Of course, you don't have to make fresh, organic, and local underlining values of your baby food business. Perhaps these attributes are not as important to parents in your area. However, as I have already shown you, the market for products that have these qualities is growing rapidly. And the fact that your baby food is fresh, organic, and local is unlikely to turn people off. But you may loose potential customers if your food doesn't have at least one of these attributes.
Why Organic Foods For Babies?
-Existing regulations on the amount of pesticide residues that non-organic foods may contain are based on 'acceptable' levels for adult consumption. Babies and young children are at greater risk because the immaturity of their body systems makes them more vulnerable to toxins.
-Because children's diet is often restricted to just a few types of less processed food- like apples, potatoes, carrots ' they may receive higher exposure to toxins.
-From conception until one year of age, children are at their most vulnerable. During this critical stage of development cells are multiplying at their peak, yet the body has limited diet to draw upon.
-A baby's digestive system is also more efficient that that of an adult at absorbing foods, enabling nutrients to be used more quickly, but also making the body more vulnerable to toxins. Immature kidneys are not as proficient at excreting harmful substances, so they may circulate in the body for a longer period of time.
-No one knows what effect genetic engineering may have on food products and the health of those who consume them. So the best way to protect yourself and your baby from possible problems is to choose organic. Organic baby foods are produced without genetically modified ingredients.
Why Local Foods For Babies?
-Eating local means more for the local economy. According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.
-Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer's market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value which declines with time.
-Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit does not have to be "rugged" or to stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them, figs that would have been smashed to bits if they were sold using traditional methods and melons that were allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine.
-Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate creates environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic.
-Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination.
-Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.
Sources:
-Trading places: the local economic impact of street produce and farmer's markets, New Economics Foundation, November 2005.
-Farm costs and food miles: An assessment of the full cost of the weekly food basket, Food Policy, Volume 30, Issue 1, February 2005, Pages 1-19.
-"New Rules to Beat Food Terrorism", Associated Press, Dec 6, 2004.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Nicole Kidman Sunday Rose Scientology
By: Kimmie | 09-07-2008
Do you think Nicole Kidman named her new baby daughter Sunday Rose to spite Scientology and Tom Cruise in particular,or because the daddy wrote a song called "Sunday" for the baby before she was born?Is this a good name in your opinion?
Is it something to worry about?
By: coriandermay | 09-07-2008
me and my boyfriend just got back together a couple weeks ago and like the 4th of july he couldn't find his phone for like a day or 2 so wasn't able to talk on the phone with him like usual and he hadn't come online either so it has been weird not being able to talk to him and we were supposed to hang out if he wasn't to late getting home from work but he didn't even call to let me know if he could or not so I am not even sure when he got home and like I said he hasn't been online the past few days........ I tried to call a few times to see if I could get a hold of him to see how long he was working and the first time it just rang and when I tried again later his phone was off or the battery died. with all that went on when we were broken up I kinda worry cause I don't want it to happen again ya know(if u have read my previous posts about that u know what happened)...... if not he broke up with me for some stupid reason them a couple days later went out with this other girl and had sex with her and all that crap it was all messed up and she stopped the relationship so they r not even talkn right now or anything so he got over her and eventually asked me back out and told me he knew I was the one for him so............ is it alright to worry or should I not even think about it? I am not really sure what to think really cause I don't know if he just went to sleep when he got home whenever that was and just turned his phone off and forgot to call or what?! I don't want to go crazy or anything over it I just want to make sure if It is something I should keep an eye on to make sure nothing is going on or just not do anything about it.
Mens dictionary
By: Liliana | 08-07-2008
what a men tried to say when he says you are a very special person?
Secret Lover/Friend
By: MiamiTemp | 08-07-2008
I'm a 25 y/o female from Miami. I've been involved with a man romantically for a year and a half but nobody knows about our relationship. I can't go into detail about why we have to keep this a secret. He's not married or anything but if people found out then it could hurt his career, etc. I had known for a few years before we started anything sexual but had fallen for him way before that. When the opportunity presented itself I took it and things have been very hot with him since then. However, he has no idea how much I care about him. We were always friends, so I know he gets that much but I'm scared that if he found out that I was in love with him our relationship would change. It kills me not to be able to tell this guy that he's everything to me. I've had my share of relationships, whether it has been boyfriends, friends with benefits or whatever but this is completely throwing me off track in my life. I know he recently started seeing another woman, but the terms of our current relationship are strictly "friends with benefits" so I can't really say anything. The other woman has no idea that me and him have the type of sexual relationship that we do. She thinks we are just friends. I love having this secret, but at times it gets difficult. I get sad at times when I think that he is waking up next to her and not me. He'll swing by my house, we'll hook up and then he'll go over to her house for a movie. It sucks and I'm not quite sure how to handle it. I don't want it to end, I want him to know how I feel but I can't bring myself to tell him. Anyone got any words of wisdom?
Relationship continuned or not.... I DON"T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! HElp!
By: chriscross04 | 08-07-2008
hey thereok im in this situation in which... my boyfriend loved me and really showed it. our relationship lasted 2 months and a half.... yes i know it was a short time but i have known him for longer since we have been good friends.. but when we broke up i was very upset... even though it was a mutual break up and we have agreed to remain friends im still crazy about him... i don't how he feels and im not sure how he feels after we broke up... i wanna get back together with him and i don't know what to do... also when we broke up he was always very busy... thats what i think the reason was that when we broke up. he said that his wasn't really a good time to be together... he most def wants to be friends with me though... what shud i do?
