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58 GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com Green Valley Pecan: Innovation and Quality In 1948, fertile soil, plenty of sunshine and a dream was all it took for Keith Walden to fulfill his vision of establishing his family farm in the Santa Cruz River Valley south of Tucson. Today, Green Valley Pecan Company is the world's largest grower and processor of pecans, with over 8,000 acres of orchards in Arizona and Georgia and a modern on-site processing and storage plant in Sahuarita, Ariz. It farms, cracks, shells and packages at the farm and as a result is able to ensure the quality of each pecan. Green Valley Pecan distributes to retailers and food manufacturers throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It also ships its nutritious tree nuts directly from the farm to home kitchens. The story of how this family farm became a world pecan leader is interesting. Keith Walden was an innovative and entrepreneurial agriculturalist. He purchased land in southern Arizona from Queen Wilhemena of the Netherlands, and initially grew cotton, alfalfa, barley, corn silage and wheat, and also had a cattle feeding operation. In the '60s, Walden became concerned that synthetic fibers could put cotton out of business, so he experimented with different crops to replace it. He grew a variety of wine grapes and fruit trees. After observing these crops for almost a decade, he made a bold decision – to convert all of his farm land to pecans. Between 1965 and 1969, 240,000 pecan trees were planted on 5,000 acres. It takes a pecan tree 12 years Yolanda: The Nurse Who Nurtures a Unique Line of Gourmet Pesto Sauces It's not every day that nursing is associated with a line of freshly made pesto sauces. However, in the case of Yolanda Pesto, Yolanda Amato is the nurse behind the unique flavor and fresh homemade appeal of four varieties of pesto sauce. This is not a conventional line. The finest, freshest, allnatural ingredients are combined with a unique twist on traditional flavors that tantalize the taste buds and call for the companionship of a multitude of dishes. A nurse by day, passionate foodie by night and full-time mom to a son with spe- cial needs and two daughters, Yolanda discovered her passion for pesto in 1993 when she tried the recipe on a sun-dried tomato container. It was her very first exposure to pesto, and she subsequently tweaked and experimented until she was satisfied with her interpretation of Sundried Tomato Pesto. Her foray into basil/garlic pesto began with a recipe from a friend that diverged into Classic Almond Pesto when she found she had only almonds in the pantry. Yolanda's Roasted Red Pepper Pesto in- What's New with Holland's Family Cheese Rolf and Marieke Penterman are first generation Wisconsin dairy farmers who moved from the Netherlands to Wisconsin in 2002. Because Holland is so small and the population so dense, farmers are limited on how much land they can obtain for dairying. Having both grown up on small, 60-head dairy farms in the eastern part of Holland, Rolf and Marieke wanted to pursue their passion for dairy farming in an area that would afford them the capabilities of expansion. Wisconsin, with its vast dairy base and farm-friendly people seemed ideal. Marieke began making cheese in November 2006, and won her first award at the 2007 United States Cheese Championship. Since that first win, Marieke and her team have added over 80 world and national awards for their cheese in seven years, and most recently won the Best of Show, Grand Champion at the United States Cheese Championship in 2013. Marieke™ is their signature Gouda made with an authentic Old World Gouda recipe. The equipment, cultures, herbs and spices are all imported from Holland. The rBGHfree cow's milk couldn't be fresher, being piped directly from the first milking of the day into the processing vat. The curd is handpacked into 18-pound forms before going Enjoy Life Foods Expands CategoryLeading Baking Chocolate Line Enjoy Life Foods, the leading brand in the Free From category, introduces Dark Chocolate Baking Morsels to its No. 1 selling Allergy Friendly Baking Chocolate line. Featuring 69 percent cacao and clean ingredients of unsweetened chocolate and natural cane sugar, it is the only gluten-free dark chocolate morsel on the market that is also dairy-, nut- and soy-free. The Dark Chocolate Morsels are the third SKU in Enjoy Life's top-selling baking chocolate line, joining Semi-Sweet Mini Chips and Semi-Sweet Mega Chunks. As with all Enjoy Life products, the Dark Chocolate Morsels are free from gluten and the top eight common food allergens, certified kosher, made in a dedicated nut-free facility, verified non-GMO and made with no artificial ingredients. Available now, the SRP for a 9-ounce bag to achieve its maximum yield, further underscoring what a bold and risky venture this was. Today, Green Valley remains family owned and operated. Under the leadership of Keith's son Dick, it continues to embrace