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Cool Beans |
Photo: Erick Smith. Melissa Madden, Dan Lathwell, and John Hamilton
of Cayuga Pure Organics. © Debby Halpern
of Cayuga Pure Organics. © Debby Halpern
by John Hamilton
ITHACA, NY - If most people were asked to rate 'foods that are sexy' on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being sexy, dried beans would probably often end up around 0 to 1.
However...if the beans are locally grown, and you are concerned that most of our food is supplied by loosely regulated corporate factory-farms concerned only with profit an average of 1500 miles away; if the beans are organic and you wish to support farmers growing healthy sustainable food close by; if you are a vegetarian or maybe you just enjoy a fresher tasting burrito; well, in that case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the last shall be first, etc, etc... and 0 to 1 backward is actually a 10!
For these reasons, when two farmers in the Ithaca area, Erick Smith and Dan Lathwell, partners in Cayuga Pure Organics (CPO), announced plans to supply organic dried beans to local restaurants and food suppliers, responses ranged from enthusiastic to ecstatic. "As a vegetarian, I'm truly grateful to these folks," says Ananda, a food activist and farmer, "World energy concerns, and the unlimited arrogance of corporate food monopolies are making local food supplies much more important."
All their planning and investment were resoundingly rewarded when two restaurants, ABC and Viva Taqueria, served their beans. "Every day someone notices our beans taste better and fresher," says Josh Dolan of ABC Cafe. "We were happy to buy local. I didn't think people would notice but many customers have commented and said they love these beans," says Tomas Harrington, manager of Viva Taqueria, Ithaca's biggest Mexican restaurant. Says Leslie Schultz, a longtime Ithacan, "They taste like...like...velvet."
The region already has a thriving organic food system. There are many vegetable and fruit growers; a supplier of soybeans for Ithaca Soy products; a number of dairy, and meat providers, as well as herbs, honey and syrups. Though New York used to be one of the four major dried bean growing regions in the country, there are no organic suppliers to local markets in this area, and today dried beans come from Brazil and China as well as the western US. As a major source of protein dried beans are an important addition to the local food supply.
The group also provides wheat berries and whole oats for sale at the co-op, and plans to grow a range of seeds and grains for local markets.
Contact: Cayuga Pure Organics
18 Banks Road
Brooktondale, NY 14817
www.cporganics.com
ITHACA, NY - If most people were asked to rate 'foods that are sexy' on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being sexy, dried beans would probably often end up around 0 to 1.
However...if the beans are locally grown, and you are concerned that most of our food is supplied by loosely regulated corporate factory-farms concerned only with profit an average of 1500 miles away; if the beans are organic and you wish to support farmers growing healthy sustainable food close by; if you are a vegetarian or maybe you just enjoy a fresher tasting burrito; well, in that case, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the last shall be first, etc, etc... and 0 to 1 backward is actually a 10!
For these reasons, when two farmers in the Ithaca area, Erick Smith and Dan Lathwell, partners in Cayuga Pure Organics (CPO), announced plans to supply organic dried beans to local restaurants and food suppliers, responses ranged from enthusiastic to ecstatic. "As a vegetarian, I'm truly grateful to these folks," says Ananda, a food activist and farmer, "World energy concerns, and the unlimited arrogance of corporate food monopolies are making local food supplies much more important."
All their planning and investment were resoundingly rewarded when two restaurants, ABC and Viva Taqueria, served their beans. "Every day someone notices our beans taste better and fresher," says Josh Dolan of ABC Cafe. "We were happy to buy local. I didn't think people would notice but many customers have commented and said they love these beans," says Tomas Harrington, manager of Viva Taqueria, Ithaca's biggest Mexican restaurant. Says Leslie Schultz, a longtime Ithacan, "They taste like...like...velvet."
The region already has a thriving organic food system. There are many vegetable and fruit growers; a supplier of soybeans for Ithaca Soy products; a number of dairy, and meat providers, as well as herbs, honey and syrups. Though New York used to be one of the four major dried bean growing regions in the country, there are no organic suppliers to local markets in this area, and today dried beans come from Brazil and China as well as the western US. As a major source of protein dried beans are an important addition to the local food supply.
The group also provides wheat berries and whole oats for sale at the co-op, and plans to grow a range of seeds and grains for local markets.
Contact: Cayuga Pure Organics
18 Banks Road
Brooktondale, NY 14817
www.cporganics.com
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