Grocers Act to Reduce Food Waste

Source: Wikimedia Commons

“We educate team members and consumers to sort their trash and not just ‘throw it away,’ because there is no ‘away.’”   - Tristam Coffin, Whole Foods Market

Abundance and waste. They are two sides of the same coin in America, and that goes for our food system, too.

According to Jonathan Bloom, author of Wasted Food, 40% of all food produced in the U.S. gets thrown away before it is consumed, and the vast majority of that (97%) ends up in a landfill, where organic food waste is one of the main culprits in methane gas production – a major contributor to global warming.

Each year, 160 billion pounds of food – the equivalent of $250 billion per year – is wasted, enough to fill the equivalent of two Rose Bowls every day, said Bloom, who spoke at the Sustainable Foods Summit held Jan. 22-23, 2013, in San Francisco, and produced by leading market research firm Organic Monitor.

With the planet’s population set to increase from 7 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050, it isn’t just a matter of increasing food production, but decreasing food waste as well as redistributing food to food banks. A number of grocers are taking steps to address this issue, including SuperValu, the third largest retailer in the U.S., which has achieved “zero waste,” or 90% diversion from the landfill, in 150 of its stores, said Michael Hewett, Director of Environmental and Sustainability Programs for Publix and a member of the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Sustainability Executive Committee.

“As retailers pull cardboard, plastic, cans, etc., out of the waste stream, they are left with food,” said Hewett. “We must find ways to capture food before it goes bad and get it to food banks. From Ahold USA to Winn Dixie, grocers need to share best practices in a ‘pre-competitive’ way. That’s radical collaboration,” he said.

“Globally, one third of all food produced is wasted in processing, handling, storage, sale, preparation and serving of food,” said Amy Kirtland, Executive Director of Unified Grocers. Kirtland is working with grocers through the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, comprising members of FMI, Grocery Manufacturers Association and the National Restaurant Association, to divert and reduce food waste. Kroger is diverting organic waste to energy production, she said, while Hannaford educates children about food waste through a pilot composting project.

At Whole Foods Market, “We’re looking not for a ‘silver bullet,’ said Tristam Coffin, Whole Foods’ Energy and Maintenance Project Manager, so much as ‘silver buckshot,’ in that stores deal with food waste in region-appropriate ways.” For example, Whole Foods stores in St. Paul, MN, are working with a local farmer to divert food waste for hog feed; other stores work with farmers to supply food waste for compost. In Chicago, stores donate local produce waste to the Lincoln Park Zoo. “We educate team members and consumers to sort their trash and not just ‘throw it away,’ because there is no ‘away,’” he said.

With regard to donating food to food banks, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, signed by President Clinton in 1996, helps reduce liability for grocers seeking to distribute food to food banks and the poor, said Claire Cummings, West Coast Fellow at Bon Appetit Management Co., a leading food service company working with universities and other institutions. “Our goal is to find ways to distribute 1 billion pounds of produce per year by 2015, and that includes making sure that food banks are prepared to take on additional capacity for donated foods ,” added Devi Raja, Director of Food Produce for Feeding America.

Facebook Provides Cost-Effective, Targeted Advertising Solutions

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Taking advantage of Facebook advertising and a network of active fans can provide a relatively inexpensive yet targeted way to communicate your brand’s message and broaden your reach in a friendly environment. Through display ads and sponsored posts, marketers can use Facebook ads to promote product sales, increase likes on your Facebook page, drive traffic to your website, and communicate information to your fans—educational and product specific. According to surveys conducted by Facebook, people who like your business’ Facebook page spend an average of two times more as your customers than people who aren’t connected to you on Facebook.

Facebook offers three types of ads to help crack the conversion code. The tricky part is knowing what type of ad suits your company’s needs, and further, how to navigate the ad creation process to ensure you are reaching your greatest potential audience. The great thing about Facebook is it provides advertisers with the flexibility to alter their ad campaigns in real time.

Will Dean, CEO of Tough Mudder, a company that produces obstacle course events and posted sales of $60 million last year, suggests, “Try anything once. People often ask how we do our advertising. The answer is word of mouth, but first, you have to build momentum, and we got that momentum through Facebook," he told Inc. Magazine.

Three Types of Ads Sponsored Stories – Do you want to tell a story with photos or let your fans know about an upcoming event? Sponsored stories are in fact status updates on your business page that you pay to run in your fans’ newsfeed more frequently, ensuring greater visibility. Your fans can like, comment on, and share sponsored stories, and in turn, their friends see that they like your page. This is one of the fastest and most effective ways to simply increase page likes and create a conversation about your brand.

If your product or service is time sensitive or seasonal, sponsored stories are a way to build page likes during slower times. When you are ready to run an ad during peak times, your fan base will ideally be robust and more effective in creating sales.

Right-Side Display Ads – If one of your objectives is to reach people you are not yet connected to, ads are most effective. They are the small square boxes on the right side of the user’s display that direct traffic to your company’s external website or Facebook page. While this does not automatically convert to a sale, it introduces fresh faces to your brand. By filtering for geographic location and or topics and interests, you can choose a highly targeted audience for your ad.

Coupon Offers – If your goal is to achieve sales through Facebook, create a coupon that runs in your fans’ newsfeed. When fans click on the coupon, Facebook emails the coupon to the user to redeem on your external website. Coupons are shareable to users that are not yet a fan of your brand.

Take a moment to read some case studies to stimulate ideas for your advertising strategies.

Adapted from Compass Natural Winter 2013 News.

