Alter Eco

Quinoa chocolate bars, purple jasmine rice and more from a powerhouse fair trade brand

Though today the fair trade food brand Alter Eco works with 25 cooperatives across 19 countries, they began in 1999 as a small shop in Paris carrying mostly furniture. With time, money and retail partners, the company has grown into a “team of fair trade visionaries and food-loving explorers on a mission to connect you to our farmers and their honest foods.” One of the …

Skweet Sport Bottle Wash

A biodegradable rinse for effortlessly cleaning reusable bottles

As global awareness of the benefits of choosing reusable water bottles, a little education on the best way to clean them is in order. Dishwasher heat releases harmful chemicals in some plastics (not to mention melts some of them), and washing by hand can often leave soap behind or grow mold if the bottle doesn’t dry out properly. Developed by cyclist Jennifer Letscher, Skweet powder …

Vermont Gold

Subtly sweet vodka, triple distilled from pure Vermont maple sap

Typically made from earthy vegetables or grains like potato or wheat, Vermont Gold vodka, made from 100% maple sap, defies most preconceptions about the popular spirit. With an aroma that hints of tartness and butterscotch, it has a smooth taste with just a bit of spice and each sip’s complex flavor profile is surprising for an unflavored vodka. Starting with pure Vermont maple sap (harvested …