Truenorth Organic 11feb12

Paul M.
Rich
1551 Pacific Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
paul@creeksidescience.com
professorpaul.com
!
Dr.!Alan!Goldhamer!
TrueNorth!Health!Center!
1551!Pacific!Ave!
Santa!Rosa,!CA!95404!
!
February!11,!2012!
!
Hi!Dr.!Goldhamer,!
!
I!am!writing!about!something!important!in!my!life!and,!I!believe,!important!for!the!future!of!
TrueNorth:!!availability!of!quality!organic!food.!
!
I!asked!my!assistant!Alison!Carrington!to!compile!information!about!organic!food!availability!from!
the!TrueNorth!produce!invoices,!with!the!hope!that!this!information!would!be!useful!for!all!of!us.!!
Attached!is!a!summary!of!findings!and!recommendations.!In!this!preliminary!analysis!we!gained!
insight!into!the!availability!and!cost!of!organic!food!as!it!varies!seasonally!(currently!~38%!organic!
served,!at!20S40+%!higher!cost!compared!with!conventional),!and!identified!various!ways!to!
increase!the!proportion!of!organic!food!offered!at!a!modest!increase!in!cost.!!
!
You!and!your!staff!have!been!exceptionally!supportive!in!helping!to!meet!my!special!needs,!
including!accommodating!my!need!for!only!organic!food.!I,!along!with!many!other!guests,!feel!as!
strongly!about!eating!only!organic!food!as!many!vegans!feel!about!eating!only!vegan!food.!Imagine!
vegans!not!knowing!if!>50%!of!their!food!might!contain!animal!products.!When!I!had!difficulty!
tracking!which!food!is!organic!at!TrueNorth,!you!kindly!supplied!me!copies!of!produce!invoices.!In!
addition,!Chef!Ramses!and!the!kitchen!staff!have!gone!far!out!of!their!way!to!assist!me,!always!
helpful,!friendly,!and!respectful.!Please!know!how!much!I!appreciate!their!dedication!and!hard!
work.!
!
I!recognize!you!as!a!visionary!and!leader!in!medicine!focused!on!healthy!lifestyle,!building!
TrueNorth!as!a!premier!healing!center!based!on!fasting!and!healthy!vegan!food,!and!literally!saving!
lives!while!shaping!the!future!of!healthcare.!I!also!recognize!how!challenging!it!is!to!build!and!run!
an!institution!like!TrueNorth.!As!TrueNorth!grows!and!evolves,!among!other!desirable!changes,!I!
believe!increasing!the!availability!of!organic!food!is!crucial!from!the!standpoint!of!health,!
environment,!and!ethics,!as!well!as!from!a!business!standpoint.!
!
Thank!you!again,!and!please!know!how!grateful!I!am!to!you,!Chef!Ramses,!and!the!rest!of!your!staff.!
!
Sincerely,!
!
Paul!Rich!
!
Attachments:!Summary!and!Recommendations,!Dirty!Dozen!List,!Data!Compilation!
cc:!Chef!Ramses!Bravo!
!
PMR!/arc!/cmb!
Organic Food at TrueNorth Health Center - February 11, 2012

input from Paul Rich, data analyzed by Alison Carrington
Goal:
Evaluate availability of organic food at
TrueNorth Health Center and offer
recommendations for improvements.
What is organic? Food production with no
chemical fertilizers, no pesticides, no
synthetic hormones, no dangerous additives,
no genetically modified organisms, just
healthful real food.
Importance of eating organic: Supporting
organic means supporting a better world.
Buying organic is "voting with our
pocketbooks", paying for responsible
practices of agriculture, better food, cleaner
environment, and a sustainable future.
Why eat organic?
Health: better nutrition, lower toxins.
Environment: health of land, wildlife,
sustainability, stewardship.
Ethics: animals, farm workers, land.
Methods:
Observe organic food availability.
Observe beliefs and needs of guests.
Review produce invoices: items and cost,
overall vs "dirty dozen".
What people believe:
TrueNorth is a leader for food.
Food at TrueNorth is organic.
It is worth paying more for organic.
Findings (12/13/11 - 2/10/12):
Expenditure: $7,756.85 for organic items
of $16,642.25 spent (47% of cost)
Proportion: 38% organic items served
Dirty dozen: <<50% organic items served
(Apples 60%, Celery 22%, Strawberries
17%, Peaches n/a, Spinach 27%,
Nectarines n/a, Grapes 0%, Bell Peppers
15%, Potatoes 29%, Blueberries 50%,
Lettuce 57%, Kale/Collards 84%)
Cost difference: ~20-40+% more for
organic, 0-100% seasonally; currently
~42% (biased for premium organic)
/arc /cmb!
Availability: organic available year-round

