At El Tigre Vestido Restaurant & Bar we would like to share with you our commitment to the environment, our community and to you, our guests. At Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn we are proud of our 5 green leaves awarded by the Certification of Sustainable Tourism of Costa Rica (CST)

• Our food is fresh from the market and almost exclusively bought from a cooperative of small organic and independent farmers or local merchants.
• We buy organic or biodynamic food whenever possible and every item is home made in our kitchen or in the community
• We use seasonal fruit and vegetables and all of our food is either bought locally or is native to Costa Rica.
• We recycle all organic waste into compost, and recycle or reuse bottles, cans, paper and glass
• We only use biodegradable cleaning products and we monitor our energy use and constantly try to reduce it.
• Our culinary emphasis is on Legacy Dining- celebrating Costa Rican and Central American Cuisine; recipes which have been lost or disregarded or only encountered in a typical family kitchen.

Ten Reasons to Eat Local Organic Food

Eating local means more for the local economy. According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.

Locally grown produce is fresher. While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer's market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value which declines with time.

Local food just plain tastes better. This could be because organic fruit and vegetables tend to grow more slowly and have a lower water content, which may contribute to the fuller flavour some people experience.

Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen. Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit does not have to be "rugged" or to stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them, figs that would have been smashed to bits if they were sold using traditional methods, and melons that were allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine.

Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic. In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate creates environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic.

Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.

Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story. Whether it's the farmer who brings apples to market or the baker who makes bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.

Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.

Local Organic Food is healthier. On average, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. The best way of reducing your exposure to potentially harmful pesticides is to eat organically grown food, where their use is avoided. Over 311 pesticides can be routinely used in non organic farming and residues are often present in non-organic food. 

Organic Local Food is Good for wildlife and the environment.  Overall organic farming supports more farmland wildlife than non-organic farming. It is widely accepted that it is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide - the main global warming gas - and less dangerous wastes.