I have always been intrigued by Chipotle’s ability to deliver a fresh, tasty and healthy (assuming you can resist from eating an ENTIRE burrito in one sitting) fast food option. Although their food is not 100% local nor 100% organic, they are definitely doing a heck of a lot more than most restaurants (fast food or not) in delivering food with integrity. When I dove into the nitty gritty of where Chipotle’s food originates, it was hard to overlook the adjectives giving them an “out” in many of their marketing statements, but the bottom line, is they are trying.
- Chipotle prefers to work with family run farms.
- They serve local produce (within 350 miles of final destination) when possible, which in most cases is a minimum of 50% of one produce item, when available seasonally.
- Although 100% of their pork is raised naturally, only 85% of their beef is and only 35% of their dairy is pasture raised (although all of their dairy is from cows raise without the use of synthetic hormones.)
- 40% of their beans are organic, and they strive to raise that percentage each year.
At the end of the day, Chipotle will never stand up to a local neighborhood taqueria that serves food purchased daily from the farmers market, but they are trying, and for that I give them an A+. Plus, let’s face it, not all of you live in Texas where there is constant access to a plethora of fresh Mexican food options.
That having been said, this year for your 2011 Halloween Celebration, I encourage you to head out to Chipotle dressed in a farm inspired costume and get a burrito, bowl, taco or salad for only $2. Not only is it food with integrity, but all proceeds (up to $1 million), go to support The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation and Farm Aid. The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation is committed to creating a more sustainable and healthful food supply so that one day not only can Chipotle purchase 100% of their food from sustainable sources, but other restaurants can as well. Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm centered system of agriculture in American.
After enjoying your $2 Chipotle meal, snap your photo in your farm inspired costume and upload to chipotle.com/boorito or text it to 888222 with the keyword costume. You will be entered to win the Chipotle Costume Prize (all the details can be found here). With a grand prize of $2,500, I can assure you that I will be participating. Even the lower levels of winnings are pretty fantastic. Five runners up with win $1,000, and twenty folks will win a burrito party for ten. Do you think that means I can have a burrito party for one, and keep all ten burritos to myself?!
