Most people have no idea that their most beloved Organic brands are owned by giant corporations with not so organic reputations. They make it a point that you don't know that, hiding behind names that sound small town and local. You may not reach for that Odwalla juice if you knew Coca Cola owned it huh? And Kashi's commercials don't sound so warm and fuzzy when you know Kellogg owns it. You see, selling healthy products from unhealthy companies doesn't generally go over well. So what's the problem with this? I mean if a giant corporation owns a smaller company they would never compromise quality for the sake of profits right? Ha. I personally know someone who owns an extremely high quality kombucha company, and almost did sell out to the larger corporation. She was promised her and her employees would stay in tact, all processes would stay in place. But once they got closer to finalizing the deal she saw the writing on the wall, so she backed out, and has been turning down offers ever since. Generally corporations do not put human interest at the top of their priority list. You can just use that as a general rule. Another general rule I use is not to trust flip floppers. What do I mean by that? I trust companies with core values and principles that they stick to. Not companies that sell organic and GMO at the same time. That is why I have always promoted supporting local farmers market and farms. But in case you didn't know, I have compiled a list of organic companies who are owned by large corporations. I apologize in advance if I ruin your day.

Naked Juice, Sunbites- Pepsi
Odwalla, Green Mountain Coffee, Honest Tea, Simply Orange- Coca Cola
Kashi, Bear Naked, Wholesome and Hearty, Morning Star, Natural Touch- Kellogg
Late July- Snyder's
Coleman Natural, Hans, Draper Valley Farms, Petaluma/ Rosie - Perdue Farms
Dagoba- Hershey
Boca foods, Back to Nature, Green & Blacks- Kraft
Wolfgang Puck, Plum Organics, Bolthouse Farms- Campbell Soup Co.
Seeds of Change- M&M Mars
Bloomfield Bakers, Lovin Oven, Lighlife, Alexia Foods- ConAgra
LaraBar, Food Should taste this Good, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, Immaculate Baking- General Mills
Orchard Valley Harvest- John B, Sanfilippo & Son
Humboldt Creamery- Foster Farms
Tea Forte. Peet's Cofe- JAB/ D.E. formerly Sara Lee
Aidell's Sausage- Hillshire Brands
Crispin, Fox Barrel- Miller/ Coors
Kettle- Diamond Foods
Olafson's Baking Co.- Bimbo
Sweet Leaf Tea, Tribe Mediterranean Foods- Nestle
Earthbound Farm, Silk, Alta Dena, Horizon Organic, The Organic Cow of Vermont- Dean Foods
Frutti di Bosco, Millina's Finest, Walnut Acres, Mountain Sun, ShariAnn's, MaraNatha, SunSpire, TofuTown, Westbrae, Beanitos, Westsoy, Little Bear, Celestial Seasonings, Dream, Breadshop, Health Valley, Casbah, DeBole's, Garden of Eatin', Arrowhead Mills, Spectrum Organics, Nile Spice, Earth's Best, Ella's kitchen, BluePrint- Hain Celestial
Enray, Millstone, RW Knudsen, Santa Cruz Organic- Smucker
Kim and Scott's- J&J Snack Foods
Stonyfield, Brown Cow, Happy Family- Dannon
Dakota Beef, Meyer Natural Foods- Cargill
French Meadow- Rich Products Corp.
Naturally Fresh, Sturm Foods- TreeHouse Foods
Erewhon, New Morning, PowerBar, Golden Boy, Dakota Growers Pasta, Peace Cereal, Golden Temple, Willamette Valley Granola- Post Foods
French Meadow- Rich Products Corp.

   Let's face it, a lot of Americans are depressed. More and more antidepressants are being prescribed everyday. But why are we so depressed? We have everything don't we? Most of us have everything we truly need, and even want. Then why are we depressed? We really do have it good in this country. They key to our unhappiness is our want. We want it all. And in our mission and failures to get it all we experience dissatisfaction and sadness. Now are there people with real chemical imbalances, of course. But not at the rate that the drugs are being prescribed. Or who's to say that the imbalances aren't self induced, a result of our environment. I read a quote years ago that said depression is the most severe form of selfishness, at first this quote sounded kind of harsh or brash. But when you get down to it, there is a lot of truth to it. When you put aside your own wants and desires, and put others first, and focus on serving others it is hard to be depressed. 
   We have been brought up in a culture of consumerism. It is every where you look, TV, billboards. We often define ourselves by the car we drive or the size of our house. But who do you think created this game? The corporations need you to want their products, that's why celebrities get paid millions to tell you what to wear and what to buy. Don't buy in to this game. Don't participate. Because you will never fill the void. Whatever you buy will never make you happy. You will always want and desire more. It's and endless game that only results in you feeling unfulfilled. 
   We think we will be happy once we have reached this goal, or this stage in life, get this job, move to this neighborhood, meanwhile our lives are passing us by. Because once you reach those stages, there will be more goals and objectives to be reached. The key is to be happy right now, in the present moment. Once you come to the realization that you have everything you need, and everything is ok you will start to experience the joy of the present moment. 

   Sorry I have been gone for a while, but I was on vacation. And one rule I have on vacation, is the cell phone never gets turned on, email is never checked, and blogs are never written. It's my time to unwind, relax, re energize, and focus. I think not turning your cell phone off during vacation is the biggest mistake people make on vacation, and drinking the water in Mexico. The facebook posts, instagram selfies, and text messaging can wait. How many opportunities do you have to actually escape. I run into a lot of people that tell me all the vacation days they have stored up, and that they haven't been on vacation in years. Why? What are you waiting for? Is your business or company that you work for more important? And we wonder why we are so stressed out, and burn out so early. The next day is not guaranteed. I use to always laugh that I don't understand why people die rich. Why die with money in the bank? What are you going to do with it? You can always make money, but you can't always make memories. Take a vacation, you deserve it.