Greenzone Online

In the fall of 2007, Contessa Premium Foods opened the first environmentally responsible, LEED-certified frozen food manufacturing plant in world. Known as “Green Cuisine,” the plant is carbon neutral.

So, what is LEED? Standing for, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, it is a third-party certification program, which regulates design, construction and operation of green buildings. This certification verifies that the building in question is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work. You can get all the professional information here: LEED

Now frozen food is healthy? Well, perhaps not the food itself, but that doesn’t mean the tools can’t be. The Green Cuisine Plant uses waste heat from their refrigerators to preheat water for sanitation. A solar-power array reduces carbon dioxide emissions, consequently conserving over 200 acres of pine forest per year.

You have to admit, it is quite the marketing plan. Not only can the usual frozen food consumer feel better about eating a potentially “better” quality of food, Contessa can now hope for the conversion of those usually against such a product because of its green-friendly plant. Perhaps I’m just a little cynical and their intentions are actually quite good, but business is business. Congratulations to Contessa for making not only an environmentally-smart decision, but a marketing one as well. Now, who wants some shrimp?