Who's Driving Growth in Organics?

Source: Wikimedia Commons

As sustainable food producers position for the future, they can count on the consumer to drive double-digit sales growth in organic and non-GMO products. In fact, says Wall Street analyst Scott Van Winkle of Boston-based investment bank Cannacord Genuity, the only real growth happening in the food industry today is in the natural, organic and specialty foods markets. Additionally, while California’s Prop 37 GMO labeling initiative was narrowly defeated in November, Van Winkle counters that consumer awareness of genetically engineered foods has increased dramatically as a result of media attention to Prop 37, which will only drive further growth in the natural and organic sector, he says.

However, consumers also became aware during the Prop 37 debate that the parent companies of certain leading organic brands contributed millions to defeat Prop 37, a move that created consumer backlash, exemplified by numerous negative postings on these organic brands' Facebook pages by angry consumers. Companies and brands that support GMO labeling have been lauded as heroes by core consumers.

Shoppers Seek Out Local, Non-GMO Indeed, the Non-GMO Verified Project reports 21% growth in the number of non-GMO verified products in the past year, making it the fastest growing “eco-label” in the U.S., says SPINS.

Buying organic food and products with environmentally friendly packaging makes shoppers feel more positive about their choices, and nearly half (46%) of U.S. shoppers seek out organic and local food, says PricewaterhouseCoopers in its annual report Experience Radar 2013: Lessons from the U.S. Grocery Industry, published in December.

Additionally, shoppers are willing to pay on average a 4% premium for local and organic products, with certain demographics willing to pay premiums of up to 27% for local and organic, and up to 30% on recyclable packaging, says the report.

Financial Markets Respond Seeing the growth in consumer demand for healthy and eco-friendly products, in 2012 the public financial markets opened again after several years to natural and organic products companies, and Cannacord's Healthy Living Index continues to outperform the S&P 500.

In July, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE: NGVC), a retail chain founded in the Denver area in the 1950s by health food pioneer Margaret Isely, raised more than $100 million in an initial public offering. Earlier, in March, natural and organic foods brand leader Annie’s Inc. (NASDAQ: BNNY) impressed analysts and industry alike with the biggest opening day gain in stock price in nearly a year. WhiteWave Foods (NASDAQ: WWAV), maker of Horizon and Silk natural and organic products, raised nearly $400 million in a late October IPO. Additionally, popular East Coast gourmet food chain Fairway Market filed in September to raise $150 million.

Organic is creating jobs, too – more than 572,000 U.S. jobs were created in the organic sector in 2010, at a rate 21% higher than the conventional food industry, according to a 2012 Organic Trade Association study. With 9.5% growth in 2011, U.S. sales of organic products totaled $31.5 billion, says OTA, representing 4.2% of overall U.S. food sales.

"Organic lifestyles are not a passing trend. Expect this trend to grow exponentially in the coming years," PricewaterhouseCoopers advised grocers.

Adapted from Compass Natural News, Winter 2013.

Open Source Branding and the Consumer Values Evolution

Photo: Compass Natural

“At the Epicenter” Green Entrepreneurship Speaker Series Will Feature Brendan Synnott, Co-founder of Bear Naked Granola and EVOL Foods, and Founder of Healthy Lifestyles Investment Group Revelry Brands, on Dec. 5, 2012, Boulder, CO.

After building a $65 million brand, Bear Naked, in just five years in his mid twenties, entrepreneur Brendan Synnott took time off after selling the company in late 2007 to travel and participate as a contestant on television’s pioneering reality show Survivor, and to think about what was next. At the time, Bear Naked held the number one spot in market share in the granola category in more than 10,000 retail stores nationwide.

Now based in Boulder, Synnott is applying the expertise and insights garnered as the former CEO of Bear Naked, plus the strength, stamina and determination demonstrated in Survivor to invest in and partner with innovative natural, organic and sustainable businesses. Synnott’s group Revelry Brands, established in 2009, has invested in such successful emerging brands as EVOL Foods, Siggi’s Yogurt, Only Natural Pet Store, Data Garden and PACT Organic Apparel, where the company’s slogan is “Change starts with your underwear.” Synnott serves as Chairman of Pact, and he stays actively involved in guiding Revelry’s portfolio of companies.

Brendan will share his concept of “open source branding,” or how companies can benefit from building transparency and dialogue with a rapidly evolving, values-based, healthy lifestyles consumer “At the Epicenter” on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, at the offices of the Sterling Rice Group in downtown Boulder. A welcoming reception will precede the CEO armchair-style interview and interactive discussion. For information and to register, visit http://brendansynnottattheepicenter.eventbrite.com. For press passes or more information, please contact Shoshana Romer, shoshana@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

At the Epicenter, now in its third year, is an educational series for entrepreneurs in the rapidly growing market for natural, organic and sustainable products in the Boulder/Denver region. The series is produced by Best Organics Inc. and Compass Natural LLC, and hosted by the Sterling Rice Group and the University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, and has featured speakers including Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org; John Elstrott, Chair of Whole Foods Market; Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients; Sandy Gooch, founder of Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Foods Markets; and Arran and Ratana Stephens, founders of Nature’s Path Foods.

Secrets of Open Source Branding Revealed “Open source branding is where the relationship between a consumer and a producer unites around transparency and dialogue,” says Synnott, a graduate in economics from Vanderbilt University and a former staffer in the talent department at Saturday Night Live.

