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NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n SEPTEMBER 2014 n GOURMET NEWS N H 5 8 Freekeh is prepared like rice, and is versatile for a variety of cooking applications. NH: Is it an ancient grain? TD: Yes! Freekeh's origins are from the Middle East dating back nearly 2,000 years. It is made by roasting immature green wheat. The word freekeh means 'to rub' in Arabic. NH: How does it compare to quinoa or brown rice in protein and fiber? TD: Freekeh is comparable in protein to quinoa, and has nearly three times more pro- tein than brown rice! Freekeh has more fiber than brown rice, and according to the Ameri- can Nutrition and Dietetics Association, is low glycemic and a good source of antioxidants. NH: Where does Freekeh Foods grow its freekeh? TD: Freekeh Foods manufactures organic freekeh in partnership with North American Farmers. We offer three retail packages of or- ganic freekeh, and supply freekeh in bulk for foodservice as well as industrial ingredient buyers. We offer both organic and commer- cial freekeh, and supply cracked, whole berry freekeh and freekeh flour. NH: What are your goals for the show? TD: We are introducing and sharing our pas- sion for Freekeh with those who have not ex- perienced it before. We want to begin to develop enduring relationships with cus- tomers who are committed to promoting Freekeh as a means to ecological sustainabil- ity, improved health, and to experience a de- liciously unique and diverse grain. NH: Do you think it's too trendy or will it stand the test of time? TD: The more consumers learn about freekeh – and that it's nutrient dense, drought tolerant, requires less water to grow than rice and that it's delicious, versatile and easy to make – the more we believe that freekeh will continue to grow in popularity! For more information, visit www .freekeh-foods.com. Freekeh Foods (Cont'd. from p. 1) is 100 percent employee-owned, is the rec- ognized leader in the industry, producing the highest quality nut butters and honeys avail- able in the very best grocery and health food stores, nationwide. No GMO Ingredients and Gluten-Free The story of Once Again continues to get better and better. It has never used GMO ingredients in any of its products and all of its nut butters both natural and organic are Non GMO Verified – something that en- lightened consumers recognize and respect through their purchasing power. A recent ABC News poll showed that 52 percent of consumers do not believe GMO foods are safe, while another 13 percent expressed uncertainty about this issue. Once Again offers products that attract an ever-increas- ing segment of consumers who seek the highest quality food possible. Gluten sensitivity is also a huge issue in consumer markets today. Once Again is proud to announce that its products have re- ceived gluten-free certification by Celiac Sprue. This certification assures customers who need to live gluten-free because of se- rious health concerns that its products sup- port their needs. Celiac Central, an organization supporting those with prob- lems digesting gluten, reports that 18 mil- lion Americans have gluten sensitivity. Once Again's products are positioned to nourish this huge demographic. Recipes Galore and Increased Pantry Sales When you feature Once Again products in your marketplace, you will increase pantry item sales. Its nut butters are featured in many recipes created by a professional chef. Thus when your make room for its products on your shelves, expect to move even more milk, eggs, butter and a full array of other staples. Few people will be shopping for a solitary jar of nut butter! Inspired consumers fill up their carts. Using the Internet and Social Media to Increase Sales OANB uses the Internet and social media on a daily basis to bolster sales. It offers online coupons via Hopster, giving consumers ample opportunities to save and stock up on their favorite products. Its Facebook presence is also dynamic. It interacts with consumers through regu- lar giveaways, through sharing great news – for example, Once Again is voted num- ber one nationally for organic tahini, cashew and sunflower butters – and through posting a wealth of recipe cre- ations using its products. OANB's family of satisfied consumers is a diverse and ever-growing demographic, including those who have been faithful to the brand for decades – and many newcom- ers. They include those who have stayed with OANB because of its amazingly fresh and perennially popular peanut butter, which is free of the hydrogenated oils that most commercial brands contain. (These oils have been shown to clog arteries and promote heart disease.) Join OANB today to experience the great story and adventure that is Once Again, a new American tradition! For more information, stop by booth #917. Once Again Nut Butter (Cont'd. from p. 1) of your toughest blending jobs. With its ele- gant design, incorporating a tempered glass pitcher and a stainless steel utility scoop (patent pending), the Dynablend stands out against the competition. The Tribest Dynablend Horsepower Plus has a powerful 1.1 HP motor with a stainless steel cross blade that provides all the power you need to blend everything from vegeta- bles and leafy greens to frozen fruits and ice. Competing home blenders are made of plas- tic or feature a weak motor and cannot get you the results you want. Expensive com- mercial blenders are overkill for most pur- poses. Who really needs to blend a block of wood anyway? The Dynablend Horsepower Plus is the only blender designed to minimize the health concerns that come along with plastic by using safe materials