Oser Communications Group

NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n MARCH 2017 n GOURMET NEWS N H 3 0 Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Ariston Specialties Ariston's customers recognize the quality of its Extra Virgin Olive Oil; the taste has created a loyal following over the past 20 years. Ariston Extra Virgin Olive Oil has been described by expert olive oil tasters as having a smooth, well rounded olive- fruit taste with buttery finish and no acidic aftertaste. This authentic extra virgin olive oil is made from Koroneiki variety olives, native to the Messinias Region of Greece. The taste will take you on a gourmet tour in this region of Greece, without the plane tickets. Due to the success of Ariston's Extra Vir- gin Olive Oil and the demand for organic, Ariston is proud to introduce Ariston Certi- fied Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This olive oil is made simply by crushing olives and extracting the juice. It is obtained di- rectly from hand picked, sustainably grown and organic olives and is cold extracted under constantly controlled hygienic condi- tions. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used at any stage of the production. This oil is exceptionally low in acidity (0.2 to 0.4 percent), resulting in a high quality extra virgin olive oil. Rest as- sured that Ariston's olive oils have not been blended and are scientifically proven. The K Value is the angle of re- fraction of UV light placed in a sample of olive oil to test for impurities. The K232 is 1.2, the maximum allowed for Extra Virgin is 2.5. The K268 is 0.12 and the maximum allowed for Extra Vir- gin Olive Oil is 0.220. The Delta K be- tween the two is 0.003. As you can see, a very small delta K means that it is a single product, and no mixing. Ariston's up-to- date chemical analysis on this oil is avail- able upon request. Ariston's Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil pairs well with salads, citrus flavors, fish, chicken, pork, drizzled over red meats, vegetables, roasted vegetables, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese or any Greek dish, etc. It is great as a dipping oil as well. Enjoy! Ariston now offers Ariston's Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil in both the Aris- ton Bulk Program or ready for retail prepackaged in 16.9-ounce bottles. For more information, call 860.263.8498, email aristonspecialties@hotmail.com or go to www.aristonspecialties.com. Follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook .com/aristonoliveoil. Fall River Wild Rice Shows How Easy and Versatile Wild Rice Can Be An interview with Walt Oilar, General Man- ager, Fall River Wild Rice. GN: Tell our readers about your company. What's your main line of business? WO: Fall River Wild Rice is a grower- owned cooperative located in the rural mountains of Northeastern California. It is an area well suited for growing wild rice. We supply wild rice to the retail and foodservice markets. GN: What is it that separates you from the competition and makes your company unique? WO: We are a small company from 'small town America.' With that comes a great de- sire to be customer service oriented, which we fulfill wholeheartedly. When you call our company you're not calling a call center. Nine times out of 10 you'll be talking to me and I'll personally handle any situation. I love talking to all callers! GN: What about products? WO: Though we're small, we're also inno- vative. In my mind our greatest achievement and contribution to the industry to date is starting the 'fully cooked' rice products. Wild rice requires a long cook time – around an hour. The solution was Fully Cooked Wild Rice in a retort, flexible package. This not only earned us awards, but more importantly gives us the greater satisfaction of helping consumers have one of the world's healthiest grains 'at their fingertips.' Because it's more accessible and easier to prepare, more people are able to live a healthier lifestyle by utiliz- ing wild rice in this fully cooked format. GN: What particular product will you be showcasing? WO: We'll be displaying all of our products. What we're especially excited to show is how easy and versatile wild rice can be. We'll be sampling a variety of products and uses for wild rice. GN: What do you hope to get out of the show? WO: We love attending this show – it's such a great atmosphere! We hope we can reach more people with our products. Wild rice is a grain with tremendous health benefits. We hope we can help more people discover this wholesome, healthy grain and take advan- tage of our unique products. If we've done that, then we've been successful! For more information, visit www.fallriver wildrice.com, call 800.626.4366, email wildrice@shasta.com or stop by booth #5861. WooBamboo: Inspiring the World By Christopher Gregg Fous, Co-Founder and Creative Director, WooBamboo WooBamboo isn't a dental hygiene com- pany. I know we're not because it's not teeth I'm passionate about. It isn't toothpaste that keeps me awake at night. I'm obsessed, how- ever, with this idea