August 2009 Archives

Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI), a leader in natural and organic foods, and Chef Ann Cooper, the nation's "Renegade Lunch Lady," have joined forces to transform lunch in schools across the country with the "School Lunch Revolution" campaign. This national effort, which launches during the back-to-school season, aims to enable schools to revolutionize and improve the way children eat. The free, first-of-its-kind Lunch Box Web site - thelunchbox.org - provides the necessary resources for food service directors to make tangible changes in their cafeteria menus.

"It is past time for a wake-up call! Look at what our children are being offered at school: processed foods high in fat, junk food, soft drinks loaded with sugar...the list goes on. We are in the throes of a public health time bomb," said Chef Ann Cooper, author of "Lunch Lessons" and "Bitter Harvest" and founder of the F3: Food Family Farming Foundation whose mission is to provide every child in America with healthy and delicious fresh food at school. "This is THE social justice issue of our time, and schools have NO money to help solve the problem," said Cooper. "I felt strongly about partnering with Whole Foods Market to help tackle this issue because their customers have a successful track record of rallying around a cause and making a real difference."

Chef Ann Cooper's Lunch Box Web site is the most comprehensive, easily accessible and FREE set of resources available to help schools replace frozen processed foods with fresh, natural, made-from-scratch foods in a realistic, cost-effective manner. Tools include:

• Recipes that work for schools of all size and can be nutritionally analyzed, tested and costed
• Resources for procuring real, natural foods, regionally and locally, from smaller vendors to create local food economies
• Training videos that cover topics ranging from cooking techniques to food safety
• Educational tools for parents and children
• Community activism tools helping any single person, group or task force to initiate change in a school system
  

"One in three children born in the year 2000 will have diabetes, and 30 percent of them are overweight, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC also says that the cost of treating diabetes in the United States is estimated at $174 billion each year," said Cooper. "The reality is we're going to pay now or pay later with rising health costs and poor health."

More than 30 million children eat a school lunch that is federally funded through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) every day. On average, only 90 cents per lunch is spent on food. That, combined with free commodity foods, like cheese and ground beef, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Distribution Program and many children are eating mostly frozen, processed, packaged foods. With no national standardized limit on sugar or other ingredients like artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, it is not uncommon to find hamburgers, French fries chocolate milk and popsicles offered as a typical school lunch.

"If you look at the entire picture, serving healthy food doesn't have to cost more for schools. Research from the USDA and CDC has shown that switching to healthier options has the potential to increase school lunchroom revenue," said Cooper. "I'm confident that with the right tools schools can learn how to provide more whole, fresh foods menus that nourish our children."

The Lunch Box will be supported in part by a donation from Whole Foods Market and a School Lunch Revolution donation drive at check-out stands in Whole Foods Market stores, and at wholefoodsmarket.com/schoollunchrevolution now through September.

Walter Robb, co-president and COO of Whole Foods Market, and Cooper will take the School Lunch Revolution message to Washington, D.C., to create public awareness and ask lawmakers to do their part to support stronger nutritional requirements and adequate funding for the National School Lunch Program.

While in D.C., Cooper will visit the Whole Foods Market store at Tenley Circle and lecture on the subject of healthy school lunches. She will also visit Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston in September, joining community leaders to talk about the importance of healthy lunches and the free Lunch Box Web site, with the hope of eliciting change on a local level.

"With proper nutrition playing such a critical role in improving a child's behavior, school performance, and overall cognitive development, Whole Foods Market has been searching for the next important way to do our part to improve children's diets. Even in this time of economic challenge, healthy choices for your family always make sense. Our goal is to raise awareness, engage our shoppers and give schools easy access to the tools they need to serve fresher, healthier meals," said Robb, whose passion and purpose for more than 30 years has been to offer natural and organic foods and encourage healthful eating. "Chef Ann Cooper is passionate, tenacious and committed to improving nutrition for school-age children and we are delighted to be working with her to present this online resource to schools."