in Santa Rosa; seasonal price variation;
organic staples (onions, garlic, carrots,
sweet potatoes, winter squash...)
affordable year-round.
Feasibility: highly feasible; requires 2030% increase in cost for organic and with
seasonal menu.
Recommendations:
Goal: all organic.
Priority: organic for "dirty dozen",
staples, in season, on sale, and readily
available produce.
Pursue business model and establish
separate funding to subsidize organic
cost; many of us will contribute.
Assign intern to help with buying and
efficiency (decrease cost while increasing
organic).
Label which food is organic and provide
ingredient list (e.g., gold start stickers on
laminated sheets - easy and inexpensive).
Take leadership role that helps drive the
market and sets an example of integrity.
Conclusion:
TrueNorth does excellent job with food
preparation and education.
TrueNorth lectures teach danger of
contamination, including herbicides and
insecticides in conventional food.
Current availability of organic produce at
TrueNorth lower than most believe.
Easy transition to more organic and
eventually all organic.
Economically feasible and important for
clients.
Organic is best commercial metric for
quality and safety. Can do even better
with local known sources ("beyond
organic").
TrueNorth Leadership Role: educate,
"vote with pocketbook", serve as role
model of integrity, drive market.
Organic(Produce(.("Dirty(Dozen",(January(2012(
Compiled(by(Environmental(Working(Group(
(
Organic(Produce(Priorities:((Whether%you%are%on%a%budget%and%need%to%prioritize%your%
organic%purchases,%or%you%would%simply%like%to%know%which%type%of%conventional%produce%
has%the%highest%pesticide%residuesthe%following%guide%from%the%Environmental%Working%
Group%(EWG)%will%help.(
%
Dirty(Dozen((12(most(contaminated)(
20%Green%beans%B%domestic%
B%Apples%%
21%Carrots%
B%Celery%
22%Plums%B%imported%
B%Strawberries%
23%Blueberries%B%imported%
B%Peaches%
24%Raspberries%
B%Spinach%
25%Green%beans%B%imported%
B%Nectarines%B%imported%
26%Summer%squash%
B%Grapes%B%imported%
27%Oranges%
B%Sweet%bell%peppers%
28%Broccoli%
B%Potatoes%
29%Green%onions%
B%Blueberries%B%domestic%
30%Bananas%
B%Lettuce%
31%Cantaloupe%B%imported%
B%Kale/collard%greens%
32%Honeydew%melon%
%
33%Cauliflower%
EWG(Full(List(((lower(numbers(=(more(
34%Tomatoes%
pesticide(residues)(
35%Papaya%
1%Apples%
36%Cranberries%
2%Celery%
37%Plums%B%domestic%
3%Strawberries%
38%Winter%squash%
4%Peaches%
39%Mushrooms%
5%Spinach%
40%Grapefruit%
6%Nectarines%B%imported%
41%Sweet%potatoes%
7%Grapes%B%imported%
42%Watermelon%
8%Sweet%bell%peppers%
43%Cabbage%
9%Potatoes%
44%Kiwi%
10%Blueberries%B%domestic%
45%Cantaloupe%B%domestic%
11%Lettuce%
46%Eggplant%
12%Kale/collard%greens%
