Bad pan, bad bad pan. It's time to put mr. teflon pan in the corner. And no dinner or dessert either.

All the rumors are turning out true, and a panel of experts has (again) notified the EPA that Teflon and other nonstick cookware; clothing and carpeting that have stain-repellent coatings; fast food packaging that repels grease and oil; cleaning products; cosmetics and many other consumer products are made with chemicals that break down into PFOA in our bodies.

What's PFOA? Oh, that's just a toxic, indestructible chemical that ends up in our blood. It's also a "likely human carcinogen". Sweet!

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Time to get some stainless steel and iron pans again. Better yet, check out the hip enameled cast iron pots n pans by Le Creuset.

Actually, sometimes, that's not an oxymoron! Who knew? Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently "ordered" the state to purchase Michigan goods first. Her order has resulted in 85% of state purchasing going to Michigan businesses. Turns out Michigan's biggest food buyers are 44 state prisons, so guess who gets to eat well now?

And let's not forget Colorado, whose Legislature implemented a similar program forcing folks to choose local farms over the cheapest farms. Even counties can step up and put down their own little iron fist. Woodbury County in Iowa recently passed a resolution to buy local, with a preference for organic.

When is it our turn to show how great WE are?? Now's the time. The city of SF has recently gotten the ball rolling for its own Green Purchasing Program. Where to focus efforts and resources is being discussed, but food purchasing is still in the running. Click the link to read more and get involved!

Check it out. Organic Valley, the very good karma, largest national co-op of small, local growers, has just launched a new campaign, Generation Organic.

What does it do? "Offerings include a nationwide program of 'barn meetings' and organic educational workshops, a farmers speakers bureau, web resources, educational literature, a farmers hotline, financial and technical support for farmers transitioning to organic, partnerships with university-based farmer training programs, organic school curriculum, a farmer ambassador program to heighten public awareness of organic farmers and an organic farmer mentoring and internship program." Holy shee...ep's milk, that sounds great!

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Two grocery companies, one in our dear East Bay hood, have launched a historic campaign to cooperate with food suppliers to certify products as Non-GMO for their (i.e., our) store shelves. Wow.

Berkeley's Natural Grocery Company and Toronto's Big Carrot Natural Food Market spearheaded this ambitious yet feasible NON-GMO Project.

Tell your local grocery store!

Check our organically-inclined Events page for more happenins as they are announced.

Food Politics Spring 2006 Free Lecture Series
Wednesdays, 2/8/06-4/5/06, 4:00pm
Introduced by: Marion Nestle. Great speakers each week: click the link for info. Room 250, Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley; Free - Public Welcome

Marin Film Screening: Food for Thought
Thu, 2/16/06, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Click the link for more info; Mill Valley

Meet the Producer - Bernard Ranches
Sat, 2/18/06, 10:00am-10:30am
South Arcade of the Ferry Building in the teaching kitchen in SF; Free

Mini-Farmers at Tilden Park
Sat, 2/18/06, 10:00am-11:30pm
Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park in Berkeley; $6 ($8 if not a resident of Alameda or Contra Costa County).

Seasonal Cooking Demonstration ~ Lulu Yang of Lulu's Kitchen
Sat, 2/18/06, 10:30am-11:30am
South Arcade of the Ferry Building in the teaching kitchen in SF; Free

Cooking on the Farm with Jessica Prentice at Full Belly Farm
Sat, 2/18/06, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Full Belly Farm in Capay Valley; Class fee is $25.

Santa Cruz Film Screening: Food for Thought
Sat, 2/18/06, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Email for location in Santa Cruz

Alive! Presents: Forget Cooking! : An Introduction to RAW Foods Cuisine
Sun, 2/19/06, 3:00pm-7:00pm
Alive! Restaurant, 1972 Lombard St in the Marina in SF; $65/person

Mendocino Film Screening: Food for Thought
Sun, 2/19/06, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Frey Vineyards in Mendocino

Black Truffle Week at Chez Panisse
Mon-Sat, 2/20/06-2/25/06
Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck in Berkeley

Whole Hog Dinners at Oliveto
Tue-Fri, 2/21/06-2/24/06
Oliveto Restaurant, 5655 College Ave in Oakland

Meet the Producer - John Lagier of Lagier Ranches
Sat, 2/25/06, 10:00am-10:30am
South Arcade of the Ferry Building in the teaching kitchen in SF; Free

Vegetarian Cooking Class: "Demystifying Tofu and Tempeh"
Sat, 2/25/06, 10:00am-1:00pm
First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro in Oakland; $45 (includes demonstration, food samples, copies of recipes, and more).

Family Farm Day at Slide Ranch
Sat, 2/25/06, 10:00am-2:00pm
Slide Ranch, 2025 Shoreline Hwy in Muir Beach; $15/person; $60 families of 4 or more; Age 2 & under free.

Seasonal Cooking Demonstration ~ Bibby Gignilliat of Parties that Cook
Sat, 2/25/06, 10:30am-11:30am
South Arcade of the Ferry Building in the teaching kitchen in SF; Free

Benefit: "Have a Heart for Farm Animals"
Sun, 2/26/06, 5:30pm
New World Vegetarian, 464 8th Street in Oakland

Bruno De Conciliis Winemaker Dinner at Incanto Restaurant
Mon, 2/27/06, 7:00pm
Incanto Restaurant, 1550 Church St., Noe Valley in SF; $125 per person, includes dinner, wine, tax & gratuity

Sobon Estates: Organic Winemaker Dinner at Millennium Restaurant
Tue, 2/28/06, 6:00pm-9:30pm
Millennium Restaurant, 580 Geary St./Jones in SF; $75/person - 5-course prix fixe with wine pairing

Organic Beekeeping Talk with Les Crowder
Thu, 3/2/06, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way in Berkeley; Free

Class: "Edible Landscaping"
Sat, 3/4/06, 10:30am-2:30pm
Common Ground, 559 College Ave in Palo Alto; $35.

The Simmering Cauldron: Old-fashioned Meat-based Soups, Stocks, and Stews
Sat-Sun, 3/4/06-3/5/06, 11:30am-4:30pm
East Bay; $150 per person for both days

Even a little snack! If you use these newsletters, use our website, or simply enjoy having delicious, organic food in the Bay Area, please support our programs that serve local, organic farms and the community. Om Organics is a project of the San Francisco Foundation - Community Initiative Funds, and can only continue with the help of contributions from conscientious people like you!

Any amount is appreciated!
You can make a donation:

• via Paypal.com: to donate@omorganics.org
• by credit card: via the SFF CIF donation page
• by check: "Om Organics: Project of SFF CIF", 225 Bush St. #500, SF, CA 94104

THANK YOU!