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Restaurant Daily News Sunday, May 21, 2017 5 8 MELI'S MONSTER COOKIES FIND A SWEET SPOT IN GLUTEN FREE Gluten-free living is here to stay, and gluten-free products have risen to the occasion. From restaurant items to retail products, gluten-free foods have come a long way, with better texture and deli- cious flavor, helping to pave the way for long-term success of the segment. Some categories fare better than others when it comes to consumer satisfaction. One place that has had a hard time cracking the code on gluten-free is bakery, which has lagged behind in finding success with consumers. Gluten-free cakes and cook- ies with gluten-free substitutes used for common ingredients often fall short on texture and taste. That leaves gluten-free eaters yearning for a better cookie that truly tastes like a treat, and families wish- ing they could find a cookie that satisfied the whole family – whether they eat gluten-free or not. What happens when someone real- izes the absolutely delicious cookie his or her family has enjoyed for more than a generation just happens to be naturally gluten-free? For two women – who by- the-way have been friends since the sec- ond grade – the answer was easy: share them with the world! Meli's Monster Cookies was found- ed by Melissa Blue and Melissa Mehall, two moms with an entrepreneurial spirit who recognized a need for a better-tast- ing gluten-free cookie in the market. Inspired to start Meli's Monster Cookies when her niece was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance, Melissa Blue realized the importance of having something to enjoy with a group of family or friends without having to worry about feeling left out because they were eating gluten- free. Then she realized the favorite cook- ie recipe her family had grown up loving was naturally gluten-free. With that same family recipe, and a busi- ness partner in Melissa Mehall, Meli's Monster Cookies began out of a kitchen in Austin, Texas. Today they can be found in hundreds of retail locations around the country. Unlike traditional cookies that list flour and sugar as the first two ingredi- ents, Meli's Monster Cookies begin with certified gluten-free oats and nut butter. That makes them unlike other gluten-free cookies on the market, and also a better- for-you cookie that everyone can feel better about serving and eating. They are moist, chewy and delicious. Perhaps most importantly, they taste so good they are enjoyed by everyone, whether they are eating gluten-free or not! Meli's Monster Cookies come in three delicious, fresh-baked flavors. Original, the family recipe that started it all, is made with crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, plain and peanut butter M&Ms. Chocolot features crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, chocolate chunks and white chocolate chips. Meli's newest fla- vor, Cashewlicious, is made with crunchy cashew butter, dark choco- late chips, fine macaroon-style coconut and dried cherries. All Meli's Monster Cookies are made with real, wholesome ingredients and do not contain hydro- genated oils, trans-fats, artificial flavors or preservatives of any kind. It may be the delicious combination of oats and nut butter that give these cookies a luxurious texture and rich fla- vor. Or perhaps what makes Meli's Monster Cookies so great is that they began as a delicious cookie recipe, not as a gluten-free cookie replacement. Whatever the reason, Meli's Monster Cookies prove that gluten-free cookies and better-for-you cookies can taste absolutely amazing! For more information, go to www .melismonstercookies.com. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS FROM APRICOT POWER Apricot Power is your reliable source for quality apricot seeds, B17 products, sup- plements and more. It has been providing raw, bitter California grown apricot seeds since 1999. 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CLOVER SONOMA TRANSITIONS CONVENTIONAL FLUID MILK PRODUCTS TO NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED BY 2019 Clover Sonoma, a third-generation fami- ly owned and operated leader at the fore- front of the dairy industry, has pledged its commitment to convert its conventional fluid milk products to be Non-GMO Project Verified over the next two years. Clover Sonoma is also one of the first Non-GMO Project Verified conventional milk products produced in California on a large scale. The first Non-GMO con- ventional half gallon milk products will be on shelf soon. "We've always taken an innovative approach to elevating dairy through driv- ing industry progress, building trust with consumers and setting our own high stan- dards," said Clover Sonoma President and Chief Executive Officer Marcus Benedetti. "Our focus on non-GMO reaf- firms our commitment to invest in the future of our dairy cows, family farms and communities. Our hope is to lead the way by creating an industry-wide move- ment towards more non-GMO feed options for our dairy cows. We look for- ward to working closely with our dairy partners to make this goal a reality." Clover Sonoma has been a long- standing leader in the industry, and is driven to pioneer and elevate dairy. Clover Sonoma was one of the first dairies to support organics with its Clover Organic Farms brand of products and was one of the first dairies in the U.S. to say no to Monsanto and the use of the rBST hormone. Clover continuously puts the health and wellness of its consumers as a top priority. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal provides clear and trusted third-party testing and the highest standard in the world for non-GMO avoidance. Over the next two years, Clover Sonoma will work with its conventional dairy farmers to convert their dairy cow feed to non-GMO and align with the Non-GMO Project Verified requirements. The number of dairy farms in California's North Bay has declined from 135 in 1996 to 83 in 2016. Clover Sonoma's dairy farms have survived because they are forward thinking and quick adaptors (i.e. rBST-free, Clover Promise of Excellence quality, American Humane Association certified). Clover Sonoma has worked with its family farms for years to give them a competitive advantage and to help them build successful businesses, that in most cases, sustain multiple generations. As Clover Sonoma has grown, the company has been able to attract new dairies in the North Bay and beyond. Clover has demonstrated the ability to build sus- tainable business models around added-value dairy: premium conven- tional, organic and now Non-GMO Project Verified conventional. Clover's commitment to non-GMO feed will continue to ensure a competitive advantage for the family dairy farms that supply Clover Sonoma milk, and help meet consumer demand for trans- parency and third-party verified non- GMO avoidance.