Okay, so I'll admit it. Whenever I hear about "local" coffee I always raise my eyebrows. "But coffee doesn't grow in New England. Just because you roast it here, doesn't make it local... or does it?" The answer depends a lot on who you ask. And their definitions of local. Oh, why has no one yet formally defined local?!So today I have my own example of an eyebrow-raising product that sounds nothing like a local product, and yet is processed entirely right here in New England. And the best parts? It's a product I LOVE and the company is an excellent example of social and environmental responsibility. It's the kind of company you want in your neighborhood.
One of my favorite things when I was a kid was a small candy-like gum. It had a rubbery feel a lot of other gums didn't seem to have. Do a little research and you will find that this is because most gum is now manufactured with synthetic resin (sounds healthy, doesn't it?) But back in the early days of gum, chicle was the main product used for extra bouncy chewing. Because chicle's harvesting is sustainable (harvesting does not kill the tree, as chicle is replenished seasonally, like maple syrup), and benefits rainforest conservation, the product is a good one that is making a comeback once again.
Glee Gum, an awesome, local gum based in Providence, Rhode Island, features nothing but chicle as its main ingredient. Making the world's first fairtrade chewing gum, Glee's producers, a company called Verve, ensure an alternative system of global trade in which farmers and workers are paid stable and fair prices for their produce. Once the chicle makes its way to this woman-owned business found in a retro-fitted, solar-powered Rhode Island building, it is processed into the tastiest, chewiest of gum products. From its packaging to its relationship with non-profits, Verve creates products with the intention of helping students and consumers think about where goods come from, how natural resources and raw materials can be used responsibly, and how communities must cultivate in innovative ways that consider local environments and laborers.If I haven't convinced you that this is a worthy local gum to support, pick up a pack. The taste will win you over for sure.
Check out their website for a fun way to learn about the process Verve likes to call:
