Letters to the Editors

How to Choose an Ethical Business

In one of your previous Notes from the Coordinators, "Making Choices," you mentioned ethical businesses. What I want to know is who that would be? How can we know which companies are not privately owned, so that we can invest in companies who share the same values as we do, being vegetarian, concerned about animal welfare, and the environment?

Got any names of companies? I just got online and found your site <www.vrg.org> and it is simply awesome! Thanks for a real source of input.

Ann Bird
Via e-mail

Editors' Note: The Vegetarian Resource Group is not recommending any particular stocks or method of investing. However, VRG advisor Wayne Smeltz, PhD, offers the following information: "When making socially conscious investment decisions, you must first determine your value priorities as well as your financial risk tolerance. Be-cause of consolidation, there are few pure players in the vegetarian food segment. One possible investment is Hain Celestial Group (HAIN:NASDAQ) selling for around 34 cents a share early this year. Its primary products are natural foods and Celestial Seasonings tea. Take note that Heinz holds a stake in the company. Other possibilities are the natural food retailers Whole Foods Markets (WFMI:NASDAQ), selling for around 60, and Wild Oats Markets (OATS:NASDAQ), which was selling for around 4 early this year. Investors with different risk considerations may consider Gardenburger (GBUR:NASDAQ), selling for around 50 cents a share, or Tofutti (TOF:AMEX) at around $2 a share early this year. Depending upon their value priorities, some in-vestors may consider Kellogg (K:NYSE), which has recently bought Worthington Foods and Kashi Cereal, selling for around $25. As you can see, even in this specialized niche, some of these companies may have products or practices that may conflict with one's value priorities. You will need to research each company to assess your ethical and investment comfort."

Our Dear Jesse

My wife is diabetic and has to be very careful about her snacks. One day she wistfully remarked that she would love to have a sort of valet named "Jesse," who would make a veggie snack for her each day.

That afternoon I went to a Chinese department store and bought a pretty bowl. I then shopped for fennel, carrots, celery, turnips, and daikon radishes. I chopped everything into small pieces and put them in the bowl. The next day was Valentine's day, and there in the fridge was the first edition of Jesse's Mix!

I must admit that Jesse is quite busy these days, and he might need to get a bigger bowl.

Mel Cohen
New York, NY