Eat Well Guide Standards

We believe that ecologically sound, community-based food choices are essential to solving environmental degradation, climate instability, economic inequality and the myriad adverse health effects of industrialized food production. By creating local connections among consumers and producers of fresh, sustainable food, Eat Well seeks to increase access to healthy food, expose unjust and unsustainable food production practices and expand markets for small-scale farmers and other socially responsible food producers.

The Eat Well Guide is an inclusive resource, meant to affect change in our food system by promoting even small steps toward sustainability. Our hope is that by directing consumers to sustainable products sold in otherwise conventional outlets, these vendors will be encouraged to sell more sustainable food as demand increases.

The Eat Well Guide lists family farms* (including ranches, creameries, orchards, U-pick and CSA) that do any of the following:

• Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability in their production methods. This includes practices such as achieving USDA organic certification or practicing according to sustainable methods; abstaining from the use of industrial pesticides, routine antibiotics, artificial growth hormones, and genetically modified crops; utilizing agricultural methods that promote biodiversity and soil enrichment; conserving water and protecting natural resources.


• Market their products locally. Farmers may sell directly to consumers through farmers’ markets, farmstands or CSA, or to local restaurants and distributors.


• Utilize practices that promote animal welfare, such as humane slaughtering and providing livestock with adequate access to the outdoors.

* Family Farms are defined as any farm where a family or individual owns the animals, is responsible for management decisions and participates in the day to day labor to manage the farm operation and its animals, and derives a share of the family's or individual's livelihood from that farm. (Definition taken from Animal Welfare Approved)

The Eat Well Guide lists farmers’ markets that do the following:

• Offer food products supplied directly by local farms and other local, independent food producers.

• Source local and/or sustainable food products. Stores that demonstrate an overall commitment to sustainability are preferred.

The Eat Well Guide lists seafood markets that do the following:

• Offer sustainable seafood options.  Seafood’s sustainability is determined by the extent to which the species is threatened, the practices for catching, farming and/or harvesting, and the levels of heavy metals and other toxins present.  The Eat Well utilizes the Smart Seafood Guide developed by Food & Water Watch to determine which types of seafood are deemed sustainable, and under what circumstances.

The Eat Well Guide lists restaurants that do any of the following:

• Source local and/or sustainable food products. Restaurants that demonstrate an overall commitment to local, sustainable food are preferred.


• Offer substantial vegan and/or vegetarian options.

The Eat Well Guide lists independent bakeries that do any of the following:

• Source local and/or sustainable ingredients. Bakeries that demonstrate an overall commitment to local, sustainable food are preferred.


• Bake the majority of their products on-site.


• Offer vegan options.

The Eat Well Guide lists independent coffee shops that do any of the following:

• Source fair-trade coffee.


• Provide organic milk for beverages.


• Source local and/or sustainable ingredients. Coffee shops that demonstrate an overall commitment to local, sustainable food are preferred.


• Prepare the majority of their baked food items on-site.

The Eat Well Guide lists online shopping vendors that do the following:

• Allow customers to order sustainable food products via web-based payment processing.

The Eat Well Guide lists bed & breakfasts that do the following:

• Provide overnight guests with local and/or sustainable food. Places of lodging that demonstrate an overall commitment to local, sustainable food and farming are preferred.

The Eat Well Guide lists caterers and personal chefs that do any of the following:

• Offer a menu that is built upon subscribing to and promoting local and/or sustainable food and farming.


• Offer vegan and/or vegetarian options.

The Eat Well Guide lists nonprofit organizations that do the following:

• Promote sustainable food & farming, animal welfare, and/or local food systems.

The Eat Well Guide lists educational centers that do the following:

• Educate about issues surrounding sustainable food and farming, animal welfare, and/or local food systems.

The Eat Well Guide lists food co-ops that are:

• Community operated food markets. Co-ops that demonstrate an overall commitment to local, sustainable food and farming are preferred.

The Eat Well Guide lists community gardens that are:

• Used for food cultivation and are managed by the local community.