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NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n SEPTEMBER 2018 n GOURMET NEWS N H 5 6 Fall River Wild Rice Shows How Easy and Versatile Wild Rice Can Be An interview with Walt Oilar, General Man- ager, Fall River Wild Rice. GN: Tell our readers about your company. What's your main line of business? WO: Fall River Wild Rice is a grower- owned cooperative located in the rural mountains of northeastern California. It is an area well suited for growing wild rice. We supply wild rice to the retail and foodservice markets. GN: What is it that separates you from the competition and makes your company unique? WO: We are a small company from small- town America. With that comes a great desire to be customer service oriented, which we fulfill wholeheartedly. When you call our company, you're not calling a call center. Nine times out of 10 you'll be talking to me, and I'll per- sonally handle any situation. I love talking to all callers! GN: What about products? WO: Though we're small, we're also innova- tive. In my mind our greatest achievement and contribution to the industry to date is starting the fully-cooked rice products. Wild rice re- quires a long cook time – around an hour. The solution was Fully Cooked Wild Rice in a retort, flexible package. This not only earned us awards, but, more importantly, gives us the greater satisfaction of helping con- sumers have one of the world's healthiest grains at their fingertips. Because it's more accessible and easier to prepare, more people are able to live a healthier lifestyle by utilizing wild rice in this fully-cooked format. For more information, visit www.fallriver wildrice.com, call 800.626.4366 or email wildrice@shasta.com. Taste Nirvana Expands with HPP and Probiotic Coconut Waters Using premium Nam Hom "fragrant water" Thai coconuts bottled within hours of har- vest, the third generation Thai family busi- ness expands its award-winning line of natural coconut waters with the launch of new chilled products using innovative HPP, flash pasteurization and fermentation tech- nologies. Taste Nirvana adds to its current shelf-stable lineup with chilled HPP Cold Pressed Premium Coconut Water, Roasted Coconut Water and Coco K-Fir Probiotic Coconut Water. Designed to meet consumer demand for HPP and chilled beverages, this move increases Taste Nirvana's sales posi- tion and reputation for best tasting coconut waters within the rapidly growing plant- based water category. Taste Nirvana HPP Cold Pressed Coconut Water is created to share with consumers nat- ural coconut water in its freshest, most re- freshing form. High Pressure Processing (HPP) – an innovative industry method used to eliminate the bacteria while preserving vi- tamins and nutrients without the use of heat – prolongs the shelf-life of Taste Nirvana's premium Nam Hom coconuts, and enhances the naturally delicious taste. This method marries Taste Nirvana's quality with conven- ience and proves second only to consumers actually cracking one open themselves. Taste Nirvana Roasted Coconut Water is the brand's showcase of Thailand's tradition where Thai farmers and roadside vendors roast whole young coconuts in their shells to create a more naturally sweet coconut water, with meat that is nuttier and rich in flavor. Taste Nirvana hand selects the most pre- mium Thai Nam Hom ("fragrant water") co- conuts, roasts to perfection and bottles within hours of harvest for consumers to enjoy this long-enjoyed Thai secret. Taste Nirvana Coco K-Fir is where coconut water dynami- cally meets probiotics. With award-winning real coconut water, fermented hand-crafted live cultures and a touch of fresh coconut nectar, Taste Nirvana deli- ciously combines the hydrating benefits of coconut water with a dose of billions of ac- tive live cultures to support a healthy im- mune system, promote digestion and nutrient absorption. "We are always motivated by unique in- gredients and dedicated to making the finest quality beverages sharing Thailand's agricultural wealth," said Jack Wattana- porn, Taste Nirvana Founder. "With our ex- pansion into chilled HPP, pasteurization and probiotics, we are proud to showcase that Taste Nirvana coconut waters are not only rich in flavor, but also provide nutritional healthy benefits derived from na- ture." About Taste Nirvana Award-winning taste sets Taste Nirvana apart from other brands. The desire to share the best of Thailand's flavors does too. The latest all-natural incar- nation of a multi-generational Thai family business, Taste Nirvana was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide the best tasting beverages using Thailand's finest resources and produces authentic ready-to-drink Thai coffee, Thai teas, coconut water and func- tional health drinks. Taste Nirvana's all-nat- ural coconut waters are the closest thing to drinking directly out