“Today’s consumers want to eat food they can learn about, talk about, and understand; they want to drive cars that communicate their care about the environment; they want to eat at restaurants that show they understand the importance of local and sustainable practices. It just so happens that this shift in a consumer’s emotional connection with brands is also going to help save our planet. We continue to believe that investing in forward-thinking consumer brands is a way to improve the negative impact humans have on the environment while helping us to benefit economically from this wave of change,” he says.

“We are excited to add such an accomplished and idea-filled young entrepreneur and investor to our roster of distinguished alumni of the At the Epicenter series,” says Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics, a leading organic gift and brand promotions company based in Boulder and co-producer and host of An Evening at the Epicenter. “Brendan’s presentation will inspire young entrepreneurs as well as seasoned business leaders to see possibilities for business to have a positive impact beyond the bottom line.”

At the Epicenter Sponsors Sponsors include the following leaders in natural, organic and sustainable business. Gold Sponsors:Whole Foods Market, Sterling Rice Group, and University of Colorado Deming Center for Entrepreneurship; Silver Sponsors:New Hope Natural Media, Mychelle Dermaceuticals, Earth Balance, Glutino Foods, Udi’s Gluten Free, and Transition Colorado; Bronze Sponsors:Pax World Investments, Bay State Milling, St. Claire's Organics, and EKS&H; Supporting Sponsors:Bonterra Organic Vineyards, Eco-Products Inc., Chinook Book, Care2, Boulder Valley Media Alliance, Shine Restaurant, and Boulder Ice Cream.

About At the Epicenter At the Epicenter is an ongoing series of interactive talks for entrepreneurs and business and community leaders in the $300-billion market for natural, organic, sustainable and socially responsible products and services. At the Epicenter is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading organic gift basket and brand promotions company based in Boulder, CO; and Compass Natural LLC, a leader in LOHAS communications, public relations, strategic marketing and business development. For information, visit www.americasbestorganics.com, gifts@bestorganics.com, tel 303.499.ORGANIC (6742). For information about Compass Natural Marketing, visit www.compassnatural.com, info@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.

MetaBrand to Provide “Concept-to-Market” Solutions to Brands

Industry veteran and Steaz co-founder Eric Schnell aims to “democratize” product development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing for early-stage companies in natural and organic beverages, nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

November 14, 2012 – Edison, NJ – Beverage and supplement industry veteran Eric Schnell knows a thing or two about the trials and tribulations of launching all-natural consumer products, and in particular, all natural beverages and nutritional supplements. As Co-founder of Steaz Teas and liquid herbal supplement brand "I Am enlightened nutrition," and advisor to a number of other companies, he’s dedicated his career to steering natural products industry brands from concept to reality.

Now, with the launch of his latest venture, MetaBrand, Schnell is leveraging his long-standing relationships in the industry to help democratize product formulation, manufacturing, and distribution processes, as well as sales and marketing strategies, for emerging entrepreneurs in the all-natural beverage and supplement channels.

Operating from its 4,000-sq.-ft. facility in Edison, NJ, MetaBrand will offer turnkey, “concept-to-market” solutions for start-up and early-stage natural brands. Employing state-of-the art extraction and manufacturing technologies and working closely with its supply chain partners, “MetaBrand will help companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable,” said Schnell.

Helping Entrepreneurs Meet Natural Products Demand

The MetaBrand launch comes at a time of unprecedented demand for natural products, which has sparked grocers to place greater emphasis on healthier food and beverage options. From 2009 to 2011, the natural and organic food and beverage market grew 20 percent, according to a Mintel report titled “Natural and Organic Food and Beverage: The Market,” and natural food and beverages showed resilience during tough economic times in mass merchandise, food, drug and convenience channels, as well as natural and specialty markets, the October 2011 report added.

Yet, despite the growing demand, many natural product concept originators struggle to see their ideas through to market.

“There are countless great ideas out there in the natural beverage and supplement circles, but so few of these ideas ever evolve into a profitable product that people can buy on store shelves,” said Schnell. “The originators of these great ideas generally lack the experience or the financial wherewithal to tackle challenges such as full-scale product formulation, manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and distribution. At MetaBrand, we’ve pioneered a way to turn these great ideas into a reality in a highly efficient manner.”

Leveraging a broad base of experience and relationships earned over more than 15 years in the industry, Schnell has assembled a veteran team of over 30 advisors to facilitate all aspects of product development, manufacturing, and launch. From food scientists and compliance experts to marketing, branding, finance, admin and sales support, every facet of the “concept-to-market” process is covered. In the future, MetaBrand will look to add a private equity arm of the firm, facilitating or directly providing startup capital for promising projects that require financial backing.

“MetaBrand is truly unique in that it is the first comprehensive service provider in the natural beverage and supplement channels,” Schnell adds. “There is no other company that I am aware of that can offer startup brands as much collective industry expertise in such a highly efficient, cost-effective manner.”

About Metabrand

Created by natural products industry veteran and Steaz Teas Co-founder Eric Schnell, MetaBrand, based in Edison, NJ, offers turnkey “R&D to retail” services to start-up and early-stage natural and organic beverage and supplement brands, including product formulation and development, manufacturing, distribution, and sales, marketing and promotional strategies. With a team of more than 30 advisors and long-standing industry relationships, MetaBrand helps companies quickly and efficiently develop winning formulations for natural product concepts that are on-trend and efficacious, regulation compliant, and scalable. For more information on MetaBrand, visitwww.metabrandcorp.com, info@metabrandcorp.com, tel 888.611.5573.

