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NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n SEPTEMBER 2016 n GOURMET NEWS N H 2 6 Alpha Packaging Focuses on Sports Nutrition with PET Wide-Mouth Options By Marny Bielefeldt, Vice President of Mar- keting at Alpha Packaging Alpha Packaging has added new sizes, gram weights, manufacturing locations and bottle shapes to offer packaging options for sports nutrition products from 1500cc to two gal- lons. Beginning this month, we're also offer- ing black polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a standard color with no color purge charge. With the recent addition of 5000cc, 6250cc and 7,500cc (two-gallon) sizes, Alpha Packaging has once again extended its line of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Indented Large Packers, offering the most complete line of sizes ranging from half- gallon to two gallons (including two styles of one-gallon Indented Packers). All of Alpha's PET Indented Large Packers are manufactured using a single-stage blow molding process. Standard colors are clear, white, cobalt blue, black, dark green, light amber and dark amber. Bottles are avail- able with low minimums for standard col- ors; custom colors require a minimum of 10,000 pieces with a $500 purge charge, or Alpha will waive the purge charge for orders of 50,000 pieces or more. In addition to the family of PET Indented Round Packers, Alpha also offers three sizes of square PET Plaza Jars with grip areas. The family includes a 32-ounce, 64-ounce and one-gallon size. The 32-ounce Plaza Jar fea- tures an 89mm neck, and the two larger sizes both have a 110mm neck large enough for scoops and spoons. However, with the con- venient grip areas, they are also easy to hold in one hand while pouring out the contents. In addition to sports nutrition powders, Alpha's Plaza Jars are ideal for dry food products and powders, in- cluding coffee, loose tea, herbs and spices, soup mixes, cereals, dried beans and legumes, candies, nuts and pretzels. If you prefer high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles for your sports nutrition powders and dry supplements, Alpha's line of straight-sided HDPE canisters offers 11 sizes and three neck finishes to accommodate different styles of closures. Samples can be ordered at www.alphap.com. For more information, go to www.alphap.com, call 800.421.4772, email marketing@alphap .com or stop by booth #6325. Boost Your Energy with OKF's Vita Vera Water OKF is a world leading premium beverage manufacturer that has produced approxi- mately 750 types of drinks and has exported to 160 countries in America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Based on the outstanding tech- nology in 1997, OKF Aloe Vera King, which has been evaluated as the beginning and standard of aloe drink, was produced to tar- get the world market. It is leading the aloe drink market as the world's No.1 brand, oc- cupying 76 percent of the aloe drink market share and holding a patent in 180 countries. Aloe vera contains over 200 active compo- nents, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharide and fatty acids – no wonder it's used for such a wide range of remedies! The bulk of the aloe vera leaf is filled with a clear gel-like substance, which is approximately 99 percent water. Aloe vera contains a wealth of nutrients, like vitamins A, C, E and B12, as well as minerals like potassium, zinc and magne- sium. It also provides powerful antioxi- dants, helps to balance metabolism, promotes oral health, may boost the im- mune system and even support normal circulation and blood pressure. In addi- tion to its many internal health benefits, drinking aloe vera juice enables you to ingest the plant's nutrients without dealing with the unpleasant taste of fresh aloe. Vita Vera Water comes in four dis- tinct flavors: Energy-V, Refreshed, Balance and Ultra-C. Boost your energy with Vita Vera Water. OKF's Vita Vera Water is a great thirst quencher, fortified with functional ingredients, fruit and plant extracts. For more information, go to www.pocasinternational.com or stop by booth #1258. Solar Roast Coffee Offers Commercial Solar Powered Coffee Roaster In the digital world, where music is free and we're inundated with easily-duplicated infor- mation, what is scarce? Human contact. Things that vanish in time. Things that are handcrafted, or have to be sought out. Things that identify personal connection to a pas- sion. Solar Roast Coffee customers under- stand this. Its customers focus on health and the environment. Its customers are people who appreciate and enjoy the finer things in life. Simple products. Great products. Its cus- tomers are helping to save the planet one cup of coffee at a time. The unique roasting system also creates a very unique flavor. "Because we do not burn gas in the roasting process, we are able to solar-aroma roast for 100 percent of the batch. This means we roast coffee in a high humidity oven in a manner that is impossible for virtually every other coffee roaster. The flavors are smooth and mellow