This week our newly opened Goodwin's Organic Market, in Riverside, added one more unique product to their growing variety of certified organic products. Now the snack aisle will offer a certified kosher, organic, non gmo tortilla chip that is shaped like a Whale's Tail.

Billy Ha, Goodwins Marketing Director, said “We only offer organic items and we just won the title of Market of the Month in Progressive Grocer magazine. At Goodwin's, I am always looking for rare and quality organic products like Whale Tails Tortilla Chips.” Billy said he was excited when he learned that in addition to the company's mission of funding ocean conservation their chips are made right down the road in San Bernardino. Mr Ha is glad to “chip in” and provide shelf space for local companies.

Goodwin's Organic Foods & Drinks opened quietly in early January on 191 West Big Springs Road in Riverside, off Watkins Drive just blocks from the entrance to the UC Riverside Campus. The 10,000-square-foot store carries a full line of produce, dairy, meat and other food items, all certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its authorized agents.

I got a chance to speak with Ric Kraszewski, Sales Director Whale Tails Tortilla Chips, as he unloaded cases of his brightly colored 2 oz and 9 oz packages of Whale Tails Tortilla Chips. The package art depicts a pod of whales playing in a pristine bay just off a tropical island. Ric said “Our product just seems to find a way to the stores that are willing to support our efforts to provide funding for ocean conservation. I was absolutely thrilled when I got the call from Billy that he wanted to bring us in. As a grassroots company we have learned how valuable shelf space is for retailers and we appreciate when retailers like Goodwin's, are willing to give us a chance.” Ric added that he was proud to have his product located at the gateway to UC Riverside. UC Riverside's Department of Environmental Sciences has long been associated with environmental issues. Ric told me “UC Riverside Professors, Roberto Sánchez-Rodríguez and Arturo Gomez Pompa have been prominent in ecological issues in Baja. At Whale Tails Tortilla Chips we donated our first 10 percent to fund water quality surveys in Magdalena Bay in Baja California Mexico.” UC Riverside Professor Sánchez-Rodríguez, Roberto is the Director of UC Mexus, a group which focuses on human dimensions of global environmental change, urban issues in urban areas, and transboundary environmental problems. His research concentrates on the human impact of global environmental change, environmental issues in urban areas, sustainable development, U.S.-Mexico border environmental policies and practices, and ties between trade and environment. UC Riverside Professor Arturo Gomez Pompa is a distinguished Professor of Botany. Dr. Arturo Gómez-Pompa recently received the "Honorary Researcher Award" from the Institute of Ecology (INECOL) in Veracruz, the largest institute in Mexico devoted to the study of ecology.

Billy Ha. Marketing Director, promises to add more products like Whale Tails Tortilla Chips to Goodwin's Organics to give his store the variety that you won't be able to find at the major grocery chains. If your in the neighborhood stop by and grab a bag of delicious Whale Tails Tortilla Chips with a sandwich from their well stocked deli. The store also has a street-level patio for outdoor dining, and those who sign up for a membership card have access to an upstairs coffee and study lounge with FREE Wi-Fi access with hook-ups for laptops. Goodwin's offers party and office catering.

• More about Goodwin's Organics visit: www.goodwinsorganics.com
• More about UC Riverside visit: www.ucr.edu