OLOMOMO Nut Company Releases Salty & Savory New Flavor

For Immediate Release:

Media Contact: Annie Brown, annie@brunoredstar.com, tel 303.241.0282

OLOMOMO Nut Company Releases Salty & Savory New Flavor

Vim Vinegar and Sea Salt Dry Roasted Almonds to debut at Expo West, Booth #7109

BOULDER, CO (March 4, 2014) – OLOMOMO Nut Co., recently named one of the Top 10 Natural Brands to Watch in 2014 by New Hope Natural Media and known for its premium flavor profiles and product innovation in the nut and snack industry, is launching Vim Vinegar and Sea Salt Almonds, the first of many flavors in its new dry roasted, lightly salted and savory snack line.

Debuting at Natural Products Expo West this week in Anaheim, CA, the new Vim Vinegar and Sea Salt Almond blend combines the exotic Japanese umeboshi plum vinegar, with just a hint of sea salt for a subtle, yet zesty flavor.The new sugar-free flavor, available nationwide along with OLOMOMO’s five other varieties, will be sold in convenient single-serving-size grab and go packets (1.5 oz) with an SRP of $2.49 and larger 4-oz bags (four servings) for an SRP of $4.99. For a taste of this new tangy treat, please visit OLOMOMO in theNEXT Pavilion Booth #7109.

"When my friend Annie brought me this homemade recipe idea for almonds and umeboshi vinegar, the whole team fell in love at first bite. It's the perfect blend of flavor, crunch, and 'je ne sais quoi.' Exotic comfort food, if you will. OLOMOMO's secret sauce is our knack for creating intense flavor experiences that are grounded in nostalgia and familiarity, but with a surprise twist. Instead of plain old sea salt and vinegar, we’re using Japanese style umeboshi plum vinegar and sea salt with almonds! We felt this was the perfect product to debut in the salty and savory snack nut category. And when naming the product, we couldn't help but tip our hats to Mark's Pappy who recently passed - he certainly lived a life full of 'Vim and Vigor,' and that was one of his favorite sayings," said Justin Perkins, Founder and President of OLOMOMO.

Growth and Recognition

In January, OLOMOMO raised $450,000 in growth funding from nearly 30 angel investors with help from CircleUp.com – an accredited investor crowdfunding platform. The company attracted several natural foods industry veterans, a former Skype executive, and well-known tech investor Brad Feld.

“Our products are available in approximately 350 grocery stores and coffee shops in the Rocky Mountain region and around the country, and the investment funding allows us to broaden our reach and continue to develop different products, like the healthfully addictiveVim Vinegar and Sea Salt Almonds,” said OLOMOMO CEO Mark Owens. 

OLOMOMO Nuts are artisan-roasted, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, contain all natural and organic ingredients, and never contain any GMOs, trans fats, added oils, cholesterol, preservatives, artificial colors or artificial sweeteners. Current varieties include: Cherry Vanilla Dream Almonds, Chai Bliss Almonds, Mango Chipotle Zinger Almonds, Righteous Cinnamon Cayenne Almonds, Vim Vinegar and Sea Salt Almonds, and Cosmic Maple Masala Pecans.

The Vim Vinegar and Sea Salt Almonds will also be on display in the grocery section of the New Product Showcase at Natural Products Expo West.

About OLOMOMO Nut Company

OLOMOMO Nut Company - The Good Nuts™ - offers six varieties of healthful, artisan-roasted, all-natural nuts. Since launching in 2008 at a local farmers’ market, OLOMOMO has grown to be the snack of choice for thousands. OLOMOMO is a sustainable business with a commitment to fair labor practices, all natural and organic ingredients, and a wide variety of environmental and social causes. OLOMOMO inspires people to ”Be Nutty.  Be Good.  Be Adventurous™.” Available now at more than 350 natural grocers and cafes nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Alfalfa's Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Akin's Natural Foods, and other leading retailers. For more information, visitwww.olomomo.com or join the community at www.olomomo.com/facebook orwww.twitter.com/olomomo.

