FICTION FUELS FRIVOLOUS FOOD FIGHT
Denver, CO - JULY 9, 2008 - Given that (1) Denver is one of the healthiest cities in the nation, (2) Colorado has a robust agricultural sector, and (3) we aim to host the greenest national political convention to date, local restaurants and caterers were invited to participate in a completely voluntary demonstration project in which they could provide a single "Lean 'N Green" menu option for customers. This very small and voluntary component of a much larger program has generated erroneous media reports and fiction-based commentary that merit a strong public clarification.
"No food service establishment or business is being told what to serve. No convention guest is being told what to eat. No food item of any kind is being banned from being served at any event," said Parry Burnap, Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee Greening Director. "We are merely creating a voluntary option to demonstrate the connections between good nutrition and a healthy environment, to highlight the healthy and environmentally responsible character of our city, and provide voluntary choices that respond to consumer preferences for healthy, local or organic food while promoting Colorado growers."
Please note the following corrections to misinformation that has circulated in recent media reports and public communications:
LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS ARE NOT FORBIDDEN FROM SERVING FRIED FOODS.
· If a restaurant or caterer chooses to voluntarily serve a designated "Lean 'N Green" meal option, that particular meal option would obviously not be fried. However, fried foods are in no way banned from local restaurants or caterers participating in Convention-related events.
LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO INCLUDE AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT COLORS IN EVERY MEAL.
· If a restaurant or caterer chooses to voluntarily serve a designated "Lean 'N Green" meal option, that particular option would include fruits and vegetables from different color groups - a key component of healthy eating. However, there are no "color requirements" for every meal served by local restaurants and caterers.
LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND CATERERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SERVE ORGANIC OR LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD FOR EVERY MEAL.
· If a restaurant or caterer chooses to voluntarily serve a designated "Lean 'N Green" meal option, that particular option would include organic or locally-grown ingredients. However, these goals do not extend to every meal served by local restaurants and caterers.
THE HOST COMMITTEE CATERING VENDOR REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL DOES NOT INCLUDE 28 PAGES OF GREEN REQUIREMENTS.
· While the RFP itself was 28 pages long, less than a paragraph describes the components of a voluntarily-designated "Lean 'N Green" meal.
The Lean 'N Green program is one component in Denver's total efforts to help local businesses prepare for the Democratic National Convention. From the restaurant industry to hotels and event planners, local Denver business sectors have expressed tremendous enthusiasm for helping support Denver's goals of hosting the greenest national political convention possible. Local businesses have sought tools and information for how they can voluntarily green their operations for the Convention and beyond - benefiting their bottom line through energy savings and creating long-term economic opportunities to compete in the rapidly expanding niche market of green events.
The Convention greening efforts focus on the following goals:
· WATER CONSERVATION: Given that water is a precious resource in the West, reduce water use at Convention venues. The Colorado Convention Center, for example, already switched to low-flow plumbing and xeriscaping with native grasses/plants outside the Convention Center and along Auraria Parkway will reduce water consumption as well.
· TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES: Encourage walking, cycling, pedicabs, public transit and use of alternative fuels.
· REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT: Implement plan to reduce and mitigate the Convention's carbon footprint. Provide web-based carbon calculators and offset mechanisms for Convention guests and event planners who want to voluntarily mitigate their contributions to the footprint.
· ENERGY-EFFICIENT VENUES: Implementing environmental improvements at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver Performing Arts Complex and Red Rocks Amphitheater.
· WASTE REDUCTION: Through recycling, composting and other waste minimization efforts, strive to exceed the 35% national waste diversion rate throughout the Convention and its more than 1,000 subsidiary events.
· BUSINESS OUTREACH & EDUCATION: Provided resources and workshops for local businesses who want to voluntarily green their operations. Provided opportunity for local vendors to promote their sustainable operations in the official Convention Vendor Directory.
About Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee
The Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee has four contractual partners in its work. Those partners are the Democratic National Convention Committee, the City and County of Denver, Kroenke Sports and its own Executive Committee.
The party has enough problems with an idiot on the verge of being a nominee without resorting to food fascism.
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