Lovely Lady Products Honored as Innovator & Entrepreneur of the Year

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Steve Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnatural.com

Cheryl Caspi, Lovely Lady Products, tel 970.372.3044, cheryl@lovelyladyproducts.com

Organic, Gluten-free, Beauty Care Manufacturer Lovely Lady Products Honored as “Innovator & Entrepreneur of the Year” by Center for Resource Conservation

Garnering attention as “Innovator and Entrepreneur of the Year” and as a finalist at Naturally Boulder’s 2012 Pitch Slam Awards, Fort Collins-based Lovely Lady Products is poised for continued growth in gluten free, certified organic beauty care products.

Fort Collins, CO (November 13, 2012) – Lovely Lady Products, maker of Celiac-approved, gluten-free, fair trade, USDA Certified Organic skin and beauty care products, was recently recognized not only for its premium allergen-free product line and entrepreneurship, but also for its commitment to sustainability, water conservation and the environment.

Lovely Lady Products owner Cheryl Caspi (right) receives Center for Resource Conservation's 2012 "Innovator and Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.

The Fort Collins-based company, which manufactures its own products, recently received the prestigious Innovator and Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Boulder, CO-based Center for Resource Conservation for the company’s water conservation measures. Lovely Lady does not add any water to its pure-plant-based products. Only weeks before, the company also was named one of three finalists at the Naturally Boulder 2012 Pitch Slam Awards by an industry-led organization that supports and promotes natural, organic and sustainable products business and entrepreneurship in Boulder, Denver and Colorado’s Front Range.

Lovely Lady Products, a celiac owned and operated company established by “Chief Loveliness Officer” Cheryl Caspi in 2011, has experienced significant retail and distribution success in its first two years in the local natural skin care marketplace. The focused line of facial, skin, hair and bath care products is currently available in 10 Whole Foods Markets in the Rocky Mountain region, at Alfalfa’s Market in Boulder, and other independent retailers in the region. The products also are approved nationally by Whole Foods Market, and the company’s goals include expanding sales in 2013 beyond the Colorado market.

Gluten Pervasive in Beauty Care

According to a November 2011 study by George Washington University, gluten is pervasive in cosmetics and it is rarely labeled, which may cause a threat to those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities.

“Many people with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease don’t realize that the majority of commercially available body care products are made with gluten, and most of these products aren’t even labeled,” said Caspi, whose own issues with Celiac disease and allergies inspired her to formulate the Lovely Lady products not only as gluten free, but also as certified organic.

The gluten-free line of premium organic skin, beauty and hair care products is based on pure helichrysum oil and argan oil and other plant-based ingredients. Both helichrysum and argan oils are renowned in the natural skin care world for their healing and anti-aging properties. Helichrysum oil, derived from strawflower and used for hundreds of years around the Mediterranean and Africa as an anti-inflammatory remedy and featured in a number of Lovely Lady products, was recently touted by Dr. Oz as a powerful remedy for treating wounds, burns and skin irritations.

Argan Oil, Helichrysum Featured in Products

Lovely Lady Products also incorporates highly prized argan oil, exclusively grown and produced in Morocco, into many of its products. An article in the New York Timesreferred to the oil as “liquid gold” because of its powerful healing properties for skin irritations and high cost of cultivation and production. High levels of vitamin E, tocopherols and skin softening agents in argan oil are in part what make the products uniquely effective, while Lovely Lady’s exclusive supply chain helps keeps these products cost effective for the consumer.

“It’s never too early or too late to begin caring about the health and maintenance of your skin and we’re encouraging it by incorporating these amazing essential oils into our formulations,” said Caspi. “Also, we are thrilled with the response to our products by our retail partners and also by our consumers. In less than two years, we have built a loyal base and nearly 8,000 ‘Likes’ on our company Facebook page.”

Lovely Lady Products is currently focusing on brand and sales growth in the Rocky Mountain region by engaging a sales and marketing firm, hiring a broker, and continuing its popular in-store product demonstrations. The company will make its debut at Natural Products Expo West in March 2013 to explore national market potential.

About Lovely Lady Products

The company, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, was founded in 2011 by Cheryl Caspi out of a personal need for Celiac-friendly, holistic skin care. All Lovely Lady personal care products, from scented soaps to body lotion, are certified organic, gluten free and cruelty free. Using premium quality, pure plant-based ingredients, and healing essential oils including pure argan oil and helichrysum, and with no added water, Lovely Lady Products are ideal for women, men, children and anyone with skin sensitivities and/or gluten intolerance. For more information and to shop online, visit www.lovelyladyproducts.com, tel 866.453.4870.

Prop 37: A Battle Lost, A Movement Just Begun

Originally published on Nov. 8, 2012 in Supply Side Community by Virgo Publishing. Once a diversified industry comprising hundreds of independent producers, in less than 20 years, ownership of nearly 90% of the global agricultural seed industry has been consolidated into a handful of multinational chemical pesticide companies, including Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow and DuPont.

These same names, the dominant forces in getting their genetically engineered crops into more than 80% of all processed foods, and in selling the pesticides that go along with their patented crops, are also familiar as the leading contributors to the No on 37 campaign, which poured nearly $50 million into killing Proposition 37, the California Right to Know Ballot Initiative to Label Genetically Engineered Foods, this past election day.

Outspending a grassroots Yes on 37 campaign by 6 to 1, biotech and multinational food corporations bankrolled $1.5 million a day during the month of October to inundate the California voter with a deluge of deceptive television, radio and direct mail advertising to defeat Prop 37. Monsanto alone sank more than $7.5 million into killing the initiative, nearly as much as was raised overall by the Yes on 37 campaign to label GMO foods.