To further raise awareness and encourage Americans to join in, the Whole Foods Market Web site will feature:

• A series of six short educational videos;
• A live chat with Chef Cooper on Aug. 28 at 3p.m. CDT;
• A video contest for PTO/PTA organizations, with the winner receiving a visit from Chef Ann; and
• Solutions for affordable, healthy lunches.
  

In addition, Whole Foods Market's in-store value guide, The Whole Deal, will offer menus, recipes and coupons.

SOURCE Whole Foods Market

A longer life expectancy has led to an increased demand for family members to serve as caregivers for older adults. Caregiving can be a demanding, stressful and seemingly thankless job, but really it is an amazing gift to allow a loved one to "age in place" rather than in a clinical setting. SCAN Health Plan Arizona, a private nonprofit Medicare Advantage Plan, offers these seven secrets to success for caregivers of older adults:

1. Learn about your loved one's illness(es). As a caregiver you become the eyes of the physician and voice of the patient. Be sure that you can knowledgeably speak to the symptoms, challenges and changes of your loved one's physical and mental health.
2. Seek support. Caregivers needn't face their challenges alone. There are many resources and support groups to help you; the key is to find them. Some Medicare Advantage plans, like SCAN Health Plan, provide caregiver relief, in-home support, access to medical equipment, transportation options, and care coordination between the doctors and you.
3. Check the safety of your loved one's home. With age comes an increased risk of falling, decreased mobility and other changes that affect the everyday lives of seniors. Perform an audit of your loved one's home, and make modifications that make it a safer and more comfortable place to live.
4. Arrange for backup. Identify at least one other person who can provide care in the event that you become ill, injured or must be gone for an extended period. Keep your backup informed about the health challenges and needs of the senior.
5. Find other resources. Many complementary services are available to seniors and their caregivers in Maricopa County. For a directory of these services, contact the SCAN Connections Resource Center at 602-778-3420.
6. Seek financial and legal services. Gather the financial and legal documents for the senior in your care, and consult with an attorney and/or financial advisor to ensure that the senior's financial and legal matters are handled appropriately.
7. Let others help you. You don't have to do it by yourself. When friends, neighbors, family members or church congregants offer to pitch in, take them up on their offers.
   

"It is imperative that caregivers take care of themselves, which is why SCAN Health Plan has implemented programs aimed at caring for the caregiver," said Tom Lescault, president of SCAN Health Plan Arizona. "We know that caregivers have higher stress levels, risk of depression and chances of developing health problems themselves. It is our goal to help make their loads a little lighter."

As part of an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of seniors, SCAN Health Plan Arizona is an exclusive sponsor of "Healthy Tips for Successful Aging" with ABC 15. Each week, the station airs 30-second health tips provided by SCAN. The health plan also is the exclusive studio sponsor for KOY radio, which began broadcasting from SCAN Health Plan Studios in July.

SOURCE SCAN Health Plan Arizona

The Organic Center (TOC), a leading independent research and education institution dedicated to advancing scientific research behind the health and environmental benefits of organic products and farming, announced today that they are hosting the "For the Health of Our World" fundraiser on Saturday, September 12, from 6 to 9:30pm at Clif Bar's Headquarters in Berkeley, California. Bay Area influencers and organic advocates will join together to celebrate organic food and farming as a sustainable solution in promoting human health, reversing climate change and addressing world hunger issues. Upcoming research initiatives include calculating and analyzing the comparative environmental footprint and production of greenhouse gases of organic versus conventionally produced dairy and beef.

To kick off the fundraiser, TOC is hosting influential leaders for the "Entrepreneur's Open Forum" at the Numi Tea Garden on Saturday, September 12(th), located at 2230 Livingston Street, Oakland, California, from 10am until noon to discuss strategies for healthy business growth. Discussion leaders include Walter Robb, co-president of Whole Foods Market(R); Alex Petrov, president of Lucerne Foods(TM); Michael Funk, chairman of United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI); Samantha Cabaluna, director of communications of Earthbound Farm; Linda Gerwig, vice president of sales at Hain Personal Care; John Foraker, CEO of Annie's Homegrown(R); Jeff Mendelsohn, president of New Leaf Paper; Ted Nordquist, CEO of WholeSoy & Co.; Brent Knudsen, managing partner and founder of Partnership Capital Growth (PCGA); Rheem Rahim, co-founder and creative director of Numi Tea(R); and Will Burke, CEO and co-founder of Brand Engine(R). Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn insights and strategies to enhance business.

