Oser Communications Group

NATURALLY HEALTHY www.gourmetnews.com n MARCH 2018 n GOURMET NEWS N H 6 4 Hemp Production Services: "From Our Fields to Your Brand" Hempseed is one of the 10 superfoods, uniquely dense with digestible protein and essential fatty acids. Both as food ingredients and stand-alone products, the delicious, nutty nutrition of the hemp heart, along with omega-packed hempseed oil and nourishing hemp protein powder, are gaining in popu- larity every day. While the U.S. is just beginning to re- forge its path to hemp grain production, full- scale realization is still distant. Fortunately, the folks in Canada have been supplying the global market for a full decade. Hemp Pro- duction Services (HPS) offers a complete supply chain and private label solution for sourcing top quality, competitively priced, organic and conventional bulk hemp food in- gredients like hulled hempseed, toasted hempseed, cold-pressed hempseed oil and hemp powders (50, 43, 33, 23 and 20 per- cent). Non-GMO and gluten-free, its cus- tomers range from protein smoothie and cereal companies to pet supplements and body care manufacturers. HPS processes hemp grain in facilities that adhere to the standards for food quality and safety as per GFSI, Kosher, Certified Organic and Non- GMO protocols. HPS never competes with the brands it serves; it is a brand supplier, not a retail brand. HPS is a multi-generational, family farm- owned hempseed food production agribusi- ness with an ownership/management team possessing more than 75 years of cumula- tive expertise in industrial hemp breeding, hemp grain variety development and pedi- greed seed replication, dryland and irrigated hemp grain production management and hemp bulk food ingredient processing. This experience is realized in the outstanding quality, color, taste and value of the ingre- dients HPS supplies to its worldwide cus- tomers. Food quality starts in the field with the seed, and is ensured with sound agro- nomic advice and prac- tices. HPS farmers use top quality pedigreed seed sourced from sister com- pany Hemp Genetics Inter- national, and HPS works closely with hemp farmers to ensure their success in growing some of the world's highest quality and most productive hemp crops. HPS provides its farmers with a comprehensive hemp production support system based on regional agronomic con- siderations and customized to their farm op- eration. This vertically integrated relationship allows HPS to provide growing businesses with reliable, professionally managed, cost effective, superior quality bulk hemp food ingredients. The company believes in giving back both with its money and its time. Through its an- nual 5 percent pre-tax charitable donation, it supports agriculture development projects that benefit food insecure smallholder farm- ers. Its team of agronomists also provides pro-bono technical advice to the develop- ment projects the company directly supports. The projects it funds are improv- ing the livelihoods of small- holder farmers by introducing improved farming practices and new legume crops which en- hance soil fertility and food pro- duction. The company understands that resilient food production systems begin with healthy soils that produce healthy food and healthy people. The HPS Pledge: To conduct all business with honesty, integrity, transparency and fair- ness, with a view that all supply chain stake- holders, including growers, customers, processors and distributors, are integral part- ners in mutual long-term success. Customers can trust that HPS products will add value to their brands, knowing that the quality is su- perior, the pricing is competitive and that HPS will never compete with their brand on the retail shelf. Hemp Production Services – "From our fields to your brand!" Visit Hemp Production Services at booth #N1649. KeHE Announces New CAREtrade Partners KeHE has announced its next generation of partners in CAREtrade™, an initiative which supports businesses that advance a higher purpose. "Following a successful first year, we are continuing our work with new partners that share our values of using business as a force for good," said Brandon Barnholt, President and Chief Executive Officer, KeHE. "This valuable undertaking provides a boost to brands that combine commercial success with making the world a better place." There are five new CAREtrade partners. Dignity Coconuts built its business model of helping rural communities in the Philippines overcome poverty and slavery with employ- ment opportunities, community transforma- tion and environmental stewardship. Its signature virgin coconut oil is centrifuge ex- tracted to create a raw, organic and healthy product. Mavuno Harvest produces "ethically sourced, naturally delicious" organic dried fruit from family farms in sub-Saharan Africa. Mavuno Harvest was started by a Peace Corps volunteer who wanted to sup- port African farmers by sharing their fruit with global markets and developing commu- nity projects to benefit their region. Native American Natural Foods provides nutritious and natural Tanka bison-based food products, sustainably grown by Native American producers, to further their commit- ment to supporting the Oglala Lakota tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota through employment opportunities