About

Lauren Engel is a Marketing Specialist with Door to Door Organics. How did you first get involved in the green industry? I grew up working in my dad’s greenhouses, watching seedlings grow and being fascinated by their transformation into plants heavy with fruits and vegetables. A respect for nature was instilled in me early on, as was a love of food. I’ve worked alongside a dietitian, spent time in the world of sustainable architecture, then volunteered for nearly a year on organic farms in Europe. Door to Door Organics embodies the best of the philosophies I encountered in each experience. What interests you most about being green? We only have one planet earth, and we need to be responsible stewards of our home. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but also has a major impact on our health and environment. Making food choices that are good for us and good for the environment, such as buying organic and reducing meat consumption, can go a long way in creating a more sustainable world. What is your biggest “green” pet peeve? Eating local has its benefits — including freshness, flavor, strengthening local communities and reducing food waste — but it’s not about mileage, as most people hear about, and it’s not always the most sustainable way of eating. Certain areas are geographically better suited to producing certain foods than others, so much so that the carbon footprint can often be lower than producing them nearby, despite the extra miles traveled. There are plenty of reasons to encourage sustainable local food systems, but it’s more about supporting the local economy, ecology and biodiversity than producing foods with the smallest footprint. Eating organic is one of the factors that can make the biggest impact carbon output, which is why 100% of the produce at Door to Door Organics is grown without the use of harmful chemicals. Organics keep pesticides out of our drinking water, GMOs out of our food, and pollution out of the air through crop rotation and other eco-farming methods. They also protect the bees and bugs that are the tireless soldiers of pollination, keep essential nutrients in the soil and maintain biodiversity in the ecosystem. What green trend is most exciting to you or your industry? Technology has allowed for a disruption of industries across the board, and grocery is no different. Fifteen years ago, there were a lot of people who couldn’t have ever imagined buying their groceries online, and there were a lot of people who said it would never work. But every day more and more people are seeing value in saving their time and money and letting us do the work of getting their groceries to them. The system is constantly evolving for the better.