Later that same evening following the intimate "Entrepreneur's Open Forum," TOC will host attendees at their fifth annual fundraiser, which will include a presentation from guest speaker Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm. Guests will be invited to sample delicious organic hors d'oeuvres prepared with O Organics((TM)) ingredients by celebrity Chef Domenica Catelli while sipping on specialty cocktails made with Square One((TM)) Vodka. The evening will also showcase a 15-minute film festival showcasing Food Inc, FRESH, Soil: In Good Heart, among other inspiring films and a silent auction featuring varied products and experiences from the Northern California community. Auction highlights include a vineyard tour, wine tasting, lunch and a mixed case of wine from Frey Vineyard; three weeks of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) fruit and vegetable delivery; and other high-value items.

In addition to the morning discussion and evening fundraiser, media and journalist are invited to a meet-and-greet at 5:30pm prior to the Fundraiser to speak with the host committee; Dr. Charles Benbrook, the chief scientist at TOC; among other VIP attendees.

The host committee for the evening includes Walter Robb, co-president of Whole Foods Market; Michael Funk, chairman of UNFI; Gary Erickson, CEO of Clif Bar & Company; Ahmed Rahim, President, and Rheem Rahim, co-founder and creative director, of Numi Tea; Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm; and Alex Petrov, president of Lucerne Foods.

Sponsors of the event include Premier Sponsor O Organics; Platinum Sponsors Lundberg Family Farms(R), Organic Valley(R), Horizon(TM); Gold Sponsors Partnership Capital Growth Advisors (PCGA), Brand Engine(R); and Silver Sponsors Be Green Packaging and Whole Foods Market(R). The Organic Center would also like to acknowledge the continual support from their valued Cornerstone donors Annie's Homegrown, Aurora Organic Dairy, Dean Foods(R), Driscoll's(R), Frontier Natural Products Co-op(TM), The Hain Celestial Group, Hidden Villa Ranch, Nature's Path Foods(R), New Chapter(R), New Hope Natural Media, Small Planet Foods(R), Solera Capital, Stonyfield Farm(R), Sunflower Markets(R), United Natural Foods, Weil Lifestyle, and WhiteWave Foods.

The Organic Center is committed to raising awareness among consumers of the nutritional benefits of organic foods. Underscoring this mission, TOC recently refuted a study commissioned by the British government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) entitled "Nutritional quality of organic foods: a systematic review." Highlighting multiple missteps in the FSA's analysis, TOC released an in-depth analysis that shows the UK agency's failure to properly assess differences in the levels of antioxidants and not using stringent guidelines to determine whether the studies are scientifically valid.

Source: The Organic Center

From cranky bosses to incompetent coworkers, traffic jams, inconsiderate drivers, and crowded break rooms, the hurdles people encounter while making their way through the typical work day in big cities are enough to drive even the sanest of people up a wall.

Tanna Marshall, a holistic health consultant and certified massage therapist with more than 18 years' experience as a natural health practitioner, offers a collection of tips and advice to help people deal with the daily stressors of living in a big city in her new book, "Living Peacefully in a Big City: A Guide to Maintaining Your Sanity, Health and Happiness" (published by iUniverse). Along with the simple reminder to be kind to one another, Marshall includes suggestions on how to reduce stress and deal with difficult issues while staying healthy in body, mind and spirit.