The Prop 37 ballot measure was narrowly defeated in the statewide election by a margin of 52% vs. 48%, however, the campaign to label genetically modified foods accomplished a lot in going toe to toe with the chemical companies and multinationals who sought to suppress the consumer’s right to know. Yet, the defeat of Prop 37 is a clear example of the power of corporate money to buy elections in the age of “Citizens United” and unlimited campaign contributions, despite a heroic grassroots effort by the Yes on 37 campaign.

With a coalition of more than 3,800 endorsers, including farm and labor groups, consumer, health and trade associations, organic and non-GMO food and nutritional supplement companies, physicians and healthcare advocates, and more than 10,000 volunteers, the Prop 37 campaign to pass the GMO labeling initiative was successful in raising more than $8 million, and in coordinating a massive awareness-building and get-out-the-vote campaign that has put GMO labeling squarely into the national conversation. Now, post election, the battle to label GMOs will continue via a ballot initiative in Washington State in 2013, and on the national front through JustLabelIt.org, which will continue to pressure FDA and legislators in Washington, DC, for federal labeling of GMOs in food.

Devil Was in (Misinterpreting) the Details Prop 37’s overarching goal was to label foods sold in California supermarkets that contained genetically engineered ingredients. Contrary to the biotech opposition’s relentless argument that it would raise food costs by up to $400 per year, the fact is that there is insignificant additional cost in adding words to the label that say “Contains” or “May Contain Genetically Engineered Ingredients.” From then on, it’s up to the food producer to decide to use GMO ingredients or not. All Prop 37 would have required them to do is to label it. And with a grace period of 18-months allowed under the bill, food producers could easily transition to a newly printed label at little added cost.

The natural products industry was also divided over Prop 37 by varying interpretations and misinterpretations of the use of the term “natural” under Prop 37 ballot language, exacerbated by propaganda from the opposition, which claimed that no processed foods could be called natural. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In essence, under the initiative, if a food producer were to include GMO ingredients in a processed food product, they would not be able call that product “natural.” However, if a food producer can demonstrate that no GMO ingredients were used, either through certificates (e.g., organic, Non-GMO Project Verified) or affidavits from suppliers, then they can call their product “natural” all they want. Period.

This misinterpretation, despite the recommendations of a number of attorneys who issued legal briefs on the subject, ultimately lead to an unfortunate endorsement by the Natural Products Association of No on 37, thus siding the nutritional supplement industry’s leading trade association with DuPont, Dow and Monsanto against the consumer’s right to know.

Losing sight of the forest through the trees, the NPA, with a mission since 1936 to promote the highest quality health food products and protect the consumer’s right to know, missed the mark. Getting hung up in misinterpreted details, NPA and some other supplement and natural foods producers actually advocated against Prop 37, thus hurting fundraising efforts and the vote among a core market segment that should, above all, be protecting the consumer’s right to know – a cornerstone mission of the natural and organic products industry.

Fortunately, the Organic Trade Association’s board of directors, seeing the overall importance of the initiative in protecting the integrity of our food system, galvanized much of the organic industry by endorsing Prop 37 and publicly advocating in favor of the Yes on 37 campaign. OTA remains committed to federal GMO labeling requirements, as well.

Consumers Are Getting Smarter About GMOs Yet, Prop 37 revealed to core consumers and organic advocates that a number of leading organic brands are actually owned by parent companies that contributed millions of dollars to defeat the GMO labeling measure, while their organic brands profited from offering non-GMO options. This has resulted in a lot of negative comments and backlash from consumers in the social media about these wholly owned organic brands, negative publicity and word of mouth that will require much effort to repair. The trouble is, these organic subsidiary brands remained largely silent during the entire campaign, despite numerous appeals to support Prop 37.

Prop 37 also revealed that just because a product calls itself “natural” doesn’t mean that there are no genetically engineered ingredients in the product. In walking the aisles of Natural Products Expo East recently, I was dismayed to see a number of food and supplement companies displaying products that contain genetically engineered ingredients, yet seeking to profit by calling their products “natural.”

More than 90% of consumers surveyed in America say they want labeling of genetically modified foods. Prop 37 furthered this issue not only in California, but also across the US and the world, where many watched the outcome, including natural and organic industry leaders from some of the 61 countries where GMO labeling is required.

Food producers who use GMOs yet profit by calling their products natural, or supplement producers who don’t take a stand on GMO ingredient standards, will ultimately be on the wrong side of history. Prop 37 failed because large money interests massively outspent a grassroots ballot initiative and employed negative, deceptive advertising to obfuscate the truth.

But just as marriage equality finally garnered victories in this past week’s election after failing in numerous states over recent years, the movement toward federal labeling of genetically engineered foods will ultimately succeed. Prop 37 was but the beginning.

Steven Hoffman, Managing Director of Compass Natural Marketing, a full service marketing, business development, PR and communications agency based in Boulder, CO, served on the Prop 37 campaign Steering Committee, and directed fundraising and outreach efforts on behalf of Prop 37 to the natural, organic and sustainable products community.

At the Epicenter: Arran & Ratana Stephens of Nature’s Path Foods

For Immediate Release:

At the Epicenter Presents Arran & Ratana Stephens of Nature’s Path Foods

Arran and Ratana Stephens, passionate entrepreneurs, organic food pioneers, and founders of Nature's Path Foods, North America’s largest organic, independent, non-GMO breakfast foods company, will be featured at “An Evening at the Epicenter” in Boulder on Thursday, October 18, 2012.

