GREEN: Eating Green
The Warrior is just one of the specialty items Brad Kossover serves from the Green Cart Deli. Customers are served their dogs on soybean lined paper in a 100 percent recycled container with soybean ink and receive cornstarch utensils and recycled napkins, all accompanied by a soda served in an aluminum can … with a cornstarch straw if requested.
photography by Ashlee Nobel
Green on the Go …
Americans generate 230 million tons of trash annually … that’s 4.5 pounds per person each day (Annenberg Foundation, Clean Air Council). Every year, Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons to circle the equator 300 times. These numbers are astounding … but now you can enjoy a meal at The Green Cart Deli in Conway knowing that you are not adding to this waste.
Brad Kossover, owner of The Green Cart Deli serves the familiar — hot dogs, soups and wraps — using environmentally-conscious methods and hopes to inspire others to consider mindful consumption.
Kossover’s cart is made of stainless steel and all of the “electrical components, ” such as the refrigeration and water supply, utilize solar power; the steamer utilizes propane, which Kossover said is one of the most environment friendly fuels to use.
All of the “paper products” one would normally be served with — foil, wax paper, napkins, plastic forks, spoons and cups — are made of biocompostable and 100-percent post-consumer recycled products.
Kossover serves all-beef franks with natural casing; they’re lower in sodium, are diabetic friendly (they aren’t sweetened with corn syrup); and have no phosphates. “The franks are made to order, and they’re as ‘natural’ as a processed meat can be. They arrive fresh, never frozen, and are smoke cured. The condiments — mustard, pickles and sauces — I use are made by ‘green’ companies — some Arkansas-based companies that use Arkansas-grown products. I use locally-grown produce whenever possible,” Kossover said. “A lot of people look past the green and just see the food.”
One dog, and you’ll taste why. We sampled The Warrior and El Toro specialty dogs. The Warrior is served with bacon, Green Cart Deli (GCD) slaw, hoagie and sub relish and Memphis mesquite sauce … a tasty combination. El Toro is a taste of familiar — pale ale and honey spice mustard, GCD beef chili, chopped onions and shredded cheddar cheese. The selections were flavorful and filling … it’s easy to understand why customers focus solely on the food.
But Kossover is ever mindful of his impact on the environment. “I produce only a few pounds of non-compostable waste each week — even though I serve several hundred lunches weekly.” Kossover admits purchasing the cornstarch serving items, soy-based ink products, compostable trash bags and other materials is expensive. “But it all balances out in the end. I must say, I feel pretty darn good about my work at the end of the week. This is such a great opportunity to show how you can do something for the environment. It’s about opening our eyes to the possibilities. You do not have to charge more … you simply need to be willing to accept less.”
To find Kossover, his delicious dogs and the location of The Green Cart Deli, follow him on Facebook, under The Green Cart Deli.
The Co-op Option
Find food to feed your body as well as a clear conscience at Ozark Natural Foods. This locally-owned natural foods co-op is dedicated to healthful living and sustainability. Shoppers will find natural and organic foods and household goods as well as an abundance of reliable information and services dedicated to healthy, sustainable lifestyles.
The plethora of items available at Ozark Natural Foods include: local produce; fresh baked goods; prepared meals in the deli; bulk grains; nuts; fair trade coffee; chocolate; household items; cosmetics; homeopathic products; books; magazines; gifts; and more.
Ozark Natural Foods serves as a health food store; full-service market; and a deli offering delicious meals to dine in or take home to enjoy. The hot bar menu changes daily and features items made with all-natural meat and wild-caught seafood, healthy vegan and vegetarian dishes, gluten-free options, side dishes and fresh salads. Popular options include: vegetarian Pad Thai; green bean casserole; beef potpie; cheeseburger macaroni; zucchini feta casserole; and more. Made-from-scratch soups, delicious sandwiches, fresh, organic pizza and healthy wraps are also available.
1554 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72703, 479.521.7558 or ozarknaturalfoods.com.