47%Mangoes%
13%Cilantro%
48%Sweet%peas%B%frozen%
14%Cucumbers%
49%Asparagus%
15%Grapes%B%domestic%
50%Avocado%
16%Cherries%
51%Pineapples%
17%Pears%
52%Sweet%Corn%
18%Nectarines%B%domestic%
53%Onions%
19%Hot%peppers%
%
%
%
Source%:%http://www.ewg.org/foodnews%
/arc%/cmb%
Organic vs Conventional
TrueNorth Organic vs Conventional Food
Invoice
Organic
Con
Date
Invoice#
Company
Items # Items #
12/13/11 2582798 General Produce
1
33
12/14/11 474355
Earl's Organic
10
0
12/16/11 474556
Earl's Organic
15
0
1
18
2
26
12/19/11 474774
Earl's Organic
13
0
0
17
0
11
12/23/11 475218
Earl's Organic
17
0
0
10
6
21
12/27/11
?
General Produce
1
9
12/30/11 475655
Earl's Organic
12
0
0
17
1/3/12
2595278 General Produce
2
45
1/4/12
476010
Earl's Organic
10
0
1/6/12
476289
Earl's Organic
13
0
1/6/12
0
12
1/7/12
0
16
1/9/12
476483
Earl's Organic
16
0
0
10
1/11/12
476765
Earl's Organic
17
0
0
11
0
21
1/16/12
477220
Earl's Organic
16
0
1/18/12
477459
Earl's Organic
14
0
1
35
1
13
1/23/12
477894
Earl's Organic
17
0
1/25/12
478101
Earl's Organic
10
0
0
12
1/30/12
478560
Earl's Organic
19
0
2
17
2/1/12
478801
Earl's Organic
13
0
2/3/12
479037
Earl's Organic
10
0
2/3/12
1
13
2/4/12
0
37
2/7/12
2
20
2/10/12
479720
Earl's Organic
18
0
Total
Total Cost
260
$
424
Organic
Cost
$
29.80
$
342.00
$
484.00
$
29.65
$
59.50
$
387.00
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
174.35
29.65
369.00
39.70
329.50
431.50
464.50
418.75
$
$
$
$
295.70
432.20
$
$
417.95
220.75
$
$
$
244.15
460.75
176.85
$
$
347.75
949.65
$
$
335.80
270.65
239.10
$
$
214.55
446.50
$
$
761.20
238.65
279.45
435.00
$
$
$
230.75
694.50
493.55
723.50
$
$
Con Cost
$
699.95
505.00
404.00
513.50
247.00
$
$
$
$
$
550.25
21.80
431.50
266.00
30.00
$
$
40.90
434.50
$ 7,756.85
$ 8,885.40
%
Items
%
Cost
3%
100%
100%
5%
7%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
22%
10%
100%
0%
4%
100%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
100%
3%
7%
100%
100%
0%
100%
11%
100%
100%
7%
0%
9%
100%
4%
100%
100%
9%
12%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
27%
14%
100%
0%
4%
100%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
100%
0%
0%
100%
100%
0%
100%
5%
100%
100%
12%
0%
8%
100%
38%
47%
16,642.25
Cost per Unit
Page 1 of 14
Organic
$
29.83
Con
% Difference
20.96
42%
Dirty Dozen
TrueNorth Organic vs Conventional Food - Dirty Dozen
Dirty dozen
% Items
% Cost % Higher
Organic
Organic Cost / Item
Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines
Grapes
Bell Peppers
Potatoes
Blueberries
Lettuce
Kale/Collards
60%
72%
68%
22%
36%
95%
17%
21%
30%
27%
23%
-20%
0%
15%
0%
14%
29%
61%
289%
50%
57%
67%
60%
103%
14%
84%
88%
41%
Notes
mixed types, not
proper comparison
comparison out of
season
mixed types, not