of an actual coconut and second-best only to Mother Nature. For more information, visit www.taste nirvana.com or call 951.371.7100. Three New Varieties, Two New Pack Sizes of Skinny Salamis In the year since its introduction of the Skinny Salamis™ line, MeatCrafters Inc, a USDA certified maker of artisanal salamis, sausages and duck breast prosciutto, had to double its production facility to handle the extraordinary growth. MeatCrafters, Inc has introduced three new varieties of Skinny Salamis this year, bringing to six the total varieties now available. Skinny Salamis are a savory meat snack with a healthy profile, the only traditionally cured salami in the fast growing grab 'n go meat snack cate- gory. Skinny Salamis have been recognized by the media and industry professionals for being a meat snack category disrupter, in that they are a cured, not cooked or processed meat snack. Manufactured in the familiar stick format, each salami is 16.25 grams of cured and seasoned beef, lamb or pork – no sugar and no carbs, gluten and dairy free, made in a nut-free facility under USDA su- pervision with top quality, heritage antibi- otic-free meat with no hormones added. The four packs are available in six vari- eties: Black Angus Beef, Street Cart Shawarma (lamb), Lamb Merguez, (new) Casbah (Pork-Mediterranean flavor profile- new), Spicy Chorizo (new), and Truffle Pork. Each stick has 5 or 6 grams of protein, and 40 or 45 calories per stick. The product has a nine-month shelf life and meets the criteria of multiple need-state consumers – clean label, keto, diabetic-friendly, gluten free, paleo, grain and soy free and more. "Skinny Salamis are an authen- tic, healthy alternative to grain-based, cooked and processed meat snacks and offer a distinctly different texture that we believe makes for a more flavorful eating experi- ence," says Founder Mitch Berliner. "The growth in the 'good for you' protein snack category and the increased demand for single portions, prompted us to introduce a two stick pack and a one stick pack for sampling, giveaways or office snack kitchens," Berliner explains. The Skinny Salamis are a de- licious high protein "grab and go" snack perfect for back- packs, lunch boxes, camping, hiking, biking, office snack rooms and fitness facilities. They are now available for gift baskets and at specialty retailers and gourmet and natural food shops, wineries, breweries and some airports throughout the United States. For more information, go to www.meat crafters.com or contact Mitch Berliner at 301.440.8496. Ceres Introduces Five New Premium Fruit Juices From farm to table, the new Ceres organic juices are 100 percent pure fruit. The juices start with the careful selection of the finest quality organic fruits from growers around the world, and are available in mango, guava, peach, pear and passion fruit flavors. The company is proud to say that its pro- ducers meet the highest organic farming standards to bring you perfect juice found in nature. From its humble beginnings in South Africa's Ceres Valley, it now distributes its premium range of organic juices to countries all over the globe. "We have really put our ear to the ground to find out exactly what people want when they're seeking organic juices to quench their thirst. A growing number of beverage lovers are on a mission to find premium juices that combine superior flavor and nourishing, wholesome ingredients. To meet that demand, we've created all natu- ral, pure fruit juices with uncompromising nutrition and refreshing, exotic taste that`s not easily forgotten," said Martin Pamen- sky, Chief Executive Officer, Ceres Juices North America. The company's success is rooted in the truth that Mother Earth lies at the heart of everything it prom- ises to its customers. It be- lieves that by taking care of the planet, all the goodness of earth will be absorbed into its juices. Unlike most organic juices which un- dergo a hot fill process that affects the juice's taste and nutrients, Ceres organic juices are packed in a state-of-the-art facil- ity in North America that flash pasteurizes the juice into clear PET bottles. This process ensures that all Ceres juices have a ripe, mouth-watering taste of fresh fruit and retain all essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The result is a superior drink that gives you a boost of pure natural good- ness in every drop. Ceres organic juices are all natural, non-GMO, gluten- free, vegan and kosher with no added sugar or preservatives. Ceres Fruit Juices is a bev- erage company based in Paarl, South Africa. The company exports juices to more than 80 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. The U.S. is one of its largest markets where it's widely recognized for its healthy ingredients and delicious taste. For more information, go to www.ceresjuices.com.

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