other items can be found. Any spice imaginable sits on the shelf in its own jar waiting to be measured out. If feeling ambitious, fresh peanut or almond butter can be made.
