what should we write about?

Our blog is pretty new, so we're trying to make it better all the time. A bit like the drinks really.

Anyway, we've received some good comments from some of you saying how we could make it better. So we thought it would be a good idea to ask you exactly what you want us to blog about. Someone called Frankie posted a good list the other day:

* an honest discussion of how you source fruit (organic vs non organic, local vs tropical, fair trade vs cheap.
* guest posts from your growers
* life in the innocent factories
* selling out - P&Js sold to Pepsico, Body Shop to Loreal, Green and Blacks to Cadbury's - would Innocent do the same, and what are the moral issues?
* behind the scenes at Fruitstock - just how do you manage to pull off such a big event?
* fruits vs vegetables - which are better, and how do they combine in smoothies?

Do any of these tickle your fancy? Is there anything else you want us to talk about?

Post your thoughts as comments, we'll see what seem to be the most popular topics and then start writing about them. Thanks.

Comments

[Oppy]

I like it, but I also read a lot of blogs for funny stories. You work for a funny company, you must have some funny stories! Rejected ideas for flavours, or rejected funny bits to write on packages, for example? How about how famous movies/novels would work if the characters drank more innocence (hint: it doesn't always have to be a good change, we'll appreciate your drinks all the same!) -- I'm sure you can throw together funny things like that to go with more serious topics.

[Jin]

I would like to know the process how fruits are changed into smoothies in the innocent factories. Is it the same as what we do in our own kitchen, or are they 'happy' in the whole process?

[Thom Finch]

Life in the innocent factories would be good. It would be nice to see how my drink is made and where it comes from.

[Katy]

I'd be really interested to read about all of those questions frankie raised, but also in the fun stuff Oppy is after. I love Innocent!
(currently drinking: Orange, mango & pineapples in a cute carton... yum!)

[helenltaylor]

I like the idea of guest posts from growers, life in the factories, behind the scenes and fruit vs veg. These seem like the kind of things I come to the Innocent blog for.

I'm less sure about the two grown-up, serious ones. They're interesting and worthwhile subjects but not what I feel Innocent are all about (I believe you guys have thought about this stuff so we don't have too).

That said, it's good to mix things up from time to time.

[Colman]

How do we know that the really interesting comments have made it through your 'blog comments moderation' filter?

So I'd like to read about why you moderate the comments section on this blog.

(And yes, I'd find it quite funny if this comment didn't make it through.)

[dan at innocent]

Hello Mr Colman

I guess the problem with unmoderated comments on the blog is that we have quite a lot of kids who come to our site, mainly because we sell smoothies for kids. The worst possible scenario is that someone posts an obscene or unsuitable comment which is then read by a child. We don't really want that to happen so we're moderating all comments for now.

Interestingly, we haven't had any rude/obscene comments so far, so haven't had to censor anything i.e. we've never held back any comments. Not one. If that trend continues, we can turn off the moderation. We're keeping an eye on it.

[Russ]

Just want to say that I think innocent do a great job and blaze a trail in business with your ethical standpoint. One thing I am interested in is the explosive growth of your business and the problems that this has caused (if any ?) - Are you such a good company to work for that you don't get shirkers and workshy layabouts wanting to work for you (like most companies....) - I'm not complaining - keep up the good work, supermarket shelves first, then the World !

[Jan]

As i'm a member of the 'Innocent family' it'd be nice to know what lunatic things the rest of my family get upto! For example my darling son managed to knock himself clean out on Sunday washing his bathroom floor! not an easy thing you might think? All you need is a dash of lunatic mother added to a slightly batty son and you have a recipy for silliness!

[Catt]

Hello,
I think your blog should include bits and bobs about fairtrade and prmoting it. Also, little snips of whats going on in your offices, any little anecdotes, so we're all part of the same big, happy family. And I really want to know how you are getting so much recycled plastic in your bottles, because no one else appears to be doing it.

[Another Helen]

I'm for both the silly stuff and the serious questions. The one that bothers me - harking back to Frankie's sourcing question - is the whole problem of importing all these fabulous fair-trade fruits in (presumably) the holds of desperately environmentally unfriendly airoplanes. But please don't stop with the light-hearted stuff too. Love the drinks!

