As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s important to explore how our consumption habits impact the environment and how small changes in our daily choices can make a significant difference. Read on to see how Chamber members are focusing on sustainability through prioritizing locally sourced  ingredients from Connecticut, empowering us all to live greener and healthier lives.

Healthy PlanEat

Healthy PlanEat, a new sustainable food tech startup based in East Lyme, Connecticut, assists farmers who employ sustainable growing practices in selling their produce directly to local customers. Farmers can utilize Healthy PlanEat to manage inventory, distribution options, and orders from individuals and wholesale buyers like restaurants, schools, and universities. Committed to promoting access to fresh, sustainably grown, local food, Healthy PlanEat collaborates with environmentally conscious farms, including USDA Certified Organic farms, that prioritize practices such as crop rotation, composting, and abstaining from synthetic pesticides and herbicides to foster clean air and water, enhance soil quality, and combat global climate change.

Fiddleheads Food Co-Op

Fiddleheads Food Cooperative, New London’s downtown grocery store, champions local, organic, and natural products, owned by over 4,000 households for a sustainable food system. With 90+ local suppliers and a bulk section for zero waste shopping, Fiddleheads prioritizes eco-conscious practices, from composting food waste to offering easily recyclable packaging. Powered by 100% renewable energy, Fiddleheads embodies a commitment to environmental stewardship in every aspect of its operations.

The Shipwright’s Daughter

At The Shipwright’s Daughter, sustainability is more than just a culinary choice; it’s a foundational commitment to both community and environment. As a “Tide to Table” restaurant, they champion local growers, farmers, and fishermen, ensuring every dish reflects the freshest, locally sourced ingredients from New England’s bounty. In 2023, they were able to source 97.3% of their fish from certified sustainable and local suppliers.

Every choice we make, from the food we eat to the products we buy, has the power to shape a more environmentally conscious future for all. Let’s continue to prioritize sustainability in our daily lives, supporting local businesses as we work together towards a greener and healthier planet. Shop local Chamber member’s on our business directory.

Support the businesses that support you 

Spend $100 at a small business and nearly half of it stays in the community. Why? Local businesses rely on each other for operations and marketing support, and they hire local talent. When local business thrives, property values rise, housing demand increases, more people are encouraged to start a business, and communities flourish.