"After returning from a trip to Hawaii in 1994, where I felt surrounded by kind, courteous and peaceful people, I was tempted to move to the islands," explains Marshall. "Instead I decided to bring the attitudes I encountered back to my hometown of Los Angeles, California. "Living Peacefully in a Big City" blossomed as I wrote down tips and advice learned during my careers, that have effectively allowed myself -- as well as my clients -- to reduce daily stress and to live more peaceful, fulfilled lives."

Marshall's personal, story-telling approach addresses basic daily issues with easy, practical solutions to quickly dissipate stress or negativity in any situation, ranging from physical to spiritual. Concise and to the point, "Living Peacefully in a Big City" answers impactful questions such as:

• How improving your sex life changes your work day
• Why people should take regular vacations before, not after, they are burned out
• What to do when you feel your temper rising and attitude declining
• What's the best way to handle an overwhelming workload
• Why random acts of kindness are more influential than people think
  

"Tanna Marshall has written an easily accessible, amazingly helpful and simple-to-apply tool kit of ideas to help us free the mind, heal the soul and open ourselves to a life of peace and power," says Mary Manin Morrissey, author of "Building Your Field of Dreams."

About the Author

Tanna Marshall is a holistic health consultant and certified massage therapist with more than 18 years' experience as a natural health practitioner. She enjoys helping others improve the quality of their lives in body, mind and spirit. Marshall resides in the Los Angeles area and is available nationwide by arrangement and via telephone. For more information, visithttp://www.TannasHolisticHealthcare.com or participate in Tanna's blog athttp://www.livingpeacefullynow.blogspot.com.

SOURCE iUniverse

October is National Breast Cancer awareness month and for the seventh consecutive year consumers can purchase FAT bastard wines to help conquer this devastating disease. During the months of September and October, FAT bastard will donate 25 cents for every bottle of FAT bastard sold in restaurants and retail locations, up to $75,000. By the end of this year's campaign, FAT bastard will have raised nearly one half of a million dollars for this important cause.

Consumers purchasing FAT bastard should feel confident that their hard-earned dollars will directly support breast cancer research, education and treatment, making an immediate impact.

Over the past five years the Christina S. Walsh foundation has provided support for breast cancer patients in more than 32 states. "Thanks to the donations of companies such as FAT bastard, we have not had to say no to one patient yet," said Robert Walsh, Director. "While we firmly believe finding a cure is imperative, we are focused on providing financial support to patients facing breast cancer and helping them deal with everyday hardships." The Christina S. Walsh foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for treatments of uninsured patients, medications and tests not covered by insurance, wigs, transportation to and from treatments, hospice care and other financial burdens facing breast cancer patients.

"Advancements are being made in the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer every day, yet this insidious disease continues to inflict too much suffering and loss. Our ongoing research to find a cure would not be possible without the generous support and long standing commitment of donors such as FAT bastard Wines," said Kit Herrod, Director of External Affairs, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center, "They are an indispensable member of our team."

During the donation period, FAT bastard wines will be easy to spot on the shelf, wearing a special breast cancer awareness necker with an attached pink ribbon pin for consumers to wear in show of their support.

FAT bastard continues to grow in popularity with consumers, making it one of the top selling French wines in the United States. This is a compliment to FAT bastard's consistent high-quality, fun and unforgettable name and consumer friendly packaging. Sourced in Languedoc-Rousillon, the FAT bastard wine collection consists of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. For more information about FAT bastard wine visit fatbastard.com or call toll-free 1.800.859.0689.

Source: Click Wine Group

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.

NISSAN LEAF

Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility - the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan's radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.

"Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment - one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality - the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero - not simply reduced - emissions. It's the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey - for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry."

Key characteristics of the LEAF include:

1. Zero-emission power train and platform
2. Affordable pricing
3. Distinctive design
4. Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles)
5. Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system
   

The "LEAF" name is a significant statement about the car itself. Just as leaves purify the air in nature, so Nissan LEAF purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience. Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales in late 2010; however, the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. Additionally, Nissan LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives in markets around the world. As an added benefit, because the vehicle has less mechanical complexity than a traditional gasoline-powered car, Nissan LEAF is designed to be friendly to the wallet as well as to the environment.

ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY

Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.

Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF's power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF's regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge*. (*US LA4 mode)

Extensive consumer research demonstrates that this range satisfies the daily driving requirements of more than 70% of the world's consumers who drive cars.

And, Nissan's approach makes charging easy and convenient. Nissan LEAF can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours - ample time to enable an overnight refresh for consumer and car alike.

REAL-WORLD CAR

The engineers and designers behind Nissan LEAF worked to create a competitively priced real-world car that would enable Nissan to lead mobility into the zero-emission era. To ensure comfort, spaciousness and cargo capacity, Nissan LEAF employs a completely new chassis and body layout.

"Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that's what we've created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility," said Masato INOUE, Product Chief Designer.

DISTINCTIVE DESIGN

Even the smallest details can yield tremendous effect.

Nissan LEAF's frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design that announces, "This car is special." But the headlights do more than make a statement. They are also designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights provide yet one more benefit in that they consume just 10 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan LEAF to achieve its world-class range autonomy.

Through bright trim colors inside, Nissan LEAF creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment. An environmentally friendly "blue earth" color theme originates from the Aqua Globe body color of Nissan LEAF's introductory model. This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.

CONNECTED MOBILITY IT SYSTEM

Nissan LEAF employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day.

The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan LEAF's remaining power - or "reachable area" - in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations.

Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions - even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.

"The IT system is a critical advantage," says Tooru ABE, Chief Product Specialist. "We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver and an enhancement for the passengers. We also wanted this vehicle to help create a zero-emission community, and these IT features will help make that possible."

HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY INNOVATION

Nissan LEAF is a critical first step in establishing the era of zero-emission mobility; however, Nissan recognizes that internal-combustion engine (ICE) technologies will play a vital role in global transportation for decades to come. Because of this, Nissan is implementing its zero-emission vision through a holistic approach, which provides consumers a comprehensive range of eco-friendly technologies from which to choose.

For some consumers, Nissan LEAF will be the perfect match, and the only car they will ever need. For others, Nissan LEAF will be a logical addition to the family fleet - the optimal choice for the daily commute, for example.

While zero-emission is the ultimate goal, the company is committed to ongoing innovation in eco-friendly technologies that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. As a result, Nissan offers a comprehensive suite of automotive technologies, including CVT, Idle Stop, HEV, Clean Diesel, and ongoing research and investment in FCV technology.

WORLDWIDE PARTNERS

Zero-emission mobility programs under the banner of the Renault-Nissan Alliance include partnerships with countries such as the UK and Portugal, local governments in the Japan and the USA, and other sectors, for a total of nearly 30 partnerships worldwide.

In these partnerships major efforts focus on three areas:

1) Development of a comprehensive charging infrastructure through public and private investment,

2) Incentives and subsidies from local, regional, and national governments, and

3) Public education on the individual and societal benefits of zero-emissions mobility.

ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE PRODUCTION

Nissan LEAF is the first in the company's forthcoming line of EVs and is a major milestone in the realization of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's vision for zero-emission mobility. The first of Nissan's EVs will be manufactured at Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Smyrna, Tennessee, USA. Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are being produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the USA, the UK and Portugal, and other sites for investment are under study around the world.

ABOUT NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is a global automotive company with vehicle sales of 3.411 million in 2008. Nissan is present in all major auto markets worldwide, selling a comprehensive range of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and light commercial vehicles.

NISSAN BLUE CITIZENSHIP

Nissan is committed to making a better world through its commitment to corporate social responsibility. This includes programs that focus on technological innovations that focus on people and care for the planet. Our vision for zero-emission mobility is an outgrowth of our CSR approach, which we call Blue Citizenship. Together, we are working with our Alliance partner, Renault, to make a better world through zero-emission mobility.

For more information, please visit the Nissan Zero-Emission website:

http://www.nissan-zeroemission.com

SOURCE Nissan North America