Look for OLOMOMO Nuts at Natural Products Expo West, the world's largest natural
and organic products trade exposition, March 7-9, 2014, upstairs in the NEXT Pavilion
in Booth #7109 in the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042

Vital Farms Partners with Hen Meadows Farm

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

Dan Brooks, Director of Marketing, Vital Farms, dan.brooks@vitalfarms.com, tel 646.468.5902

Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042

Bringing the Pasture to Your Local Grocery: Vital Farms Partners with Hen Meadows Farm to Bring Regionally Produced Pasture-raised Organic Eggs to the Southern California Market

Vital Farms recently affiliated with Hen Meadows Farm, a small-acreage, fourth generation family farm with roots in both San Diego and Ventura Counties, California, to provide regionally produced, pasture-raised USDA certified organic eggs to Whole Foods Markets in the Southern California region. Vital Farms currently works with 49 family farms across the country, and the company will be exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, March 7-9, 2014. Visit Vital Farms at booth number 5437 in Hall E.

Austin, Texas (February 26, 2014) – Vital Farms, the nation’s leading provider of pasture-raised eggs, has partnered with regional producer and fourth generation family-owned Hen Meadows Farm, with operations in Valley Center and Moorpark, California, to provide Certified Humane®, organic and locally produced eggs to the Southern California grocery market. Vital Farms eggs from Hen Meadows Farm are currently on the shelf in Whole Foods Markets in Southern California.

Pasture-raised organic eggs are gaining in popularity among those who want to ensure their food is ethically produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and genetically engineered or GMO ingredients. Pastured chickens graze outside all year long, and are also provided organic feed that is produced without toxic, synthetic pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or GMOs. These chickens flap their wings, eat bugs, and roll around in the dirt. In short, they act like chickens should.

Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs are now produced on 49 family-owned farms across the US, and, with this new relationship with Hen Meadows, Vital Farms is able to provide locally sourced, pasture-raised Organic eggs directly to the Southern California market.

With roots in San Diego and Ventura Counties, family-owned Hen Meadows Farm has been producing farm-fresh eggs in Southern California since 1941. The company has been producing cage free and organic eggs for more than 20 years, and now pasture-raised eggs in working with Vital Farms.

“We saw an opportunity to support a local business and regional food producer. By working with a small local farm, we are able to reduce the distance from the farm to the table which, in turn, produces a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and fresher product,” said Jason Jones, President and Co-owner of Vital Farms.

About Vital Farms

Vital Farms began on a 27-acre farm in southeast Austin, TX, with the goal of providing the best quality eggs while creating a place where the hens can “flap their wings, stretch their legs, move around, and act like chickens.” Vital Farms works with a network of 49 independent, family-owned farms to produce Certified Humane® pasture-raised eggs for the natural, organic and conventional food markets, and is the largest supplier of pasture-raised eggs in the nation.

For more information, visit www.vitalfarms.com, info@vitalfarms.com, tel 877.455.3063.

Visit Vital Farms at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, March 7-9, 2014. Visit Vital Farms at booth number 5437 in Hall E.

For more information, visit the Vital Farms Blog, like us on Facebook, follow us on YouTube and Twitter.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042

Makeena Mobile App - Shopper's Personal Assistant; Brand's Best Friend

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042

Karen Frame, Makeena, karen.frame@makeena.com, tel 303.204.5446

Introducing the Makeena Location-Aware Mobile and Web App: the Health-Conscious Shopper’s Personal Assistant; the Natural & Organic Brand’s Best Friend

Makeena’s location-aware mobile and web app, publicly launching in Summer 2014, connects healthy lifestyle shoppers with natural and sustainable brands. The company will showcase its app to brand partners in booth #8110 at Natural Products Expo West.

Boulder, CO (February 24, 2014) – Healthy lifestyles shopping app developer Makeena, which connects shoppers with leading natural and sustainable brands, will expand beta testing of its location-aware mobile and web app with shoppers in advance of its Summer 2014 public launch. Also, the company will be demonstrating its app and signing up additional brand partners at Natural Products Expo West, March 7-9, 2014, in Anaheim, CA, at Exhibit Booth #8110.

Makeena is capitalizing on a growing mobile smartphone base and health-conscious consumers hungry for information and value. By 2015, the number of US adult smartphone mobile coupon users is forecast to reach 74.1 million, according to research firm eMarketer. The integration of couponing into social networks, along with an increase in smartphone users, new mobile apps, and location-based deals will be factors fueling the increase.

