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PANUPS: Swiss Airline Goes Organic
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P A N U P S
***
Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
http://www.panna.org/panna/
EMAIL: panna@panna.org
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August 15, 1997
Swiss Airline Switches to Organic Food
In June 1997, Swissair announced that it was introducing
organically grown products in all classes of its inflight
catering on flights departing from Switzerland. The airline
stated that within three years organic products should be
available on Swissair's entire flight schedule. By the year
2000, Swissair's goal is to ensure that 90% of the products
they use to prepare meals are organically grown. While use of
organic products will increase costs, the airline maintains
that these increases will be compensated for in ways that are
"imperceptible to customers."
In a press release, Swissair stated: "The trend towards
organically grown foods is increasing across the globe.
Swissair sees this as a chance to contribute to the health
and well-being of its passengers." "Bio Suisse," the
association of Swiss organic farmers and the Swiss consumer
protection association have worked together with Swissair on
this project.
Swissair recently surveyed their frequent flyers and found
that passengers want meals that are fresh, easy to digest,
presented in a pleasing fashion, and that use natural
products as much as possible without lessening variety or
taste.
In addition to using organically grown ingredients to produce
inflight meals, Swissair is also taking seasonal shifts into
consideration when making food purchases and is offering
vegetarian meals as an alternative in all classes of service.
Passengers will also be able to order organically grown-and-
produced wine, beer and fruit and vegetable juices. Coffee
will be purchased in cooperation with the Max Havelaar
Foundation, a fair trade organization, to ensure that growers
receive a fair price. The airline will also provide
organically grown baby food.
According to the press release, purchasing relatively large
amounts of organically grown foods poses a challenge for
Swissair. The airline's caterers must develop a new,
international network of suppliers, and menu planning must be
completely redefined and reorganized. Swissair estimates that
it will take at least three years before organic products
have been completely introduced throughout the airline's
services. In the initial phase, breakfasts and hot meals will
have 68% of the ingredients organically grown, a further 23%
will be from farms using integrated pest management.
Source: Swissair press release, June 3, 1997.
Contact: PANNA.
Swiss Pesticide Market Declines
Sales of agrochemicals in Switzerland dropped to US$104
million in 1996, down 2% from 1995 sales figures. Volume of
sales also decreased -- falling more than 4% to 1,748 tons of
active ingredients. Since 1988, the volume of active
ingredients sold has fallen by 29%. Crops showing the
greatest drop in pesticide use over 1995 figures were maize
(-8%), potatoes (-8%), and oilseed rape (-6%). Agrochemical
use in orchards and vineyards, however, showed a slight
increase.
Source: Agrow: World Crop Protection News, July 11, 1997.
Contact: PANNA.
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