proper comparison
Romaine lettuce
local source for
organic mostly used
Current Cost Comparison - February 2012
Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines
Grapes
Bell Peppers
Potatoes
Blueberries
Lettuce
Kale/Collards
Organic
Con Cost % Higher Cost
Cost
$ 46.00 $ 35.95
28%
Gala
$ 40.50 $ 18.55
118%
$ 35.00 $ 27.65
27%
8 ct. vs. 12 ct.
$
13.50
$ 16.85
-20%
$
$
$
$
$
21.50
58.00
49.00
20.00
24.00
$
$
$
$
$
-24%
98%
141%
-8%
-20%
28.35
29.30
20.35
21.80
30.00
Yukon Gold
12 x 4 vs 6
Romaine
Page 2 of 14
Apples
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Apples
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
1
12/16/11
1
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
1
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
1
12/27/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1
1/4/12
1/6/12
1
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
2/1/12
1
2/7/12
1
Total
Average
Organic
Cost
$
$
% Cost
Organic
57.50
57.50
29.75
31.50
29.55
32.35
58.00
57.50
Con Cost
% Items
Organic
57.50
$
35.95
$ 320.35
$ 126.75
60%
$ 53.39
$ 31.69
68%
72%
higher per
item
Note: large cost differences between Fuji, Pink Lady, Red Delicious, and other varieties
Page 3 of 14
Celery
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Celery
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
1
12/14/11
1
12/16/11
1
12/17/11
1
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
1
1/3/12
1
1/4/12
1/6/12
1/7/12
1
1/9/12
1/10/12
1
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1
1/16/12
1/18/12
1
1/20/12
1/21/12
1
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1
1/30/12
1
1/31/12
1
2/3/12
1
2/4/12
1
2/7/12
1
2/10/12
1
Total
Average
14
Organic
Cost
$
Con Cost
$ 21.65
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
34.50
$
$
22.15
22.15
$
$
21.05
21.05
20.25
20.10
20.95
24.50
27.75
$
$
$
$
27.90
18.55
18.55
18.90
45.50
49.50
40.50
$ 170.00
$ 305.50
22%
$ 42.50
$ 21.82
95%
Celery: note increased cost differential in off season
Page 4 of 14
36%
higher per
item
Strawberries
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Strawberries
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Organic
Date
Items
Items
Cost
12/13/11
1
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
1
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
1
12/30/11
1/3/12
1
1/4/12
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1
1/14/12
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/30/12
1
$ 35.00
2/1/12
1
$ 35.00
2/7/12
1
Total
Average
Con Cost
$ 32.00
32.00
32.00
24.40
23.45
23.00
% Items
Organic
27.65
$ 35.00
$ 134.85
17%
$ 35.00
$ 26.97
30%
Page 5 of 14
% Cost
Organic
21%
higher per
item
Peaches
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Peaches
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1/6/12
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/30/12
1/31/12
2/1/12
2/3/12
2/3/12
2/4/12
2/7/12
2/10/12
Totals
Organic
Cost
Con Cost
None
Page 6 of 14
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
Spinach
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Spinach
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
1
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
1
12/22/11
1
12/23/11
12/24/11
1
12/27/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1/6/12
1
1/7/12
1
1/9/12
1/10/12
1
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/30/12
1
1/31/12
1
2/4/12
1
2/7/12
1
2/10/12
1
Total
Average
11
Organic
Cost
Con Cost
$ 16.85
$
$
17.05
16.95
16.95
$
$
16.85
16.85
16.85
16.85
$
$
$
16.85
16.85
16.85
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
13.50
13.50
13.50
$ 13.50
$ 54.00
$ 185.75
27%
$ 13.50
$ 16.89
-20%
Page 7 of 14
23%
less per
item
Nectarines
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Nectarines
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1/6/12
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/30/12
1/31/12
2/1/12
2/3/12
2/3/12
2/4/12
2/7/12
2/10/12
Totals
Organic
Cost
None
Page 8 of 14
Con Cost
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
Grapes
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Grapes
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
1
12/17/11
1
12/20/11
