CALIFORNIA UNIQUE SPIRITS

Ventura Spirits Company: Opuntia is a prickly pear spirit, made from the fruit of the Nopal cactus, which is indigenous to the American Southwest.  Its distillation process is similar to tequila's, but it is not tequila.  Instead, it's a new spirit, born in and of California.  

CALIFORNIA SNORKLE GEAR

Body Glove: Redondo Beach-based Body Glove claims that its founders used insulation from the back of a refrigerator to invent "the first practical wetsuit."  I have no idea whether that's true.  But I do know that the Body Glove logo makes me stop, smile, and reminisce.  Their surfing (or, in my case, boogie boarding) wetsuits brought much affordable joy to my Central Coast surf-town childhood, and that Body Glove's diving wetsuits were there for me when I learned to scuba.  They also make affordable snorkle gear for kids and adults.

CALIFORNIA WATER SHOES

Body Glove: Redondo Beach-based Body Glove claims that its founders used insulation from the back of a refrigerator to invent "the first practical wetsuit."  I have no idea whether that's true.  But I do know that the Body Glove logo makes me stop, smile, and reminisce.  Their surfing (or, in my case, boogie boarding) wetsuits brought much affordable joy to my Central Coast surf-town childhood, and that Body Glove's diving wetsuits were there for me when I learned to scuba.  Next time that I need a water shoe, I'll probably give Body Glove's a try.

CALIFORNIA RASH GUARDS

Body Glove: Redondo Beach-based Body Glove claims that its founders used insulation from the back of a refrigerator to invent "the first practical wetsuit."  I have no idea whether that's true.  But I do know that the Body Glove logo makes me stop, smile, and reminisce.  Their surfing (or, in my case, boogie boarding) wetsuits brought much affordable joy to my Central Coast surf-town childhood, and that Body Glove's diving wetsuits were there for me when I learned to scuba.  This summer, I will give their rash guards a try.

CALIFORNIA PET FOOD

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable cat and dog food in BPA-free containers.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA SPONGES, SCRUBBERS, AND SCOURING PADS

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable and relatively environmentally friendly sponges, scrubber-sponges, and scouring pads.

CALIFORNIA PLASTIC WRAP

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable, relatively environmentally friendly plastic wrap.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA PAPER TOWELS

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable, relatively environmentally friendly paper towels.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com. 

CALIFORNIA PLASTIC SANDWICH/FREEZER BAGS

Natural Value Inc.: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable, relatively environmentally friendly, Ziploc-style plastic sandwich and freezer bags.

CALIFORNIA NOODLES

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade, gluten-free pad thai noodles.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA SNACKS & JUNK FOOD

Annie's: Berkeley-based Annie's makes a variety of organic -- but not necessarily good for you -- snacks, including yogurt tubes, granola bars, cookies, bagged popcorn, and fruit snacks.  Their Cheddar Bunnies crackers are difficult to stop eating.

 



Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade pretzels.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.











 

CALIFORNIA POPCORN

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade popcorn.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA PASTA SAUCE

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade pasta sauces.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA MAPLE SYRUP

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade maple syrups.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA CONDIMENTS

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade mustards, sriracha, and ketchup.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

Annie's: Berkeley-based Annie's makes a variety of organic condiments, including salad dressings, ketchups, mustards, BBQ sauces, and Worcestershire sauce.

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CALIFORNIA COCONUT FOOD PRODUCTS

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade coconut milks and creams.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

CALIFORNIA CANNED FOOD

Natural Value: Sacramento-based Natural Value makes affordable organic, environmentally friendly, fair-trade canned food.  The sort of food that I used to buy from Amy's, except at a fraction of the price.  Their offerings include canned beans, lentils, hominy, olives, tuna, tomatoes, corn, and peas.  Their brick-and-mortar and online distributors are listed on their website: http://naturalvalue.com.

Annie's: Berkeley-based Annie's makes a variety of organic soups and canned meals.