Oser Communications Group

GOURMET NEWS www.gourmetnews.com n JANUARY 2017 n GOURMET NEWS 1 2 6 Crofter's Food Ltd.: More Than Just Great Taste from Source to Spread Over the past 27 years, Crofter's has be- come one of the largest manufacturers of organic reduced-sugar fruit spreads and preserves, but with every jar Crofter's is looking to satisfy more than just jam lovers taste buds. With the rise of more big food corporations, GMOs and increasing usage of pesticides and herbicides, today's con- sumer is more concerned about clean ingre- dients, transparency and traceability than ever before. Today, all of Crofter's products are certi- fied USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Ver- ified, gluten-free and BPA-free. "Most companies do 20 percent organic and the rest is conventional production — we're 100 per- cent organic output," said Gerhard Latka, President of Crofter's. The company is a leader in product vis- ibility, and committed to traceability in raw material sourcing by working with or- ganizations such as the Non-GMO Project, Quality Assurance International for or- ganic certification and NSF for food safety. In-house quality controls are unpar- alleled. Using the latest technology like the High Performance Liquid Chromato- graph with Dual Mass Spectrometer Crofter's tests organic raw materials for the absence of over 450 of the most com- monly used pesticides and herbicides down to 0.003 ppm. Food safety audits are also a requirement in today's marketplace. Crofter's quality management system meets the requirements for SQF Level 2 Global Food Safety Initiative. Particular Ingredients, Premium Products The company's fruit spreads all start with top-notch quality ingredients. "We're very particular about every single ingredient that goes into our fruit products. The organic blueberries are harvested near Lac St. John, Quebec. We also use heritage fruit varieties like Senga Sengana strawberries, Williamette raspberries and Morello cherries for full flavor profiles that are dark and vibrant in color," Latka said. Crofter's has also partnered with organizations such as the Green Cane Project, which promotes sustain- able sugarcane production, from soil prepa- ration, planting and pest control to processing. The Green Cane Project sugar is also Rainforest Alliance certified and fair trade certified. "We're proud to use sugar from a source that's truly making a differ- ence," says Latka. Meeting Consumer Demand Crofter's continues the push for organic and premium ingredients in the company's newest phase of expansion. "We're adding a brand-new state-of-the-art 60,000-square- foot production plant which will nearly triple our current capacity" said Latka. From the local level to na- tional retail and global food supply chain, Crofter's stands out as a leader in a fairly small market. "We sell products under our own brand name and we do a lot of private labeling for many top supermarket chains. We're sort of a big fish in a small pond and jam isn't a large category or one that's growing," ex- plained Latka. People aren't necessarily eating more jam, but they are choosing more nutritious prod- ucts with less sugar, organic and traceable in- gredients. "The way we're keeping up with the large national corporations is by putting an emphasis on our 100 percent organic out- puts and doing more good with our prod- ucts," says Latka. Whatever fruit consumers fancy, Crofter's Food Ltd. is serving it up in a jar that's jam packed with reasons to feel good about what's inside. For more information, visit www.crofters organic.com. Lékué Presents New Deep Steam Case for Cooking Healthy Meals in Minutes Lékué presents the Deep Steam Case de- signed for cooking healthy foods such as shellfish, stews, soups and vegetables. The Deep Steam Case is a microwave pot, which offers a faster, nutritious way to prepare meals. Steam cooking in the microwave is healthier for two reasons: it maintains more of the foods' nutrients and it requires little or no fat. The Deep Steam Case is made from 100 percent premium platinum silicone and withstands temperatures from -76°F – 428°F. This is the same silicone that is used for baby bottle nipples and medical tubes. The product is food-safe and odor- and stain-resistant. The Deep Steam Case, available in green or red, is sold in two sizes: a 1-2 portion size and 3-4 portion size. The smaller size is 8.5- inches long, 6-inches wide and 3.3-inches tall. It holds 17-ounces and retails for $30. The large steam case is 10-inches long, 8- inches wide and 4.5- inches tall. It holds 1 quart. The large Deep Steam Case includes an easy to follow, 4- color cookbook: One Pot Cooking. The re- tail price for the two items together is $40. "In each corner of the globe, cooking methods and ingredients are constantly changing so Lékué works day in day out to provide solutions for healthy, quick cook- ing," explains Tara Steffen, Marketing