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
1
12/27/11
12/30/11
1
12/30/11
1
1/4/12
1/6/12
1
1/6/12
1
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/20/12
1
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/31/12
1
1/31/12
1
Total
Average
12
Organic
Cost
Con Cost
$
$
47.40
30.60
47.40
$
$
38.95
43.45
$
$
38.95
36.85
38.15
$
$
34.55
27.30
$
$
32.45
31.65
447.70
37.31
Page 9 of 14
% Items
Organic
0%
% Cost
Organic
0%
Bell Peppers
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Bell Peppers
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
1
12/13/11
1
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
1
12/22/11
1
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
1
1/3/12
1
1/3/12
1
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/27/12
1
1/27/12
1
1/27/12
1
1/27/12
1
1
2/10/12
Total
Average
11
Organic
Cost
Con Cost
$
30.25
$
34.55
$
$
34.55
34.55
$
$
$
30.25
35.00
34.55
35.00
$
$
23.95
28.35
28.35
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
37.00
21.50
58.50
349.35
29.25
31.76
Page 10 of 14
15%
14%
Potatoes
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Potatoes
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
12/16/11
1
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
12/23/11
1
12/24/11
3
12/27/11
1
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1
1/6/12
1/7/12
2
1/9/12
1
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
2
1/14/12
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
2
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
2
1/30/12
1
2/4/12
1
2/7/12
1
1
2/10/12
Total
Average
15
Organic
Cost
40.50
40.50
22.00
42.00
Con Cost
$
$
21.30
24.50
14.20
14.20
$
$
28.95
14.20
14.20
$
$
29.30
7.10
% Items
Organic
% Cost
Organic
58.00
58.00
261.00
167.95
29%
43.50
11.20
289%
note: large cost differences between purple, russet, yukon gold, and other varieties
Page 11 of 14
61%
more per
item
Blueberries
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Blueberries
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
1
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
1
12/19/11
12/20/11
1
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
1
12/27/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1/27/12
1/30/12
1
2/1/12
1
2/3/12
1
1
2/7/12
2/10/12
1
Total
Average
Organic
Cost
61.00
50.00
Con Cost
$
27.05
26.95
26.95
23.95
19.15
20.35
% Items
Organic
$
$
$
35.50
49.00
49.00
49.00
293.50
144.40
50%
48.92
24.07
103%
Page 12 of 14
% Cost
Organic
67%
more per
item
Lettuce
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Lettuce, Romaine
Invoice
# Organic
# Con
Date
Items
Items
12/13/11
1
12/14/11
12/16/11
1
12/17/11
12/19/11
2
12/20/11
1
12/22/11
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1/4/12
1/6/12
1
1/7/12
1/9/12
1
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1
1/16/12
1/18/12
1/20/12
1
1/21/12
1/23/12
1/25/12
1
1/27/12
1/30/12
1
1/31/12
1
2/4/12
1
1
2/10/12
Total
Average
Organic
Cost
23.00
54.00
27.00
27.00
27.00
21.50
Con Cost
$
22.50
21.80
21.80
21.80
$
$
21.80
21.80
% Items
Organic
20.00
199.50
131.50
57%
24.94
21.92
14%
Page 13 of 14
% Cost
Organic
60%
more per
item
Kale-Collards
TrueNorth Dirty Dozen - Kale
Invoice
# Organic
Date
Items
12/13/11
12/14/11
12/16/11
12/17/11
12/19/11
12/20/11
12/22/11
1
12/23/11
12/24/11
12/27/11
12/30/11
1/3/12
1
1/4/12
1/6/12
1/7/12
1/9/12
1/10/12
1/11/12
1/13/12
1/14/12
1/16/12
1
1/18/12
1/20/12
1/21/12
1
1/23/12
1
1/25/12
1/27/12
1
1/30/12
2/3/12
1
2/4/12
2/7/12
1
2/10/12
Total
Average
# Con
Items
Organic
Cost
15.00
20.00
0.25
$
25.50
$
$
26.50
26.50
$
$
26.00
25.50
0.25
1
1.5
24.00
189.00
23.63
Con Cost
7.50
$
$
7.50
10.20
25.20
% Items
Organic
84%
% Cost
Organic
88%
more per
item
note broken lot and one good deal
$
Page 14 of 14
16.80
41%

Truenorth Organic 11feb12

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Truenorth Organic 11feb12

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Paul M.

Organic Food at TrueNorth Health Center - February 11, 2012

Availability: organic available year-round

mixed types, not

Current Cost Comparison - February 2012

Celery: note increased cost differential in off season

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