of inspiring the world. That makes WooBamboo an inspiration company. Oral care is just how we do it. We create simple, beautiful and universal products that are eco-friendly alternatives to the ones everyone uses, no matter what na- tionality, age, sex, religion or lifestyle. We all brush our teeth. Almost everyone in the world, however, uses plastic toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste – all ending up incin- erated, cluttering a landfill or polluting an ocean. Billions of people are doing it. It adds up something fierce. WooBamboo designs our products, how- ever, to be more. They're reminders – sym- bols. They'll remind you with every use that you've made a planet-friendly decision. You'll feel good, and want to do more. Just think – if millions of people start and end their day feeling good about themselves, wanting to make more eco-friendly choices, then we've changed the world. You can make a difference with the decisions you make and the products you choose to en- dorse. That's a powerful, beautiful thing. Ask either of my sons, Ryker (5) or Torren (3), "What's the most important thing in the world?" Either one will look up and proudly say, "Be nice to people." Cheesy or not, at WooBamboo we believe in the power of kindness. We're nice to people. Other than my being the creative and conceptual arm of WooBamboo, I'm not partic- ularly an expert in anything in- dustry-relevant. I'm not a dentist. I'm not a retail pro. I'm just a nice guy – and so are my partners Steve and Tom. So are all of our team mem- bers. I truly believe that's why WooBamboo is where it is today (CVS, Kroger and Target, to name a few) – because we believe in what we're doing. We believe in positivity. You'll hear that business is cutthroat. It's not. Peo- ple can be. But business is about working to- gether. It's about sharing. It's about mutual benefit, making connections and leaving positive impressions on people. Deals are made more with the heart than they are with the head. We believe this – and follow it re- lentlessly. 2017 will be the birth year of an entire line of natural and delicious toothpaste, mouthwash and biodegradable floss. More and more plastic brushes are being replaced with ours made of bamboo, and soon, more and more stores will re- place traditional products with those consid- ered more ecologically conscious. Sustainability is going mainstream, and it's exciting. I'm incredibly honored to play a part in this industry, and am so thankful for the companies out there that inspire me to do what I do, and the stores willing to make the switch. Together, we are strong, and every one of us can make a difference and it's a beautiful thing. If we innovate, if we inspire, we can change the world. Visit WooBamboo at booth #3902. Distinctive Flavors from Xochitl Xochitl is a family owned and operated busi- ness committed to providing the best quality products for its customers and their families. The company's vision is to become the lead- ing natural snack food provider in the coun- try. These goals are supported through ongoing research and testing of its products as well as a staff that is committed to the ad- vancement and growth of the brand. Xochitl's recipes are derived from ancient Mayan and Aztec methods, which have been passed down from generation to generation. These are the same products that its cus- tomers have continued to purchase over the years knowing and trusting they can expect quality and consistency from the Xochitl brand. Xochitl brings a variety of traditional corn tortilla chips, as well as distinct flavors such as Picositos con Limon (spicy with lime), Cajun and Garlic, to name a few. Its Pre- mium White and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips bring a fresh sensation to the palate, espe- cially the Premium Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, which possess a sweeter taste. It also has an unsalted version for the sodium-conscious consumer. The company's salsas range from very mild flavors to habanero salsa with exceptional flavor and incredible spice. It also has a festive selection of sea- sonal items to impress your guests during the holidays. Xochitl is constantly bring- ing new flavors and products of various sizes and options to the market. All of its products obtain a world of fla- vors and textures, which are sure to be a great addition to a variety of dishes. Xo- chitl's Totopos de Maíz (corn chips) are oven-baked and quickly fried to perfection with non-hydrogenated oils to create deli- ciously thin and crispy chips. Most of its products are naturally cho- lesterol free with 0 grams trans-fat, certified gluten- free and Non-GMO Veri- fied, as well as kosher certified. Try its delicious Totopos de Maíz (corn chips) with any of its gourmet salsas or just by themselves – you will be transported to the old world of the Aztecs. The product line is currently avail- able in specialty, natural and major retailers throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K. Visit Xochitl at booth #5458.

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