What is sustainability and why is it so popular?

You’ve probably noticed that sustainable foods are gaining in popularity.

Ever wonder exactly what this label means, and how to know if that’s what you’re really getting – especially at a restaurant or catering establishment?

At Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering, we’re all about making sure what we serve and why are clear to our customers. So here’s what to know.

First of all, what makes a food sustainable?

Sustainably sourced refers to food produced in ways that protect the environment, support animal welfare and maintain fair working conditions. This includes:

• Farming or fishing methods that avoid overuse of land, water or wildlife.
• Minimal use of harmful pesticides, fertilizers or chemicals
• Farming practices that protect soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystems
• Livestock raised under humane conditions
• Production methods designed to protect the environment now and in future, such as regenerative or organic farming practices and responsible grazing systems.

Secondly, anyone can claim their food is sustainable, so how do you know that’s what you’re actually getting?

Jacquie Bols and her team know to look for independent third-party verifications such as

• Certified Humane
• Animal Welfare Approved
• Fair Trade Certified

But the best way for us, as a Woman-Owned, Local Indiana business, is to the check on the farms and independent producers themselves.

Over the past 25 years, we have developed close relationships with local pork, beef, chicken and turkey farms, and we trust them because we have visited the farms many, many times.

We have gone into the fields of Indiana corn, soybean, green bean and pea producers around the state. We have watched them till the pesticide-free soil, sow the seeds, and pick the produce.

We’ve also visited our favorite bakeries to see what types of eggs, flour and milk they use in the cakes, breads, pastries, biscuits, and pastas we buy.

In short, sustainability is not a new term for us. We made it a platform of our business and big part of our mission when we first opened our doors. (As a side note, since sustainable foods can be more expensive, sometimes, due to cost or a customer request, some foods we serve may not be sustainable.)

So – if sustainability is important to you (as it very much is for us), we are like-minded in keeping the planet and everything on it in focus as we source, cook, prepare, bake, and serve – beautiful, clean and delicious foods to you and your guests.