and farming education. The Real Co. donates a meal to a child for every package of its single origin products sold. From personally visiting farms around the world to ensure sustainable practices to employing people with disabilities, The Real Co. lives up to its commitment to social re- sponsibility. Tony's Chocolonely, based in Amsterdam, operates with the mission of ending slavery and exploitation on West Africa cocoa plan- tations. Tony's Chocolonely sources choco- late directly from the farmers, offering fair price agreements and training for cocoa growers to achieve a viable income. "We select brands aligned with KeHE's dedication to serving," said Laura McCord, Executive Director, Category Management, KeHE, and a co-Founder of CAREtrade. "One of our inaugural partners, Growers Al- liance, exemplifies the CAREtrade ideal of building a better world by focusing on im- proving the quality of life for its coffee grow- ers in Kenya. As a result of the additional support provided by KeHE as a CAREtrade partner, Growers Alliance has experienced a 58 percent increase in sales." KeHE's inaugural CAREtrade partners Divine Chocolate, Growers Alliance Coffee, Kuli Kuli, Sunshine Nut Company and Women's Bean Project will continue their participation in the program this year and will serve as mentors to the new member or- ganizations. Bison Business Notches Record Strength, Growth in 2017 As a record year of profitability and stability came to a close at the end of December, bison producers were mapping out plans for continued growth in 2018 by expanding ef- forts to connect with consumers and bringing new producers into the fold, according to Dave Carter, Executive Director of the Na- tional Bison Association. "Six months ago, the National Bison As- sociation and partners in the InterTribal Buf- falo Council and the conservation community announced an ambitious goal to restore 1 mil- lion bison to North America, effectively more than doubling the size of today's herds," Carter said. "For bison ranchers, that means we must continue to introduce deliciously healthy bison to more people, and we must expand our production from coast to coast." The bison business is riding a sustained wave of profitability as sales of the meat continued to grow. According to the U.S. De- partment of Agriculture, the prices marketers paid for dressed bison bulls averaged higher than $4.80 per pound throughout 2017. Dressed prices refer to the amount paid to ranchers once the animal is harvested. "We anticipate that prices will remain strong as demand for bison meat continues to grow," Carter said. Carter said that the National Bison Asso- ciation is planning several programs to reach out to new producers. The association's win- ter conference and live bison show and sale at the National Western Stock Show in Den- ver January 17-20 provided an opportunity for prospective producers to investigate the business. "More than 400 ranchers gather for the winter conference to discuss issues and share information," Carter said. "And the associa- tion's Gold Trophy Bison Show at the Na- tional Western Stock Show had the largest number of entries in nearly 20 years." For more information, go to www.bison central.com. daRosario Organics to Launch Truffle Products Line in Single-Serve Packaging daRosario Organics, the nation's only pro- ducer of 100 percent USDA certified organic truffle products, announced that the com- pany will debut a new line of single-serve packaging in early 2018 for wholesale and retail food service distribution. Products will include individual packets of certified or- ganic white and black truffle oil, white truffle acacia honey, white and black truffle mayon- naise, white and black truffle vegan mayon- naise, and extra virgin olive oil. The packets will enable food retailers to offer customers gourmet condiments made with 100 percent real truffles as an enhancement to their ex- isting menu. Responding to industry requests, daRosario Organics invested in the special equipment needed to provide these products in single-serve portions. "This is a game changer for food retailers," said company Founder Rosario Safina. "It's the first time that truffle products will be offered in such quantities en masse. The individual packets are easy to store and dispense, allowing re- tailers to upgrade their truffle offerings -- on items such as pizzas, sandwiches, French fries, burgers and salads -- that deliver the great taste of real truffles in a cost efficient manner while reducing overall product waste." Safina began importing fresh truffles weekly, in season, into the United States in 1984 and then introduced genuine truf- fle products in 1985. Safina created the first-ever organic truffle line, daRosario Organics, in 2004. In 2008, daRosario Or- ganics became the world's first 100 per- cent USDA-certified organic truffle production company. Products feature real truffles as opposed to synthetic chemical flavoring. daRosario products are avail- able nationwide online, as well as via FreshDirect.com and Peapod.com. Gro- cers selling daRosario products regionally include Stop & Shop and Whole Foods, among others. To learn more, visit www.darosario.com or connect via social media @darosario _organics.

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