innovation as it has become recognized throughout the world as a producer of quality pecans For the fifth year in a row, Green Valley Pecan recently earned the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Certification, a global standard used to assess food manufacturers and food safety practices. Green Valley Pecan was awarded the highest grade possible, and is the only integrated grower and processor of pecans in the world to hold this level of certification. Green Valley Pecan recognized early the value of organic farming. It was one of the first suppliers of USDA-certified organic vokes the smoky flavor of fire-roasted red peppers, and her one-of-a-kind Cajun Pepper Pesto speaks for itself. As a nurse, Yolanda's concerns extend beyond flavor to the health aspects of her product. Her pestos are packed with antioxidants and are minimally processed to enable maximum nutrient value, and contain no preservatives or artificial colors. Pesto: The New Ketchup Yolanda's vision is that pesto, with its explosive flavor and healthy ingredients, will become as commonplace as ketchup on the condiment tray. Packaged in a PET plastic squeezable bottle, Yolanda Pestos are lightweight, portable and durable. Al- n JANUARY 2014 n GOURMET NEWS pecans, and today it is one of the largest. Its organic pecans are grown and processed without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. None of its pecans are genetically modified. The nutritional value of the pecan is well known. They are high in protein, potassium, iron, calcium and vitamins A, B and C. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and are ranked in the top category of all foods for antioxidants. Recent research also points to pecan consumption as a way to lower cholesterol and aid in weight loss and maintenance. For more information, go to www.green valleypecan.com. Green Valley Pecan also sells direct to consumers at www.the pecanstore.com. Be sure to stop by booth #749 at the Winter Fancy Food Show. ready popular with pasta, pesto is an ideal partner for pizza, burgers, sandwiches and just about any dish. It's also delicious solo as a dip. The Food Network's Bobby Flay was famously quoted as saying, "Pesto is the new ketchup." Enrich Your Menu With summer just around the corner, fire up the BBQ and pick a pesto flavor to compliment grilled meat or fish. Spread liberally on crostini or serve with mozzarella and peaches for a deliciously refreshing appetizer. For recipes and serving suggestions or to sign up for newsletters regarding health, nutrition and recipes, visit www.yolandapesto.com. under the press. It is then brined for 60 hours. The wheels are transferred from the brine to a special curing cellar, and aged on Dutch pine planks which absorb the liquid as the cheese ages. The wooden planks are cleaned daily and turned to prevent mold. During this time, the breathable coating is hand-painted on the cheese. After the initial daily turning is complete, the cheese is cleaned and turned twice weekly for as long as it is in their facility. This upcoming year will be the biggest one for Holland's Family Cheese. In July of 2013, they broke ground on a state-of-the-art dairy and creamery located right on State Highway 29 at the exit of Thorp, Wis. The dairy, which was completed in November of 2013, is milking 300 head of Brown Swiss, red and black and white and black Holstein cows. The creamery, which is scheduled for completion in January 2014, will continue producing Marieke Gouda and the hope is to make ice cream and yogurt in the near future. Marieke and Rolf and their team of dedicated staff are known for their passion for their craft. Be sure to take some time to stop in at their new location in Thorp and settle in for a hot cup of coffee and some good conversation. of Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Baking Morsels is $4.99. foods including cookies, granola, cereal, snack bars, seed and fruit mixes, chocolate bars, baking chocolate and healthy lentilbased chips, all of which are sold in natural food, conventional grocery stores and mass retailers throughout the United States and Canada, as well as specialty online retailers. Enjoy Life's mission and company promise is to deliver safe, better-for-you products free from the top eight allergens, but not free from taste so everyone can Eat Freely. About Enjoy Life Foods Enjoy Life Foods is the leading brand in the Free From category. All products are gluten-free and free from the top eight allergens (NO: wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish and shellfish) making them safe for over 100 million individuals who live with food intolerances. Enjoy Life was founded by Scott Mandell 12 years ago with the mission to create greattasting, allergy-friendly snacks. Today the product line has grown to over 40 unique For more information, visit www.hollands familycheese.com, call 715-669-5230 or stop by booth #4911 at the Winter Fancy Food Show. Visit Enjoy Life Foods at booth #1458 at Winter Fancy Foods for more information.