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NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n SEPTEMBER 2018 n GOURMET NEWS N H 5 8 Bulk Hemp Food Ingredients from Hemp Production Services An interview with Kevin Friesen, Vice Pres- ident of Operations, Hemp Production Serv- ices. GN: Tell our readers about HPS. KF: HPS is a multi-generational, family farm-owned hemp food agri-business that produces bulk hemp food ingredients for repackaging into retail brands and for blend- ing into hemp infused foods. Naturally non- GMO and gluten-free, hempseed is one of the 10 super foods, uniquely dense with di- gestible protein and essential fatty acids. Both as food ingredients and stand-alone products, the delicious, nutty nutrition of the hemp heart, along with omega-packed hempseed oil and nourishing hemp protein powder, are gaining in popularity every day. We offer a complete supply chain and private label solution for sourcing top quality, com- petitively priced, organic and conventional bulk hemp food ingredients. GN: What type of ingredients do you pro- duce? KF: We produce hulled hempseed, toasted hulled, toasted whole hempseed, cold- pressed hempseed oil and hemp powders. Our customers include functional food, cos- metic, hemp food retail brands and nutraceu- tical companies that make anything from protein smoothies and cereals to pet supple- ments and body care. HPS processes hemp grain in its state-of-the-art, high capacity and dedicated hemp-only facilities. Our process- ing facilities adhere to the standards for food quality and safety as per the FFSC 22000, GFSI, Kosher, Certified Or- ganic and Non-GMO protocols. GN: What sets HPS apart from other hemp food processors? KF: Several factors make HPS the premier hemp food processor. Our ownership/man- agement team is comprised of professional agronomists possessing more than 75 years of cumulative expertise in industrial hemp breeding, hemp grain variety development, hemp production management and bulk hemp food ingredient processing. Because we know quality starts in the field, HPS farmers use top quality pedigreed seed sourced from our sister company Hemp Genetics International, and we work closely with those farmers to provide them with a comprehensive and customized hemp production support sys- tem and on-site visits. This combined vertically inte- grated hemp production ex- pertise along the entire value chain results in bulk hemp food ingredients of outstand- ing quality, color, taste and value. In early 2017, we opened a brand new state-of-the-art hempseed dehulling facility, which in- creases our overall processing capacity to 80,000 pounds per day for hulled hempseed. We believe in giving back both with our money and our time. Through our annual 5 percent pre-tax charitable dona- tion, we support agriculture development projects that benefit food insecure small- holder farmers. Finally, our customers ap- preciate that HPS never competes with the brands we serve; we are a brand supplier, not a retail brand. Our motto says it all: 'From our fields to your brand!' Nature's Bakery Making Healthier Snacks for All Since its founding in 2010, Nature's Bakery ® is on a mission to bring the goodness of de- licious, healthy baked snacks to people everywhere. Started by Dave Marson and his son Sam, the Marsons believed that everyday life's journeys should be fueled with the good stuff. The good stuff can be found right in its ingredient lists where the luscious tex- ture of sun-ripened figs meets the softness of stone ground whole wheat baked to perfec- tion. Using only real, natural ingredients like organic oats that are Non-GMO Project Ver- ified, the company provides families with healthier snack options that are dairy-free, soy-free and never use artificial flavors or colors. Many of its varieties are organic, gluten-free, allergy-friendly and safe to share. It's no wonder that the company's bars are popular with kids and adults alike, mak- ing it a go-to snack for busy lives on-the-go. Nature's Bakery is committed to making healthier snacking an option for all, and as a result it has partnered with Feeding America ® to make this a reality. In 2017, Na- ture's Bakery donated close to 200K pounds of snack bars to the hurricane relief efforts. As one of the fastest growing brands in the snack bar category, Nature's Bakery is working with Feeding America to help make nutritious meals and foods more accessible to the 48 million Americans, 15 million of them children, who do not know where their next meal is going to come from. We all need nutritious foods to lead active, healthy lives, especially children. This September during Hunger Action Month, it will do- nate one meal with every pur- chase of a Nature's Bakery item, for a minimum of 1 million meals donated. Also coming this Fall is the new seasonal Pumpkin Spice Whole Wheat Fig Bar. The new Pumpkin Spice Fig Bars are made with real pumpkin puree, cinnamon and other spices for a snack bar that will truly delight your senses. For more information, go to www.natures bakery.