without the harsh dryness associated with air or tradi- tional drum roasters.," said Michael Hartkop. Michael and David Harktop's story begins like most success stories; they had a problem that needed a solution. It was 2004 and they knew global climate change was happening and they wanted to help. Mike was an ap- prenticed Coffee Roast Master and David was a Special Effects Artist and part-time In- ventor who was interested in solar energy. Using solar concentrated energy – which had only been really exploited by children with magnifying glasses – the brothers came up with a plan. With their parent's old satel- lite dish, 100 plastic mirrors and a broccoli strainer they built their first solar powered coffee roaster. They called the first roaster Helios I, named after the Greek god of sun. "Helios I was able to roast one pound of coffee at a time. I knew we had something special, but my brother and I were still work- ing at our 'real' jobs. We knew we had to build a bigger roaster if we wanted to get anywhere," said Michael. In the summer of 2005, they built Helios II, which doubled roasting capacity. They began attending fes- tivals and events through- out Oregon to market and generate buzz for their new and unique product. Continuing their growth, in 2006 they went mobile with the Helios III. The new roaster could roast up to five pounds of coffee at a time, was constructed onto a trailer and eas- ily folded up to take their solar roasting ex- perience on the road. "The mobility of the roaster wasn't just for convenience. It was a necessity. We knew we had a business sustainability issue. Southern Oregon only gave us three or four months of sunshine a year. So we looked around even- tually deciding on the sunny town of Pueblo, Colorado," Michael explained. Business is brisk in Pueblo, Colorado. From the opening day in 2007 to 2016 Solar Roast Coffee has gained a strong following of walk in customers and 350-plus whole- sale customers. The team constructed a much larger Helios IV roaster as well as the newest Helios V solar-elec- tric roaster to keep up with demand. Helios V departed from previous designs, rather using a grid-tied photo-voltaic array that powers a custom electric heater for the roaster and provides electric- ity to the café and roasterie. "Solar Roast Coffee started with two brothers in their family garage. Family and community are the heart of everything we do," said Chief Growth Officer, Dave Ray. "We work together like a family. We treat each other like a family. And sometimes we even fight like a family." "We are committed to being part of the en- vironmental solution," said Hartkop. "Our mission is, 'To cultivate a healthy and uplift- ing community through the development and promotion of high quality, environmentally conscious products.'" For more information, visit www.solar roast.com or stop by booth #8908. Chatham Village Croutons Sprouting with Flavor In a tiny sandwich shop nestled in the town of Chatham, Massachusetts on the velbow of Cape Cod, a great tradition of baking the freshest breads, rolls and unique homemade croutons was born. Today, the tradition still lives as the bakers at Chatham Village ® con- tinue to use the signature process to create the freshest tasting, deliciously crunchy croutons. For the traditional line, the bakers at Chatham Village start with 'made-from- scratch' French bread dough. After the rich, crusty loaves cool, they are cut to the perfect size, seasoned with a special seasoning blend, and baked again to seal in that excep- tional Chatham Village Flavor. The tradi- tional line includes Garlic & Butter, Caesar, Ranch, Cheese & Garlic, Garden Herb, Sea Salt & Pepper and Fat Free Garlic & Onion. Chatham Village also has introduced some innovative new products to appeal to consumers that are interested in new eating trends. Today's consumer is looking be- yond wheat to a variety of whole grains, in- cluding ancient/heritage grains. These grains have remained un- changed over hundreds or thousands of years. A sprouted ancient grain has just begun to grow into a new plant. Sprouted and ancient grains have begun to appear in many grain- based packaged foods, including ce- reals, breads, noodles, etc. Now sprouted ancient grains are available in crouton form! These delicious new crou- tons begin as fresh baked bread made from a signature blend of non-GMO flour con- taining quinoa, traditionally from Bolivia and Peru; amaranth, enjoyed since the time of the Aztecs; spelt; and 100 percent whole wheat. Then the bread is cut, baked and seasoned for a delicious crunch – the same delicious crunch and quality con- sumers have come to expect from Chatham Village, a brand they know and trust. The products contain no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or colors; they are made with non-GMO sunflower oil and flour. They are available in the fla- vors of Aged Parmesan, Garlic and Butter and Seasoned. Chatham Village Croutons can be enjoyed on salads, in soups or as a snack. Learn more at www.marzetti.com.

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