Di- rector for Lékué USA. "In order to explore the benefits, Lékué has carried out an intense research program with the Alícia F o u n d a t i o n (www.alicia.cat), which has led to the creation of a full range of products. The Deep Steam Case was a result of this research and is one of the Company's fa- vorites." Lékué offers a 10-year warranty on its products. For more information, visit www.lekueusa.com. Wasa Thins Delivers Whole Grain Goodness in a Snack Cracker Wasa is introducing the new Thins product line at this year's Winter Fancy Food Show. This line of whole grain crackers has a delicious taste and a satisfying crunch, a great combination that is sure to be your customer's new favorite snack. Wasa Thins are available in two flavors, including Rosemary & Sea Salt and Sesame & Sea Salt. The Rosemary & Sea Salt variety has a touch of rosemary baked in, and the crackers are topped with sea salt. The Sesame & Sea Salt variety has toasted sesame seeds kneaded in the dough, and again, each cracker is topped with sea salt. Wasa Thins are made with wholesome ingredients, delicately sea- soned, and oven baked for a one-of-a-kind taste and crispy texture, according to Wasa Senior Brand Manager Jennifer Mehlman. "It's a satisfying snack on all levels — from great taste, to whole grains helping fill you up, to the crunch many of us crave in a snack," Mehlman said. "Wasa Thins are another example of our commitment to offer- ing satisfying snacks that can easily be en- joyed throughout the day." Wasa Thins' key ingredient, whole grain flour, makes Wasa Thins a great source of grains with little fat and plenty of natural fiber. Wasa Thins carries the Whole Grain Council Seal showing eight grams or more of whole grains per serving. There are no preservatives and no cholesterol. Wasa Thins are designed to work for you either in your cracker aisle or in the deli, where they can be merchan- dised alongside hum- mus, yogurt and other dips or together with your artisan cheeses and deli meats. Package weight is 6.7 ounces, with each package containing ap- proximately 20 Thins, divided into two separate stay-fresh packs, so they'll also work well as a gift basket inclusion. Shelf life is 10 months. For more information, visit www .wasa-usa.com. Delicious Dairy Products Going Greek at Clover In celebration of its centennial anniversary, Clover introduces its newest dairy delicacy, an organic nonfat Greek yogurt line to add to its selection of more than 175 dairy prod- ucts, which range from natural and organic milks, butter and cheese, to craft ice cream. The company's superior-quality organic Greek yogurt is carefully crafted in authentic Greek tradition, using fresh Clover organic nonfat milk and the finest of premium or- ganic fruits. Silky smooth and mildly tangy, this authentically-strained yogurt has a thick, creamy texture to delight all palates. Clover's Greek yogurt comes from happy cows that enjoy American Humane Certified, family-owned farms. With the highest stan- dards for quality, environmental stewardship and animal welfare in the industry, these happy cows produce the best organic milk on the market. "Our Greek yogurts are available in five delicious flavors and make great snacks – packed with protein, calcium and live cul- tures that make them the perfect addition to a healthy diet," said Clover President and Chief Executive Officer Marcus Benedetti. "And true to our passion for excellence, they contain no artificial colors, flavors or preser- vatives." Clover organic Greek yogurts are also free of antibiotics and growth hormones and not fortified with powders or unnecessary unpro- nounceable additives. Authentically strained and with a smooth, creamy texture, Clover organic Greek yogurts are also less tangy than many other Greek yogurts. Each fruit variety is bursting with flavor and whole nu- trients, with the second ingredient listed being premium organic fruit next to the first ingredient of Clover organic nonfat milk. Sweet and tangy come together in the classic Blueberry Greek Yogurt, which combines floral and jammy notes of organic blueber- ries. Savor the fresh-picked essence of sweet, sun-kissed peaches plucked from the tree that perfectly pair with the milk to make a creamy Peach Greek Yogurt treat. And pre- pare to fall in love with the flavorful Black Cherry Greek Yogurt, exploding with tart or- ganic cherries with subtle floral notes of cas- sis and fresh-baked pie. America's favorite flavor got better, too. Clover blended its fresh milk with aromatic vanilla bean to cre- ate a rich, tantalizing Vanilla Greek Yogurt that's perfect for breakfast, a healthy snack or nutritious smoothie. And the Plain Greek Yogurt is anything but plain – this rich yo- gurt has a luxurious mouth-feel and texture, perfect in pure form or with other foods. For more information, visit www.clover petaluma.com.

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