such as tempered glass and stainless steel, that are naturally BPA- free. The multi-functional stainless steel util- ity scoop that can be used to add a table- spoon of ingredients at a time, as an agitator during the blending process, and taste to make sure your creations come out perfect every time. Operating a blender has never been easier. The Dynablend Horsepower Plus comes with both pre-programmed buttons and vari- able speed control. Whether you are looking to make a quick smoothie or get that soup to the perfect consistency, the Dynablend puts those controls right at your fingertips. The Dynablend Horsepower Plus is truly the perfect blend of high-quality materials, performance, control and affordable price. Tribest strives to produce the most innova- tive and affordable products that will make healthy living easy. Tribest promotes healthy living through its appliances and completely backs each Dynablend Horsepower Plus high power blender with a full 10-year warranty. For more information, visit booth #1814, call 888-254-7336, or visit www.tribestlife.com. Tribest Dynablend (Cont'd. from p. 1) their simplicity. True to its namesake – the ancient Greek word for torch – PANOS thinks of its brands as a beacon for con- sumers who are increasingly demanding a wide spectrum of real, simple and whole- some specialty foods. PANOS brands takes its leadership role in the natural, organic and specialty foods' marketplace seriously and values the trust that its consumers and customers put in its brands every day. Having earned decades of consumer loy- alty, its brands are recognized in the natural and specialty world, from KA-ME ® Asian meal solutions and snacks to Mi-Del ® cook- ies and Sesmark ® crackers to Andrew & Everett ® premium rBGH-BST Hormone Free cheeses. Its brands touch multiple cate- gories from convenient, ready-to-use com- plementary ingredients to cookies and crack- ers to gourmet cooking pastes and wholesome baking ingredients. In all in- stances, its collection of brands speaks di- rectly to sustained consumer trends such as natural and organic, ethnic, vegetarian and restricted-diet and gourmet foods. PANOS brands has a "clean" label phi- losophy, which means that it makes sure that its products are made from real, sim- ple and natural ingredients that are not only recognizable but also traceable. As a part of this strategy, it works closely with its supply chain network to source Non- GMO ingredients, with the goal of achiev- ing 100 percent Non-GMO compliance. To date, it has initiated the process of verify- ing over 70 products across its brands. In fact, three of its brands – Amore ® Italian Cooking Pastes and Liquid Spices, Chat- field's ® premium baking products and Tap'n Apple™ spreads and pie fillings – have already achieved Non-GMO Project verification status this year. Amore currently has 10 of its products verified by the Non-GMO Project. Con- sumers will soon be able to see the Non- GMO Project verification seal on these products including its Tomato Pastes, An- chovy Paste and Flavor Spritzers. Chatfield's is a premium line of pure, natural and whole- some baking products, including vegan and kosher ingredients that are dairy, nut and soy free that don't compromise on taste. Perfect for those with or without food allergies, you can bake with confidence and give your fam- ily the best. It is pleased to offer consumers Non-GMO verification of three products: Carob Powder, Cocoa Powder and Date Sugar. Tap'n Apple is a line of simple, wholesome, fresh fruit spreads and pie fill- ings bursting with nostalgic homemade tastes. Its Apple Butter Spread, which con- sists of apples and apple cider, is now Non- GMO verified. In its efforts to elevate transparency in sourcing Non-GMO ingredients, PANOS brands has demonstrated its commitment to provide the highest quality goods for the Natural Foods' consumer. Its commitment is real and steadfast, as it aggressively moves toward Non-GMO Project verification across its portfolio. For more information, call 201-843-8900 or visit booth #1433. PANOS brands (Cont'd. from p. 1) Sticky Fingers Bakeries: Customers Praise New Gluten-Free Scone Mixes You may not be able to eat gluten, but you can still enjoy scones with Sticky Fingers Bakeries gluten-free scone mixes. "Gluten free shouldn't mean taste free, es- pecially when it comes to baked goods," said Tom Owens, who co-founded Sticky Fingers Bakeries with Ted Vogelman in 1987. The company that started as a retail bakery in San Diego now offers one the largest se- lections of all-natural English scones mixes, as well as muffin mixes, Irish soda bread mix, brownie mixes and premium fruit spreads, butters and curds. Given the increasing customer demand, going gluten-free was a natural next step. The new line of scones is available in Orig- inal, Apple Oat, Meyer Lemon and Blue- berry. Whether it's tart bits of real Meyer Lemon or a sweet bite of spiced apple, the high-quality ingredients complement the light and crumbly texture of these make-at- home treats. The mixes are certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) and pro- duced in dedicated gluten-free facilities ac- cording to GFCO standards. They're also preservative-free, and contain no artificial colors, flavors, and trans fats or saturated fats. "Many people say they can't tell these scones are gluten-free," Owens said. "We take that as a compliment because while we want these scones to fit with our customers' gluten-free diets, we also want anyone who eats them to think they're delicious." For more information, call 800-458-5826 or visit www.stickyfingersbakeries.com.

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