An Evening at the Epicenter is produced by Best Organics Inc. and Compass Natural LLC and hosted by the Sterling Rice Group.

Boulder, CO (October 8, 2012) – Nature’s Path Foods founders and Co-CEOs Arran and Ratana Stephens took an uncompromising path to create a triple-bottom line, family owned business spanning three generations – one of social responsibility, sustainability and financial viability. The company began with small roots and is now North America’s largest organic, independent, non-GMO breakfast foods company, employing hundreds of people at state-of-the-art facilities in Washington and Wisconsin. The company’s headquarters are based near Vancouver and additionally owns and operates a 3,000 acre cooperative farm.

The Stephens’ will share insights, perspectives and lessons on how to build and preserve an enduring family business. Both are natural entrepreneurs who balanced taking riskswhile conserving resources and will share their wisdom with established and aspiring entrepreneurs.

In addition to providing high quality certified organic breakfast foods, the company is committed to the larger cause of sustainable agriculture, and is a charter supporter of Proposition 37, the California Right to Know ballot initiative to label genetically engineered foods. The company sources organic grains including kamut, corn, oats, whole grain wheat and brown rice from North American farmers and imports fair trade ingredients such as cocoa, sugar cane, molasses, and spices.

“We are pleased and honored to host such organic food pioneers as Arran and Ratana Stephens to interact with the Boulder natural, organic and sustainable products community. Having spent 40 years building their company and serving as founding leaders in the organic market, their message will be of great value to not only seasoned leaders but emerging entrepreneurs as well. Their message is important because it is an ideal model of how to support a family legacy in your business,” comments Steven Hoffman, Managing Director of Compass Natural Marketing and Co-Producer of At the Epicenter, the speaker series bringing thoughtful leaders in sustainability to the Boulder community.

Nature’s Path Foods’ triple bottom line mission inspires corporate support of initiatives including Bite4Bite, a one-for-one donation to a local food bank; Gardens for Good, granting money to local non-profits to create community garden projects; 1% for the Planet Members, to which 1% of EnviroKidz product sales are donated; and the California Right to Know campaign for mandatory GMO labeling.

Ratana, often described as the ‘heart’ of the company, is an award-winning entrepreneur and received the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award and Bright Lights Award from the Pacific Immigrant Resource Society. She has a M.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Psychology and began her career in India as a college lecturer.

Arran grew up on his family's organic farm in Vancouver - the inspiration behind Nature's Path - and is author of The Compassionate Diet, founding member of the Non-GMO Project, and board member of the Rodale Institute. He is passionately involved in the Prop. 37 consumer right to know initiative to label genetically engineered foods.

Together, Arran and Ratana have four children, two of whom are directly involved in leadership operations of the business.

The evening will include a welcoming reception beginning at 5:30pm followed by an engaging conversation by Arran and Ratana Stephens, and will be hosted in the downtown Boulder offices of the Sterling Rice Group. For press passes or more information, please contact Shoshana Romer, shoshana@compassnaturalmarketing.com. Tickets are available atwww.naturespathfoodsattheepicenter.eventbrite.com.

About An Evening at the Epicenter An Evening at the Epicenter is a series of interactive talks for entrepreneurs and business and community leaders in the $300-billion market for natural, organic, sustainable and socially responsible products and services. An Evening at the Epicenter is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading organic gift and brand promotions company; and Compass Natural LLC, a leader in LOHAS communications, public relations, strategic marketing and business development.

Launched in 2010, An Evening at the Epicenter has featured Horst Rechelbacher, Founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients; Bill McKibben, Founder of 350.org; John Elstrott, Chair of Whole Foods Market; local economies expert and author Michael Shuman; Fox Health News correspondent Chris Kilham, and others. An Evening at the Epicenter is well attended by business, community, academic and student leader from the Boulder/Denver region.

At the Epicenter Sponsors Sponsors include Whole Foods Market, Sterling Rice Group, New Hope Natural Media, Mychelle Dermaceuticals, Earth Balance, Glutino Foods, Udi’s Gluten Free, Transition Colorado, Pax World Investments, Bay State Milling, St. Claire's Organics, Organic Vintners, Eco-Products Inc., Boulder Valley Media Alliance, Boulder Ice Cream.

About Best Organics Inc. Best Organics Inc., a majority woman-owned company, is a leading provider of premium, hand-packed, organic and eco-friendly gift basket collections featuring gourmet products from local, regional and U.S.-based producers and leading brands. Its gift collections are presented in beautifully illustrated, reusable gift boxes, and are available online atwww.AmericasBestOrganics.com, and for corporate gifting. Best Organics Inc. is a member of the Organic Trade Association, Colorado Proud, and Naturally Boulder, and is a Green America-approved business. Contact gifts@bestorganics.com or call 303.499.ORGANIC (6742).

About Compass Natural Marketing Compass Natural Marketing, established by organic and LOHAS industry veteran Steven Hoffman and based in Boulder, CO, brings more than 25 years of experience in natural and organic products sales, marketing, public relations, communications, research, event planning, special project assignments and strategic industry guidance to businesses involved in the $290 billion market for natural, organic, sustainable, and socially responsible products. Visit www.compassnatural.com, contactinfo@compassnaturalmarketing.com or call 303.807.1042.

