A Gift for Every Kind of Sustainable Foodie

We all have sustainable foodies to shop for during the holidays, whether they're parents, friends, chefs, kids, or even pets. While a one-size-fits-all present would make the shopping experience a whole lot easier, unfortunately, that's just not realistic. Change.org's two-part Gift Guide for Sustainable Foodies has options that are sure to please even the choosiest folks on your list. Whether your loved ones have two legs or four, are one or 100, are expert chefs or can't cook an egg — we've got you covered. For Part Two of the Sustainable Foodie Gift Guide, click here.

1) For Parents

If anyone needs a caffeine boost during the day, it's parents. Wrap up some ecologically and ethically produced coffee for the Moms and Dads in your life. Fair Trade-certified java means beans were harvested in an environmentally friendly way without using child labor. A few Fair Trade-certified options include Green Mountain Coffee’s Fair Trade Organic Coffee Sampler, Tony’s Holiday Blend Gift Pack, Caffe Ibis’ Organic Cafe Femenino, Peace Coffee’s Blendo Suave, or Weaver’s Coffee and Tea’s Eco Tote and Coffee Gift Set. Shoppers can also purchase Fair Trade-certified teas like Rishi Tea’s Cinnamon Plum Set, Numi Tea’s Single Origins Tea Set, Art of Tea’s Fair Trade Sampler, or Choice Organic Teas’ Gourmet Sampler.

2) For Babies

You're never too young to become a sustainable foodie. Make sure the youngest tots in your life get all-natural, pesticide-free treats with organic baby foods from companies like Plum Organics, Earth's Best, Sprout, or Happy Baby. For another great gift sans toxins, try bisphenol-A (BPA)-free bottles and sippy cups from Green to Grow or Born Free.

3) For Four-Legged Friends

Treat Fido and Fluffy right this holiday season with organic, all-natural treats. Some sustainable companies that specialize in the four-legged set include Barkwheats, Newman's Own Organics, Wagatha's, NaturaPet, and Heidi's Bakery.

4) For the Libation Lover

If you've got friends who are more into sustainable drinking than sustainable eating, fear not: We've got you covered. Try selecting a microbrew from a local brewery, a Fair Trade-certified  or organic wine, or a biodynamic wine. You can also purchase organic spirits like Rain Vodka, Square One Vodka, Crop Vodka, Vodka 14, or selections from the Greenbar Collective.

5) For the Health-Conscious

For folks into eating fresh fruits and veggies (and let's face it, that basically means every sustainable foodie), a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) members is the ultimate goldmine. A CSA entitles folks to a regular delivery or pick-up of fresh, seasonal produce from a farm near them. It's healthy choice for consumers and for the planet. To find a CSA near you or your loved ones, use LocalHarvest's online CSA locator.

6) For the Meat-Lover

CSAs used to just cater to the fruit- and veggie-loving set, but an increasing number of farms now offer memberships that provide ethically and environmentally produced meats. Try calling local farms in your area to see if they offer meat CSAs, or search through this online guide from Ethicurean. If you can't find a meat CSA in your area, getting a heritage turkey, organic chicken, or a few choice cuts of grass-fed beef from a local farmer also make for nice gifts.

For more gifts selections for sustainable foodies, check out Part Two of our Gift Guide series.

Photo credit: knitgirl63 via Flickr