Gift Ideas for someone who has now "gone organic"?

[zook]

A friend has now decided to eat an organic diet (if that's the right phrase). Any suggestions for a good holiday gift for her; such as a particular cookbook or two, a health/diet book re: organic diets, organic food treats, etc? TIA

[soupkitten]

there are all kinds of reasons your friend may have "gone organic" as stated in other posts. there are lots of gifts anyone might appreciate though. "the organic cook's bible" by jeff cox would be a cool gift for anybody, it's got beautiful pictures of produce in great variety and great recipes. i also like d. madison's "vegetarian cooking for everyone" and her more recent farmer's market cookbook. you could get a gift card or membership at your local co-op grocery for your friend's shopping needs.

many women eat all-organic while pregnant. i'm assuming you're good enough friends to know whether this is the case with her or not, just pointing it out because the coffee/candy suggestions might not be the ticket in that case.

[vonwotan]

For organic gifts Diamond Organics is excellent. The buy from a large number of small farms and producers in the area and have expanded their selections over the years. They have always had a good selection of gift baskets and they sell some excellent meats, fish and artisanal cheeses.

http://www.diamondorganics.com/

[Deepster]

I don't want to in any way imply that you aren't sure of what is going on here, but often folks who are "gone organic" are actually venturing out for the first time into "vegetarian" or "vegan" paths. IF THAT is the probability of where this person is headed, I think a book from a veggie book store would be the answer. Possibly even a gift certificate to such a store if that appears your friends direction. I think I'd do a little more exploring with the friend. If the move is merely to "organic" that's cool. But, if the intention is really to become "veggie" or "vegan", don't run the risk of giving an actual cookbook that might be useless to them several months down the road. However, if that is the person's intention, with help from a store proprietor you could select something that would be a lifelong treasure.

[Richard 16]

If she likes Japanese foods their is a web site called Simply Natural http://www.simply-natural.biz/

It's a macrobiotic based site with a lot of items including many organic foods, including the best mirin I've ever had, as well as rice bran daikon pickles and neato vinegars. They have non-food items as well.

[chowser]

I'd recommend Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. It's an eye opening book into the food we eat in this country.

Or, if you're looking for food related, organic fairtrade coffee and chocolate. I like Sanctuary shade grown coffee and will second Green and Black chocolate.

[heatherkay]

I think a really good cookbook would be item number one -- someone who is only going to buy organic may have to eat some new food items if that's what's available or affordable. I'd start with Deb Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.

[DanaB]

Depending on how much you want to spend, a great gift for a person who is trying to eat organic would be a subscription to their local CSA (community supported agriculture) program. Here's a website with links for finding one nearby:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml

Other ideas:

A gift certificate for Whole Foods or your local organic food market.

Some "fair trade" coffee beans (here's one link, but if you search "fair trade coffee" you'll find others -- http://www.faircoffee.com/

)

A copy of one of Carlo Petrini's books on the slow food movement and a membership in the Slow Food organization: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

A copy of Alice Water's book "The Art of Simple Food: Notes Recipes and Lessons from a Delicious Revolution."

A gift certificate to a restaurant that features organic foods.

[MakingSense]

Interestingly, the New York Times food section article on Alice Waters when she was on the book Tour for Simple Food didn't mention "organic" once - Waters was all about local sourcing of products. Seasonal and from nearby small producers, lots of artisanal products.

[DanaB]

While the thrust of Alice Waters' book is not all about organics, many small farmers involved in the artisanal food movement grow naturally, and in recommending the book, I figured that a person interested in "going organic" would likely also be interested in other aspects of the same movement -- i.e. a return to a more environmentally-friendly way of producing and transporting food.

[MakingSense]

My comment wasn't a negative toward the Waters book, only pointing out that a trend seems to be starting away from strict allegiance to "going organic" as the OP's friend has decided to do. Many have looked at the burdens that it may place on the production and particularly the transportation of food and begun to look at local, sustainable, and seasonal foods as better alternatives. This is still expensive and difficult in many areas of the country because we're not used to it and the suppliers are still few but they may prove to be more environmentally friendly and worthwhile.
Waters has been and will continue to be a trendsetter even if few of us can emulate her lifestyle since we don't live in a similar climate with the ability to grow much of what we eat or buy it in nearby year round farmers' markets.

[foiegras]

There's lots of good organic chocolate out there--a couple brands are Dagoba & Green & Black. You can buy online, at Whole Foods, other specialty markets, etc. Perhaps some organic staples such as organic spices?

[Btw ... "going organic" is different from "going nuts" <g>]

[heatcrave]

Love Dagoba!