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Paesana: Good for Customers, Good for Business According to the United States Department of Agriculture, sales of organic foods in the U.S. increased from $11 billion in 2004 to $27 billion in 2012. The USDA also reported that the 7.4 percent growth rate in organic food sales during 2012 was more than dou- ble the annual growth rate for all food sales that year. Furthermore, the Organic Trade Association states that the trend is expanding as Americans are continuing to widen their demand for organic foods – with sales of or- ganic products in the U.S. increasing to $35.1 billion in 2013. The consumer appetite for healthier choices is growing considerably and rapidly. However, that doesn't mean today's shop- pers are willing to give up taste. A simple "organic" label is no longer enough to con- vert or retain the loyalty of food buyers and chefs who demand noticeably fresher taste, as well. L&S Packing Company, a family owned business, has introduced its line of premium quality Paesana Organic Pasta Sauces and New Premium Organic Condi- ments to meet that doubled-up demand. "Our premium organic pasta sauces are rich in nutrients and are made with the fresh- est ingredients without additives," said Jacqueline Scaramelli-Massaro, L&S Vice President. "They're also sautéed to perfec- tion just like all our other sauces to capture the finest and fullest flavor." The line is being touted as just as flavorful as the delicious sauces the family's great- grandmother proudly and lovingly made in her kitchen way back in 1902. "Seeking organic brands on store shelves has become a top priority for millions and millions of consumers, par- ticularly moms who are reading nutrition labels more carefully than ever to assure that their families are eating foods that are good for them," said Scaramelli-Massaro, a mother who knows first- hand that nutritional choices are important, but also that those choices need to provide superior taste. Paesana Premium Organic Pasta Sauces are available in five flavors, including Tomato & Basil, Tuscan Pepper, Marinara, Vodka Sauce and Roasted Garlic. All flavors are made with 100 percent imported Italian tomatoes selected at the height of freshness. Paesana Premium Organic Condiments cur- rently feature Marinated Mushrooms, Porto- bello Mushrooms and Non Pareil Capers. The new lines of sauces and condiments are also organically certified by QAI and are gluten free. As is the case with all prod- ucts from L&S Packing Com- pany, Paesana Premium Organic Pasta Sauces and Condiments have undergone highly rigorous quality control processes and have also been taste-tested through every phase of product development. "The depth and breadth of our commitment to quality and our dedication to unmatched fla- vor have defined our family and our com- pany for generations," said L&S President Louis Scaramelli, IV. "We're excited to say that our organic pasta sauces have exceeded our own highly stringent criteria and de- manding expectations for healthier ingredi- ents combined with incredible taste, and we're certain these top quality sauces will be extremely popular with today's continuously growing numbers of health-conscious con- sumers." For more information, call 631.845.1717. Hatch Chile Company USDA Organic Red Enchilada Sauces In 2018, the Hatch Chile Company is intro- ducing USDA Certified Organic formula- tions of its popular HATCH Red Mild and HATCH Red Medium enchilada sauces to consumers across the United States. The Hatch Chile Company's Organic red enchi- lada sauce introduction will advance Hatch Chile Company's quality leadership in the category and will help drive category sales. HATCH branded enchilada sauces have been a category leader with overall sales and sales growth. Sales of Certified Organic food items con- tinue to expand, and in 2016, organic food accounted for over 5.3 percent of total food products sold in the United States. For the first time, sales of organic food items ex- ceeded $40 billion in 2016 and were up 8.4 percent versus prior year while the overall U.S. food sales only grew 0.6 percent. Source: Organic Trade Association (OTA) industry survey (May 2017). The Hatch Chile Company is a category leader in premium quality Southwestern food with a broad product line that includes premium quality green chile and jalapeño peppers, enchilada sauces, salsas and taco sauce. The Hatch Chile Company has been an industry pioneer in introducing Certified Gluten Free (GF), Non-GMO Project Veri- fied and Kosher OU products to the market. HATCH and HATCH Select branded prod- ucts are available in supermarkets and natu- ral and specialty grocery retailers across the United States. For more information, go to www.hatchchileco.com.

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