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Sustainable Dictionary Demystifies USDA, rBGH, GMO, and Other Random Letters

sustaintable Finally! Thanks to Sustainable Table, my wife and I can converse again. According to their website: Sustainable Table was created in 2003 by the nonprofit organization GRACE to help consumers understand the problems with our food supply and offer viable solutions and alternatives. Rather than be overwhelmed by the problems created by our industrial agricultural system, Sustainable Table celebrates the joy of food and eating. Sustainable Table is a great website with all sorts of terrific guides and ideas for people like me who are continually learning about good, local, sustainable food and how to integrate it into our lives. They've outdone themselves this time though, creating a Sustainable Dictionary intended to define many of the terms used by the sustainable food movement. The definitions are easy to understand, and cover many of the basics, from agribusiness to wastewater. Here are a few examples: Downers Animals that collapse during transportation or at the slaughterhouse, too stressed or sick to continue walking. Because normal animals fetch a higher pricesustaintable1 at the market, downers are frequently kicked or prodded in attempts to force them to move. Those that do not move may be left on the ground without food or water for days before they die. Downers are routinely processed for human consumption. Free walkers These hens are housed indoors, though they can move around and have unlimited access to food. Similar to "cage-free". Ruminant Ruminants are hooved animals with four-chambered stomachs which enable them to digest cellulose.  After eating, ruminants regurgitate a semi-digested material called cud, which they chew, then eat again.  Cows, goats, sheep, bison, deer, camels, llamas, and giraffes are all ruminants. These animals eat a pure vegetarian diet. I'm pretty sure that when a movement has its own dictionary, it's getting near the tipping point. Check out the site and let me know what you think.