Launching to the public in Summer 2014, the Makeena app will provide shoppers the ability to add to their mobile smartphones information on healthy and sustainable products, as well as savings for those products. The app provides the following benefits to both shoppers and brands:

Shoppers

• The ability to locate the shopper's favorite healthy and sustainable products in any retail location

• The ability to collect coupons and track savings on the shopper's mobile device

• One location where coupons and savings for natural and organic foods, supplements, personal care, pet food and other natural, organic and eco-friendly items can be found

• The ability to compare nutritional information on products, as well as add healthy recipes and shopping lists to the shopper's web portal and mobile device

Brands

• The ability to track shopper engagement and view data to understand product popularity

• The ability to encourage shoppers to try other items in a brand line

• The ability to track shopper trends at retailers and focus marketing dollars accordingly

• The ability to reward loyal customers

In December 2013, Makeena was one of only six companies selected throughout the world to participate in the Telluride Venture Accelerator (TVA), which was created to help launch new high-growth businesses and to stimulate the Telluride regional economy. As part of TVA, Makeenareceived a $30,000 investment.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to work with the five other companies selected for the Telluride Venture Accelerator and hope that the first-class mentors and investors who are involved with the program will help us quickly and successfully launch Makeena to the public," said Karen Frame, Makeena CEO and Founder.

“Also, exhibiting at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, will allow us to showcase our mobile and web app to trade partners so that they can better understand its innovative usefulness,” said Frame.

Makeena will be exhibiting at Expo West in booth space #8110 where it will demonstrate the app.

For vendors and brands interested in participating in the Makeena app, please visit booth #8110 at Expo West or contact Karen Frame, tel 303.204.5446.

About Makeena

Based in Boulder, CO, Makeena has built a mobile and web app that increases in-store awareness for natural and sustainable brands by providing the shopper with quick product comparisons and nutritional information, loyalty rewards, shopping lists with aisle information, and coupons. Founded in 2013, Makeena is comprised of an experienced team, including Founder and Chief Executive Officer Karen Frame, and entrepreneurial, marketing, and natural food industry veterans Scott Perlman, Bill Capsalis, and Mark Maggio, serving as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Sales Officer, respectively. Recently selected as a company to participate in the Telluride Venture Accelerator, Makeena is set to publicly launch in Summer 2014. For information, visitwww.makeena.com, tel 408.466.4673.

Visit Makeena at booth #8110 at Natural Products Expo West, March 7-9, 2014, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. Expo West is the world’s largest trade exposition of natural and organic products and services.

For more information, visit the Makeena Press Room, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedInand Twitter.

Actor Channing Tatum to Appear with RUNA at Expo West

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Tyler Gage, RUNA, tyler@runa.org, tel 401.426.9543
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042

Actor Channing Tatum to Appear at Amazonian Beverage Maker RUNA's Booth at Natural Products Expo West, World's Largest Natural and Organic Products Trade Show

Best known for his starring roles in 21 Jump Street, White House Down and Magic Mike, Actor Channing Tatum will join the RUNA team at Booth #3005 at Natural Products Expo West on Friday, March 6, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA

Brooklyn, New York (February, 24, 2014) – So, how does Hollywood action star Channing Tatum stay energized through a grueling film schedule? By exercising, getting plenty of rest, and drinking RUNA beverages, made with Guayusa (pronounced “gwhy-you-sa”), an Amazonian “super leaf” with a long tradition of use as a natural, healthy energy drink by the indigenous peoples of Ecuadorian Amazon. Speaking about the benefits of Guayusa, Tatum riffed to Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show that Guayusa gives him "the energy of the gods."

In fact, Tatum was so taken by the sustained energy he gets from Guayusa and the social mission behind RUNA that he befriended the owners, traveled last year to the Amazon with them, and invested in the company. From its roots as nothing more than a class project at Brown University, RUNA has emerged as one of the fastest-growing organic, ready-to-drink tea brands in the U.S.

Channing Tatum will join RUNA founders Tyler Gage and Dan MacCombie at their exhibit booth, #3005, on Friday, March 6, at Natural Products Expo West. Now in its 34th year,Natural Products Expo West is the world’s largest natural and organic products trade exposition, drawing more than 70,000 trade visitors from over 100 countries.

“We are pumped to host Channing at our booth at Expo West to help spread the word about RUNA and educate people about the benefits of Guayusa," said RUNA co-founder Tyler Gage, who also noted that RUNA’s booth, made from renewable bamboo, will feature a sustainable rainforest design. The company also plans to introduce three new flavors of its ready-to-drink Guayusa beverages at the show.

Guayusa is a native Amazonian super-leaf with as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and double the polyphenols of leading green tea products. However, unlike traditional teas, Guayusa has no tannins, so it tastes surprisingly smooth and naturally sweet. Indigenous peoples in the Ecuadorian Amazon have brewed Guayusa like tea for thousands of years as an essential part of what makes them “RUNA” – fully alive.

