The organic food movement, for all of its imperfections, has been good for the environment. Greater scrutiny of how food is grown and how animals are treated has brought issues of sustainability to the fore. But in contrast to agriculture, so-called aquaculture - fish farming, shrimp farming and so on- has been slower to evolve, and retailers have been slower to demand it. That’s beginning to change.
Earlier this year, Whole Foods became the first major retailer to announce a comprehensive set of aquaculture guidelines, adopting strict standards aimed at avoiding damage to sensitive habitats, limiting waste and reducing pollution. The move is being welcomed by environmental groups, like the Environmental Defense Fund and the World Wildlife Fund, both of which have contributed to the “aquaculture dialogue.”
Starting two years ago, Whole Foods began consulting with environmental groups and scientists and visiting its suppliers’ farms to develop its own comprehensive set of guidelines, which includes a ban on preservatives, antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals commonly used in fish farming. “Right now, we need a way to source our seafood in a way that meets our customers’ expectations,” said Carrie Brownstein, seafood quality standards coordinator at Whole Foods. “We don’t want to be waiting on the sidelines. We want to be very active in the process.”
With other retailers, such as Wal-Mart and Wegmans, following suit, it looks like Whole Foods is, once again, helping to move the rest of the industry forward.
For more info, here’s an interesting post from Carrie Brownstein, Whole Foods seafood quality standards coordinator. And here is a link to the Whole Foods blog podcast, featuring an interview with Brownstein, providing more details about the program. -Rich