"I Will"
By: cjeske88 | 08-07-2008
Im 20 and my boyfriend is 21. I ask my boyfriend to do simple things and i always get the answer "I will" and it never happends. I have been asking him to clean his things for about 8 months and they are still not done, i dont want to clean it and end up tossing things he needed. what can i do?!!
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Business Articles
Undersell, Overdeliver
By: Charlie Karlheinz Lang | 08/07/2008
This article shows us how salespeople can undersell and overdeliver to get more success in sales.
Would You Like to Take the Pain Out of Giving Constructive Feedback? the Seven Steps
By: Julie Ellis | 08/07/2008
Pretty much all of us feel uncomfortable about giving feedback. If we don't know how to do it effectively, we can either avoid it or make a mess of the communication. This article gives the 7 steps in how to give constructive feedback in a way that works. It begins by asking us first to take responsibility for our own reactions so that they don't get in the way and then gives a step by step guide to achieving a positive outcome.
Are You a 'people-friendly' Manager?
By: Pat Brill | 08/07/2008
A "people friendly" environment reduces stress, decreases turnover, and supports higher levels of performance with employees. Organizations today are addressing the "people friendly" environment with additional programs that support work-life balance. And..that is great.
Locate Employment 101
By: Ed Opperman | 08/07/2008
Most people find services more convenient and easy. It takes away much of the arguments that come along with serving papers or repossessing property.
Connaught Opens Fund For Investors Tired of Products
By: Mark Smalls | 08/07/2008
Connaught Asset Management has launched a Guaranteed Low Risk Income fund, which company executives said is aimed at investors who have lost their appetite for investment products.
It promises to pay a guaranteed annual return of at least 8.15 per cent, by investing in low-risk, short-term bridging financing.
Investors who put in...
Capita Buys up Land For Future Planning
By: Nigel Walter | 08/07/2008
Funds seeking the UK sites most likely to obtain planning permission for buildings.
Capita is to launch two funds to snap up land that could be used to meet the government's target to develop 4.2m homes over the next 20 years.
Connaught Asset Management has been appointed by Capita as the specialist...
How to Expand an Office Cleaning/ Janitorial Business
By: Brent Wale | 08/07/2008
If you own and operate an office cleaning/ janitorial business, or looking to start one,Here's a way you can explode your income in your office cleaning/janitorial business without even getting any new accounts.
Feedback as a Competitive Sport
By: Jennifer Selby Long | 08/07/2008
A common roadblock to success is the use of feedback to win, to dominate the person seen as the opponent. Dealing with this can affect your happiness and your sanity. Organizations in which leaders and managers routinely share high-quality feedback are easier to scale and have fewer nagging problems and less operational drag.
More from Mischelle Weedman Davis
Caring for your Prom Dress
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 11/01/2008 | Home and Family
You want to keep your prom dress or ball gown in good condition especially if you want to resell it later for the best price.
Train Travel: a Family Vacation Adventure
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 05/01/2008 | Travel
This past Christmas my husband and I took our kids on a ski vacation. But rather than drive through the snow and ice to someplace close or brave the airport to go someplace farther away, we chose to take book an overnight train trip on Amtrak's Empire Builder from Seattle, WA to Whitefish, MT. The skiing was great but I think that the train trip to and from Whitefish was the best part for the kids.
The Perfect Family Ski Vacation
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 04/01/2008 | Travel
In December 2007 our family enjoyed an amazing holiday ski vacation. The trip included an overnight Amtrak train ride from Seattle to Whitefish, MT (just over 13 hours) and five days of skiing at the Whitefish Mountain Resort (formerly known as Big Mountain Resort---not to be confused with Big Sky Resort).
2008 Holiday Season: the Beginning of the End of Wrapping Paper & Holiday Cards
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 24/12/2007 | Home and Family
For years our family has been diligent about recycling. But in 2008 we are kicking it up notch. We are eliminating gift wrap and holidays. Yes, I have wrapped my last Christmas gift and sent my last card. Even though we always put used gift wrap and holiday cards in the recycle bin and carefully save bows for future use, it just doesn't seem like enough.
Ten Habits of Highly Famous Thin People
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 13/12/2007 | Health
The term "celebrity diet" is used to describe a diet that is supposedly used by or is highly recommended by Hollywood stars, singers, or other celebrities.
How to Start your Own Baby Food Business Part #4: Understanding your Market
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 28/11/2007 | Business
Understanding your market is critical. As early as possible, before you launch your business, I encourage you to survey moms in your area to learn about their values, buying habits, and infant feeding rituals.
How to Start your Own Baby Food Business Part #7: Marketing & Promotion
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 27/11/2007 | Business
Marketing is critical to the success of your baby food business. Here are some of the highpoints of the various marketing programs that we used during the initial launch of Sprouts Baby Food Inc. back in early 2006.
How to Start your Own Baby Food Business Part #6: Manufacturing Vs. Catering
By: Mischelle Weedman Davis | 26/11/2007 | Business
Food from your baby food catering business will be differentiated from commercial, factory produced baby food a number of different ways.
Business 