Organic Alley Pavilion Showcases 50 Natural & Organic Brands

Boulder, Colorado (August 31, 2012) – Can you imagine a whole Sunday without the sounds of traffic? Where pedestrians, families with their strollers, skateboarders, bikers and others can roam the streets freely, interact with their neighbors, and engage with exhibitors and outdoor activities?

On Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, Boulder’s third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia event will host a three-mile loop linking the east end of Pearl Street in downtown Boulder with the North Boulder Recreation Center, and the entire loop will be free of motorized vehicles. The full-day event, hosted by Boulder Green Streets and the City of Boulder, will center around two dynamic activity zones connecting the 3-mile stretch for participants to engage with the Boulder community.

The event also will be home to the Organic Alley Pavilion, a unique exhibitor hall dedicated to natural, organic and sustainable products. Now in its second year, the Organic Alley Pavilion features artisan producers and leading local and national brands. Sponsored by Rudi’s Organic Bakery, visitors will have the opportunity to sample products from close to 50 diverse companies on-site, including WhiteWave Foods, Madhava Natural Sweeteners, GoodBelly, Organic Valley Cooperative, Earth Balance, Cheribundi, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Boulder Ice Cream, Boulder Granola, Lovely Lady Products, and others.

The Organic Alley Pavilion is produced by Best Organics Inc., a leading Boulder-based organic gift and brand promotions company, and Compass Natural, a marketing, communications and event planning agency specializing in green business, in partnership with Boulder Green Streets and the City of Boulder.

“We are excited to feature leading and emerging local, regional, and national companies in the Organic Alley Pavilion at this year's Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia event,” says Steven Hoffman, Managing Partner of Compass Natural Marketing. “Incredibly popular last year, we anticipate more than 50 vendors in attendance, and consumers will get to sample and learn about delicious natural, organic and eco-friendly products.”

“We are very pleased to bring the natural products community together with such an active and environmentally aware local community, further building awareness of Boulder as a nexus of natural and organic products,” comments Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics. “The Boulder Green Streets organizers give us a supportive environment to bring like-minded individuals together with companies that speak to their values and lifestyles, all with the gorgeous Foothills as the backdrop.”

Exhibitor Contact Information

To participate as a sponsor and/or exhibitor of the Organic Alley Pavilion at Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia, contact Shoshana Romer at Best Organics, shoshana@bestorganics.com, tel 303.499.6742. Also, for more information, visit www.bouldergreenstreets.org.

The third annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia is a “Street Liberation” project that repurposes the streets into a play space for the community to engage in healthy, active, sustainable and educational activities. The event offers the community the opportunity to explore the myriad of local resources, services, and products Boulder has to offer in a fun and engaging way. It is a part of the global ciclovia movement that inspires cities to become safer, healthier, and more livable.

Featured Sponsor of the Organic Alley Pavilion We are thrilled to announce this year’s sponsor of the Organic Alley Pavilion is Rudi’s Organic Bakery, a leading provider of certified organic and gluten-free breads and related products. For more information, please visit www.rudisbakery.com.

Organic Alley Pavilion Exhibitors Include: Alchemist, American Natural & Organic Spices, Beanfields Snacks, Boulder Granola, Boulder Ice Cream, Carmen’s Kitchen, CheetahFit Personal Training Center, Cheribundi, Door to Door Organics, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Earth Balance, Earth Island, Eco Ditty, Eco Vessel, Follow Your Heart, Glutino, GoodBelly, Great Eastern Sun, Hanna’s Herb Shop, Happy Family Brands, HiBall Energy, Java Raiz, JJ’s Sweets, Lovely Lady Products, Made in Nature, Madhava Natural Sweetens, Mile High Natural Awakenings, Mile High Organics, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Natural Hapa, NewCell, Nite Ize Inc., Nova Chocolate, Organic Valley Cooperative, Olomomo, Purely Elizabeth, Qrunch Foods, Rollin Greens, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Runa Tea Co., Slide Ridge Honey & Butcher’s Bunches, Spoonk Space Inc., St. Claire’s Organics, Teatulia, Teeccino, Udi’s Gluten Free, Wacky Apple, Way Better Snacks, WhiteWave Foods, Wild Planet Foods, Zing Bars.

About Boulder Green Streets The 3rd annual Boulder Green Streets Ciclovia, presented by the City of Boulder, transforms nearly 3 miles of city streets into a day-long, car-free public space for the community to engage in healthy, active, sustainable activities. Two major zones – located on the east end of the Pearl Street Mall and at the North Boulder Recreation Center on Broadway – will connect the route and feature fun, interesting and free activities including live music, dance, arts, fitness and recreation, as well as informative opportunities to learn about local sustainability efforts, enjoy local and natural foods, explore outdoor adventure gear and more. For more information, visit www.bouldergreenstreets.org.

About Best Organics, Inc. Best Organics Inc., a majority woman-owned company, is a leading provider of premium, hand-packed, organic and eco-friendly gift basket collections featuring gourmet products from local, regional and U.S.-based producers and leading brands. Its gift collections are presented in beautifully illustrated, reusable gift boxes, and are available online at www.AmericasBestOrganics.com, and for corporate gifting. The company's Boulder's Best Organics and Colorado’s Best Organics gift box collections feature organic products from Boulder and the Rocky Mountain region, and its America’s Best Organics gift baskets feature artisan producers from throughout the U.S. Best Organics Inc. is a member of the Organic Trade Association, Colorado Proud, and Naturally Boulder, and is a Green America-approved business. Contact gifts@bestorganics.com or call 303.499.ORGANIC (6742).

