How to Be a Conscious Eater

how well it matches Seafood Watch’s recommendations for

twenty-six commonly sold species; and, importantly, label-

ing and transparency, which includes how carefully sourcing

data gets tracked and communicated to customers. In the 2018

report, Whole Foods Market, Hy-Vee, and ALDI took the top

three spots out of twenty-two major American grocers. They

were considered “leading,” whereas the bottom of the barrel

was occupied by Wakefern and Save Mart (both considered

“failing”) and Price Chopper (which got a “passing” grade,

though it just squeaked through by a few tenths of a percent).

Source directly. Think farmers’ markets and community-

supported agriculture (CSA) boxes. Grocery shopping this way

can increase traceability and reduce the likelihood of fraud

because your products touch fewer hands. The saying “Know

your farmer, know your food” applies to food from the sea as

well: Know your fisherman, know your food. Sign up for a com-

munity-supported fishery box (search at localcatch.org). When

eating out, support restaurants that grow or raise their own

ingredients (a practice also known as “vertical integration”) or

that source directly themselves. For instance, you can opt for

restaurants participating in programs like Dock to Dish, which

is all about the concept of restaurant-supported fisheries. In

direct-sourcing models, traceability is high, sustainability is

central, and the opportunity to try a wider variety of foods

can be exciting as a diner. These programs are supply-driven,

flipping the script from the usual demand-driven model. This

improves earnings for local farmers and fishermen who no

longer have to sell through middlemen.

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