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News & Notes BRIEFS GOURMET NEWS APRIL 2016 www.gourmetnews.com NEWS & NOTES 6 Ahold USA Commits to Cage-Free As part of its responsible retailing efforts, Ahold USA has announced plans to make its companies' private label shell eggs 100 percent cage-free by 2022. Ahold USA's retail divisions – Stop & Shop, Giant Food of Landover, Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Martin's and online grocer Peapod – now offer cage-free, free-range, organic, and traditional egg varieties for its customers. Approximately 80 percent of all eggs sold among Ahold USA companies are sold as house brands or private label. Ella's Kitchen Becomes B Corporation Ella's Kitchen ® , the UK's number one baby food brand and a brand of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., is now certified as a B Corporation. It joins a prestigious global movement of certified B Corps spanning 42 countries across 130 industries, which have been recognized as pioneering companies that use business as a force for good. The announcement coincides with the 10th anniversary of Ella's Kitchen and celebrates the company's founding mission: to improve children's lives through developing healthy relationships with food. This founding purpose is manifest in the company's unique approach to the way it runs its business. Online Grocer Door to Door Organics Announces Nebraska Expansion Online grocer Door to Door Organics expanded into Omaha, Nebraska, at the end of February. During the growing season, Door to Door Organics customers enjoy a selection of regionally grown produce for their regular weekly or biweekly deliveries, thanks to a uniquely integrated mix of distributors and farmers offering USDA-certified organic produce. Customers can also select from nearly 1,000 natural groceries to add to their box, including local items like milk from Good Natured Family Farms. Weis Reports Q3 Sales Gains Weis Markets, Inc.'s third quarter sales increased 4.1 percent to $711.9 million while its comparable store sales increased 4.0 percent compared to the third quarter in 2014. During the 13-week period ended September 26, 2015, the company generated $12.8 million in net income, down 5.4 percent, compared to the same period in 2014. The company attributed its sales and comparable sales increases to promotions tied to its loyalty marketing program and the expansion of its gas rewards program. In the third quarter, it generated strong sales increases in produce, meat and the health and beauty care category. The company's net income was impacted by its move to increase its base hourly associate wage rate as of August 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon has announced a proposed rule designed to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program (SNAP) participants in- creased access to healthy foods by requiring stores that accept SNAP to stock a wider array of food choices. "USDA is committed to expanding ac- cess for SNAP participants to the types of foods that are important to a healthy diet," Concannon said. "This proposed rule ensures that retailers who accept SNAP benefits offer a variety of products to support healthy choices for those par- ticipating in the program." The 2014 Farm Bill required USDA to develop regulations to ensure that stores that accept SNAP offer a broader variety of healthy food choices. The stocking provisions in the proposed rule would require SNAP-authorized retail establish- ments to offer a larger inventory and va- riety of healthy food options so that recipients have access to more healthy food choices. SNAP retailers would be required to offer seven varieties of qual- ifying foods in four staple food groups for sale on a continuous basis, along with perishable foods in at least three of the four staple food groups. The staple foods groups are dairy products; breads and cereals; meats, poultry and fish; and fruits and vegetables. In addition, the proposal calls for retailers to stock at least six units within each variety, lead- ing to a total of at least 168 required food items per store. This proposed rule is one of many ways USDA is working to expand access to healthy foods for SNAP recipients. USDA has piloted the use of incentives to purchase healthy foods at point of sale in various venues, including farmers markets and small groceries where the incentive provided for additional pur- chase of local produce. The 2014 farm bill provided $100 million for Food In- security Nutrition Incentive (FINI) grants to expand this effort, which USDA awarded to grantees in the spring and fall of 2015. USDA has also worked to in- crease SNAP participants' access to farm- ers markets and direct marketing farmers, resulting in over 6,000 author- ized locations – an eight-fold increase since the beginning of this administra- tion. USDA is working to ensure that access to food retailers is not