About Compass Natural Marketing Compass Natural Marketing, established by organic and LOHAS industry veteran Steven Hoffman and based in Boulder, CO, brings more than 25 years of experience in natural and organic products sales, marketing, public relations, communications, research, event planning, special project assignments and strategic industry guidance to businesses involved in the $290 billion market for natural, organic, sustainable, and socially responsible products. Visit www.compassnatural.com, contact info@compassnaturalmarketing.com or call 303.807.1042.

Herbs for All Seasons

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural Marketing, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

Herbs for All Seasons:  Shenandoah Growers, Sunfest Organic Herbs Announce Partnership to Expand Domestically Grown Supply of Fresh Organic Herbs

With nearly 400 acres of state-of-the-art, organic field and greenhouse production and processing facilities, and proprietary "Enviro Pure" food safety technology, certified organic herb growers Shenandoah Growers in Harrisonburg, VA, and Sunfest Organic Herbs in Okeechobee, FL, are partnering to expand reliable, year-round supply of regionally grown, fresh organic herbs for the Eastern U.S., Midwest and other markets.

Harrisonburg, VA (July 31, 2012) – Shenandoah Growers is pleased to announce that it has entered into a formal and exclusive partnership agreement with Sunfest Organic Herbs of Okeechobee, FL, securing an expanded and reliable domestic supply of fresh-cut, certified organic herbs. 

With 380 acres of owned certified organic farmland, developed and managed by veteran culinary herb growers, Sunfest, combined with Virginia farming, will provide the vast majority of Shenandoah Growers' supply of U.S. grown fresh cut herbs for the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States.

In addition to its fully sustainable and organic growing practices, Sunfest has developed an exclusive and proprietary food safety technology, Enviro Pure, in its new state-of-the-art processing facility. This industry-leading innovation will ensure the absolute safest way to handle cut herbs, provide longer shelf life, and protect the consumer.

Shenandoah Growers and Sunfest bring together experienced management teams with industry-leading innovation across all fresh herb lines, and as such, are uniquely positioned to lead the way in improving the growing, processing, and delivery of fresh culinary herbs, meeting the needs of this fast-growing market.

Complementing Shenandoah’s fleet of dedicated trucks, Sunfest has recently acquired new biodiesel, dual-temperature zone trucks to ensure optimal service and quality for Florida and the greater Southeast. The total combined ground logistics network will ensure that product is on the shelves within days of harvest, preserving the cold-chain integrity of highly perishable fresh herbs.

“This partnership was formed by like-minded individuals with a common mission, a common vision, and a common belief in unwavering ethical business practices. When we looked at combining Shenandoah Growers’ experience in the market and innovation in organic greenhouse growing with Sunfest’s sustainable organic farming and industry-leading food safety innovation, it was obvious that this would be a win for everyone from our employees to our valued customers, and ultimately and most importantly, to the consumers of fresh herbs,” explains Tim Heydon, CEO of Shenandoah Growers.

Cliff Rosen, CEO of Sunfest, adds, “We just knew that there was a better way of farming and ensuring food safety, and with Shenandoah, we are excited to offer what we truly believe to be the absolute freshest, safest, organically grown herbs to millions of consumers. We, too, share in the belief that fresh herbs are the healthiest way to improve the taste of food naturally, and we are excited to be part of transforming the way the fresh culinary herb industry works.”

Furthermore, Heydon and Rosen agree that by keeping as much product regionally and organically grown in the USA as possible, both Shenandoah and Sunfest are fulfilling their common commitment to sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food miles, improving shelf life and safeguarding the consumer.

About Shenandoah Growers
Founded in 1989 in Harrisonburg, VA, Shenandoah Growers is a leading supplier of fresh cut and living organic herbs to more than 4,000 grocery stores. Offering a complete line of culinary herbs to its customers, Shenandoah has pioneered the development of living organic herbs in the industry with exclusive proprietary growing techniques and technology in state-of-the-art certified organic greenhouses. With 250 employees working in greenhouses, field production, processing facilities, and transportation, Shenandoah Growers has been one of the fastest growing companies in the region over the last decade. Shenandoah Growers’ story of entrepreneurship, perseverance and the pursuit of sustainable innovation paired with its relentless customer-focused approach to ethical business practices is what continues to drive the company’s success.

About Sunfest Organic Herbs

Sunfest Organic Herbs is located in Okeechobee, FL, on a site of more than 1,200 owned acres, including the 380-acre certified organic farm site, a state-of-the-art processing facility with multiple temperature zones, vacuum cooling, automated packing lines, and a fleet of biodiesel trucks. Over 7 acres of Cravo greenhouses, specifically designed with environmental controls and built for culinary herbs, help to protect the most sensitive crops from extremes in weather conditions and vastly extend the traditional Florida growing season.

In addition to being stewards of the land and believers in natural and sustainable food production, Sunfest has pioneered the development of next-stage food safety with its proprietary and exclusive Enviro Pure purification system throughout its processing facility. This system treats any potentially harmful pathogens, acts to protect consumer health, extends shelf life by stopping decay, and provides the cleanest and safest way to store, handle, pack, and distribute fresh cut herbs in the industry.

To learn more about Shenandoah Growers and Sunfest Organic Herbs, please visit www.freshherbs.com, www.shenandoahgrowers.com and www.sunfestherbs.com. For media inquiries and photos, contact Steven Hoffman, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042.