States ban practices that support CAFOs

From the Union of Concerned Scientists...


Several states recently banned specific practices that are common in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations), taking small steps to level the playing field for more sustainable farms. California outlawed the amputation of dairy cows' tails, and Michigan passed a law phasing out restrictive crates for veal calves and pregnant sows, and tiny "battery" cages for egg-laying chickens, used to pack many animals together in a small space. Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, Colorado, and Oregon had previously acted to ban crates and battery cages, which, along with tail docking, are unnecessary practices that serve only to make large, polluting CAFOs viable. Meanwhile, examples abound of farmers successfully working with nature rather than against it to produce animal products without the problems associated with CAFOs. Listen to this recent National Public Radio story about one Ohio dairyman's efforts to transform the industry and produce fresher, more flavorful milk from cows on pasture.

Cargill in trouble again

Fresno-based Beef Packers, Inc (owned by Cargill) had a huge recall this summer due to tainted meat and amazingly, it is still selling to the governmental school lunch program! For the second time in a year, the company recalled thousands of pounds of ground beef that were contaminated by antibiotic-resistant Salmonella bacteria. It recalled 826,000 pounds of beef last summer after people in 11 states grew ill and now is recalling 23,000 pounds linked to a new outbreak. The Salmonella contaminating the beef was resistant to multiple antibiotics, including cephalosporins, which are very valuable in human medicine.Read more about the recall from USA Today.

Work for KOL Foods! Sales and Operations Manager

KOL Foods, LLC puts kosher meat and ethics on the same plate so consumers can feel good about the meat they eat. KOL Foods sources and sells grass-fed, non-industrial, healthy lamb and beef and pastured poultry directly to individuals. Since its foundation in 2007, the interest in KOL Foods’ products has grown rapidly, and, consequently, they are now available in the East Coast and the Midwest primarily through our website. As demand is increasing KOL Foods is seeking to expand in the Eastern United States and, in the near future, nationwide.

KOL Foods is unique as it operates differently from industrial kosher meat businesses. As a values-based business, our mission is to produce food that is in harmony with nature, neighbors and tradition – all the way from farm to fork. For further information on KOL Foods, please go to: www.kolfoods.com .

KOL Foods is seeking a dynamic, results-oriented Sales and Operations Manager who will be responsible for leading sales, customer service and fulfillment as well as supply chain management. This exciting opportunity requires a generalist with experience in hands-on business development in the food industry. The Sales and Operations Manager will report to the CEO/Founder.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver sales of our premium products by confidently, enthusiastically and passionately educating current and prospective clients about the exceptional value of our beef, lamb and poultry products.
• Manage the day-to-day operations including movement of goods into and out of production facilities as well as shipping operations.
• Drive sales through exceptional customer service from initial contact through repeat orders.
• Develop a database of qualified leads through referrals, B2B direct sales, direct mail, email, networking, and participation in educational events.
• In partnership with the CEO/Founder, play a key role in the development of KOL Foods’ long-term growth strategy, including strengthening our infrastructure and product excellence.
• Monitor production facilities and agencies to ensure that they efficiently and consistently provide needed services while staying within budgetary limits.
• Partner with the CEO/Founder and Bookkeeper to develop and implement a system to conduct data-based, continual analysis, evaluation and reporting of strategic information (revenue, product mix, margins, inventory, freight cost, cost of production facilities, and supply).
• Partner with the CEO/Founder to develop product marketing strategies including advertising campaigns.
• Lead the implementation of the marketing strategy and sales promotions based on knowledge of KOL Foods’ competitive advantage, market and product characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
• Partner with the CEO/Founder to manage pricing models, balancing exceptional quality, costs, and customer satisfaction.
• Supervise interns when needed.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3-5 years of sales and operations experience.
• Food industry experience preferred. Experience with kosher food products a plus.
• A strong track record of successful new business development.
• Outstanding interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Customer focused, responsive, timely and accurate in follow-through.
• Excellent in project management.
• Analytical, fast learning with excellent judgment.
• Knowledge of social media platforms.
• Well organized, flexible, hands-on and results-oriented.
• Knowledgeable of the sustainable food movement.
• High integrity.
• Outstanding ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Understanding of kashrut.
• Outstanding proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite with special emphasis on Word and Excel.
• Residing in the Washington/Baltimore area is preferred. NYC residents will be considered.
• Willingness to travel - estimated 10-20%.

There are many great benefits to a career at KOL Foods. As a start-up company with proven growth, a strong brand and high potential, KOL Foods offers a competitive salary and benefits, including an annual bonus. Join the team of our excellent, values based, growth company. Feel good about your work and become part of our success.

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting a cover letter, including salary requirements, and resume to: info@kolfoods.com. KOL Foods requires background checks, computer literacy tests, and writing samples for this position.

KOL Foods is an equal opportunity employer.

A cow's life doesn't matter, only its death?

Jennie Yabroff of Newsweek just wrote an article called "No More Sacred Cows" about  vegetarians who are now eating grass-fed meat without guilt.

Yabroff, however, seems to think that the manner in which a cow lives doesn’t matter. How could a cow living in a feedlot, standing or laying in sewage all day, and eating a feed that makes it sick be the same as a grass-fed cow living its life doing what cows have always done? A cow that is treated as a cog in a machine vs. a cow that is living a cow’s life. The manner in which an animal lives does not become irrelevant because it is finally slaughtered. I sell kosher, grass-fed beef, lamb and poultry because animal’s lives (as well as the environment and my health – also much better grass-fed) are huge, important factors in our ethics.  Let’s not belittle a cow’s life and focus only on its death. www.kolfoods.com.

Hazon Food Conference

I would be amiss if I did not put a plug out for the Hazon Food Conference coming up Dec. 24-27 in California. It is a great conference in a great location - right on the ocean. Like all of Hazon's events, the Food Conference builds a strong, joyous Jewish community in a weekend. It is also packed with educational opportunities (I am speaking, for one) across a range of topic areas. I like to go to the experiential cooking instructors, the political advocates and the farmers. I also go to network and meet people from the West Coast which has a much stronger sustainable food culture than we do. If you are interested, sign up quick!

NPR, Yahoo! and the Washington Post

Boy, the message about the issues with industrial farming are finally making and making and making prime-time. On Wed 12/9, not one, not two, but three major sources of information had segments on the issues.

NPR had a segment on industrial dairy farms in New Mexico, the resulting ground water contamination, and the public's reactions;Yahoo's Healthy Living section had a segment on food experts won't eat including among others, corn-fed beef, farmed salmon, canned tomatoes and microwave popcorn; and the Washington Post Health and Science section had an article on food safety which focused on how industrially produced food makes tainted food hard to avoid.

It is a hot hot issue!

Food and Climate Change

I (along with many scientists) believe that agriculture's affect on the environment is being seriously underplayed and overlooked in Copenhagen as well as by the US government. As you probably already know, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change began in Copenhagen this week. Some folks have already dubbed it a failure because preliminary climate change negotiations didn't work and they believe no accord will be adopted that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I think that it is vitally important to do my part to add to the conversation about agriculture's impact on the environment and climate change. The Cool Foods Campaign has a good list of agriculture's contributions to climate change. They say, "It is imperative that the world shift away from industrial food systems and toward an ecological, organic food paradigm if we are to adequately address climate change." Their list doesn't address industrial animal agriculture specifically, but does recommend a shift away from industrial to sustainable (organic) farming practices.