Organic Expo Sydney Exposed!
I visited the Organic Expo featuring the Green Show in Sydney on the weekend. I really enjoyed it, not the least of which the little squealing piglet from kiddie’s Farmyard Friends, who did not like being patted. I was pleased to learn that while it was held for 3 days, the first day was for trade. This gives these smaller, responsible companies the opportunity to showcase their products and, if picked up by mainstream retailers, facilitate the growth of ethical consumerism.
My experience started with the opportunity to carbon offset my ticket - and whether you are an advocate, believer or not of carbon offsets, I thought it was great to have the option. Plus, for this you received a $5 gift voucher from Todae. The only pity was that they were not there on the day so the gift could not be claimed. Will I now need to buy more carbon offsets so I can make the purchase and actually use my gift voucher?
There was so much to learn, and EAT and DRINK! Kylie Kwong’s cooking demonstration was great, in particular her yummy pumpkin recipe and asian coleslaw. I must applaud the exhibitors for being so very generous with a ready and plenty supply of goodies to sample. And I did spot a few visitors who I think had simply come for a free meal - but hey if they are being educated at the same time then this is a win! All the food was really delicious and it just reinforces the benefits of buying organic.
There was a good crowd at the expo and the exhibitors I had the opportunity to speak to were pleased with the results by the time Saturday afternoon came around. And there was still Sunday to go. I was impressed to see many kiddies there as well - it is good to have them learn from a young age the benefits of ethical purchasing.
The Green Show enabled companies that are eco-friendly but not certified organic to showcase their goods. This meant that fairtrade companies such as The Dharma Door, could be involved. I met some great people - including the owners of Sassy Treats, Bokashi Composting, Doorstep Organics and Natural Origins - and was able to learn more about the benefits of organic purchasing, ethical investing, eco-gardening and very, very old seeds. I just wish I had more time to road test the many organic wines on show, and accompany this with some delicious organic cheeses. I will definitely be going again next year!
What's next?
Tags: australian certified organic, eco-friendly shopping, ethical purchasing, ethical shopping, fairtrade, green show, Kylie Kwong, organic expo, organic food, organic wine, organic wines