[Matt]

Maybe not something for the blog initially but how about Innocent sponsoring a small group of Irish people to spread the good word about fruit and all it's goody-goodness whilst living in a tent. This 'family' could then use the blog to divulge all of the shenanagins that they get up to and call it "The Family Inn-O-tent".....

[Annick Wright]

Absolutely love your company. You obviously believe in having fun. Too much in life is mundane and boring so keep up the good work. Love the smoothies,. Do you make any with carrot in?

[David]

I'd like to see special offers and free stuff on this site. Free bottles of smoothies would be nice.

Recipies involving smoothies perhaps?

Cheers

[Diana Wadham]

Re the grapes - I have one grape vine from which you are welcome to have the grapes, but, after watching that video clip, you can have the pleasure of 'treading' them!

[Carrie]

I have millions of blackberries ripening in my garden - any suggestions? The pips get stuck in granny's plate.

Also - is it true that after a certain date in September you can't eat blackberries because the witches have spat on them?

[dan at innocent]

It's true - it is said that you shouldn’t pick blackberries after a certain date (often Michaelmas - 29 September). Any later than this and you will find that the Devil will have spat or stamped on your berries before you get there. Pesky varmint.

And if were you, I'd make a crumble http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/crunchyappleandblack_7679.shtml

[Knightowl]

I'd just love to know the names of all those who are involved in the process of planting to delevering an innocent product.....that should keep you guys and gals busy for awhile

[Jessica Sinclair-Loutit]

Frankie's ideas are great. I'd lilke to read your answers to all of her questions. I personally don't normally buy Innocent drinks because they are much too expensive.

[Sally]

Well Frankie does have some good ideas doesn't she?! I like them all, but i am especially concerned about food airmiles - is there anyway you can indicate on your bottles how far the fruit has travelled, like a marks out of ten for travelling or something?

Also, i'd be interested to know about what goes on in your office/factory, or anything that would make me laugh really (which is most things so that shouldn't be too hard...)

One thing though, my pal Laura is a teacher and you told her you would drop off some smoothies at her school, but they never came. this made her sad beacuse she thought the kiddies could have done with some good stuff - what happened there innocent?!

[Vee]

I really would like to know your thoughts about the sell out question. It is so much about betraying trust. Can you sell a business but not the name?

[ted]

Hi Sally,

Thanks for your comments and suggestions. With reference to the food air miles question our shrimp has just made a post in reply to a similar question I've linked below that you may be interested to read (we don't air freight any of our fruit and actively use locally sourced ingredients where the variety and quantity we need is available):

http://innocentdrinks.typepad.com/innocent_drinks/2006/09/where_the_blueb.html

I'm also looking into your friend Laura's lost smoothies for you right now. Hopefully I’ll be able to get back to you with an answer very soon.
ted

[dan at innocent]

Thanks to everyone who has suggested stuff. We're collating a few of the most popular themes and will be posting relevant stuff very soon...

[Frankie Roberto]

Hey - great to see some discussion here and that my questions prompted so many other good ideas!

Amusing that people thought I was female - I forget that my name is kinda non-gender specific!

Would like to add my name to the list of people calling for the comments to be post-moderated rather than pre-moderated though!

[Jin]

can you have a column for student assignemnt? put some information, number, features and other stuff that is helpful for students to finish their assignment. when a student is present your company as a case study in front a class, he is actually doing free advertisings for Innocent brand.more importantly, they are the target audience, now and future.

[andrew]

yeah its a tricky one, i love innocent and their "funness" but all the grown up questions need to be answered in order to maintain your innocence - so we can love them even more! i mean, all this fun tropical fruit is tasty and great but it didnt get here by itself-what about all those carbon-filled jet engines? innocent is fun because its guilt-free, we need to keep it that way!

[dan at innocent]

I think you're right Andrew. So we shall start addressing the bigger questions. As for shipping our fruit, we stopped using air freighting as a method of shipping a while ago. No jet engines for us.

[duckie]

ok well i LOVE LOVE innocent smoothies!!
BUT can u please make some new flavours in your kids smoothies because i would REALLY like some new flavorus for my lunch so if u bother to read this can u please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[speedy]

I think there should be more types of kids innocent smoothies PLEASE MAKE SOME MORE!!!!!!!!!!