hindered for SNAP participants as a result of this rule. Comments and suggestions on the pro- posed rule are encouraged to help USDA determine when, where, and if any flex- ibility should be provided to prevent re- ductions in SNAP client food access. The proposed rule also underscores USDA's authority under the Food and Nutrition Act to publicly disclose infor- mation about SNAP retailers disqualified or sanctioned for program violations. In- formation to be disclosed under provi- sions of the proposed rule would be limited to the name and address of the store, the owners' and officers' names, and the nature of the violation for which the retailer was sanctioned. "SNAP violations are a serious matter," Concannon said. "Public disclosure of this information is intended to serve as a deterrent against retailer fraud. The in- formation would provide the public with insight into the integrity of these busi- nesses and individuals." As the nation's first line of defense against hunger, SNAP helps put food on the table for millions of low income fam- ilies and individuals every month and is critical in the fight against hunger. SNAP is a vital supplement to the monthly food budgets of about 45 million low-income individuals. Nearly half of SNAP partici- pants are children and 10 percent are elderly. SNAP plays an important role in re- ducing both poverty and food insecurity in the United States—especially among children. SNAP is an effective and effi- cient health intervention for low-income families with a positive impact on chil- dren beginning before birth and lasting beyond childhood years, improving health, education and economic out- comes. Over 260,000 retailers nation- wide are currently authorized to redeem SNAP benefits. Comments on the proposed rule will be received for 60 (calendar) days dating from February 16. For more information see the Federal Register Notice. GN USDA Proposes Rule Requiring Wider Access to Healthy Foods Bellwether Farms, renowned for nearly 30 years for making award-winning sheep milk and cow milk cheeses, has unveiled its first mixed-milk cheese, named Black- stone. The handsome 3-1/4 pound wheels are a blend of local Jersey cow and sheep milk, dotted with black peppercorns and sporting a gorgeous dark rind. The rind re- sults from a mixture of crushed black pep- per, oil, rosemary and vegetable ash that is hand-rubbed on each wheel during its six- to-eight weeks aging at the creamery. The first wheels of Blackstone are arriving in Bay Area retailers and restaurants this month. Bellwether's proprietor and cheesemaker, Liam Callahan, developed Blackstone for an American market hungry for mixed- milk cheeses. "We like that Blackstone combines the best of both worlds," says Callahan. "Our premium Jersey cow milk gives the cheese a creamy mouthfeel while our sheep milk deepens the complex fla- vor." Callahan named the cheese Black- stone for its resemblance to the volcanic rock outcroppings surrounding the family's Sonoma County dairy farm. Bellwether Farms is a family business founded by Cindy Callahan in 1986 with a flock of sheep needed to control grass on their Sonoma land. Today, they milk 350 sheep, and every cheese and yogurt is made on the farm by Liam and his crew, while business administration is handled by Diana Calla- han, his wife. Blackstone joins the roster of Bell- wether's popular aged cheeses, Carmody, San Andreas and Pepato. The creamery's fresh and cultured products include top- selling sheep milk yogurts, Whole Milk Basket Ricotta, Crème Fraiche, Fromage Blanc and Crescenza. Another cause for celebration at Bell- wether Farms is an unprecedented fifth consecutive award for its Whole Milk Bas- ket Ricotta from the esteemed Good Food Awards competition, honoring products that are authentic and responsibly pro- duced. The exceptional flavor and texture of Bellwether's Whole Milk Basket Ricotta comes from three specific steps: First, it is made using fresh whole Jersey milk deliv- ered daily from a neighboring farm. Ricotta cheese is often made from only whey left over from cheesemaking. Second, tradi- tional cultures are introduced to coagulate the milk for a slow fermentation, develop- ing flavor and transforming it into moist, pillowy curds tasting of rich cultured cream. Faster-acting vinegar or citric acid are commonly used instead of cultures in ricotta making. Finally, the cheese is hand- ladled into perforated basket-style contain- ers to protect the tender curds in transit to stores and restaurants. This distinctive ri- cotta cheese also took a bronze medal at the 2010 World Cheese Awards in the UK, competing against fresh ricotta from Eu- rope. Bellwether Farms Whole Milk Basket Ricotta is available in specialty stores throughout the Bay Area and select regions across the U.S. GN Bellwether Farms Launches Blackstone and Celebrates Fifth Good Food Award

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