“The tradition of Guayusa and why the indigenous tribes drink it is very intriguing,” saidTatum. “Being down in the Amazon and getting to spend time with the Kichwa and Sapara people, and really trying to understand how and why they use Guayusa and some of their other medicinal plants has given me a much greater understanding of how people can relate to nature on a deeper level.”

With a mission to improve the livelihoods of indigenous farmers in the Amazon, RUNA’s founders believe that consumers everywhere can benefit from the bounty of the rainforest without destroying it, starting with the people who live there. RUNA works directly with more than 3,000 indigenous farming families who are proud to see guayusa shared around the world. These families are RUNA’s partners in a Fair Trade relationship, and by organically growing guayusa in traditional forest gardens they help protect the rainforest.

About RUNA
RUNA is a Brooklyn-based social enterprise founded in 2009 by college classmates Tyler Gage and Dan MacCombie that makes beverages brewed with the Guayusa “super leaf” and improves the livelihoods of Amazonian farming families through its supply chain. RUNA’s products are sold in more than 6,000 stores across the country, and are an effective alternative to the legions of artificial beverages and energy drinks on the market. The journey continues at www.RUNA.org.

About RUNA Foundation 501c3
RUNA Foundation works with Amazonian communities to improve livelihoods and protect the Amazon rainforest. While a million acres of rainforest are destroyed every year to meet the global demand for precious hardwoods, sugar, cattle, and agricultural commodities, this exploitation does not benefit the farming families whose land and culture is being destroyed.  RUNA Foundation provides sustainable land management training, community development support and business development services to indigenous communities so that they can work toward their vision of sustainable development in the Amazon. The mission continues at www.runafoundation.org.

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Copyright © 2015 RUNA LLC. All rights reserved.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | tel 303.807.1042

Horst Rechelbacher: Game Changer in Cosmetics, 1941 - 2014

Source: Pexels

This post is dedicated to Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and a game changer in the cosmetics world advocating for beauty products that are healthier for people and the planet. Horst also founded Intelligent Nutrients, a line of impeccable body care products so organic and clean you could eat them. Horst passed away peacefully at his home in Osceola, WI, on Feb. 15, 2014, at the age of 72. I met Horst in 2007 when I served as Director of The Organic Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing scientific research and education about the benefits of organic food and farming. Horst was a major benefactor of the Center, and in working together at The Organic Center and subsequently as advocates of GMO labeling, we became friends. In visiting with him and his wife Kiran on numerous occasions in Minneapolis, Wisconsin and elsewhere, I learned more of his business philosophy, his commitment to health and the environment, his approach to product formulations, marketing, style and art, his great love for people and the planet, and his kindness and generosity. He enriched the world as much as he was enriched by what he did for it, and us. Though I only met him later in life, he left a great influence, and his friendship is a gift I will treasure.

In April 2012, we had the great honor of featuring Horst as the keynote speaker of At the Epicenter, a quarterly entrepreneurship speaker series my company produces in partnership with Best Organics Inc., a leading brand promotions and organic gift basket provider based in Boulder. In this 14-minute video segment, conducted in a CEO-armchair style interview with Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of Best Organics, Horst shares his story and his approach to business and life.

Born in Klagenfurt, Austria, Rechelbacher learned about the plant world from his mother, an herbalist. That knowledge became the centerpiece of his career and a passion that grew through the decades. An award winning hair stylist by the age of 14, Horst emigrated to the US in the 1960s, settled in Minneapolis and founded Aveda after formulating shampoos in his kitchen for clients who wanted more natural, earth friendly products. Horst was also a prolific artist, photographer and art collector, and he supported a number of causes related to health, clean cosmetics and the environment. Horst sold Aveda to Estee Lauder for $300 million in 1997, after building it into an international brand. With Intelligent Nutrients, he kept pushing the boundaries of organically produced beauty care.

“He saw himself as an environmentalist, and increasingly more so over time,” Horst's wife, Kiran, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “He saw the plight of the planet and the ongoing damage we’re incurring. He felt that very intensely, and saw that the way he could contribute to improving that was thinking about choices people were making from the consumer point of view — their purchasing power.”

Horst was one of the early pioneers in beauty care who knew that it's not just what you put in your body, but also what you put on your body that counts, and that should be non-toxic, healthful products that were produced in an eco-responsible manner. He left a great legacy for the cosmetics industry, and health-conscious and environmentally aware consumers worldwide. Horst Rechelbacher will be greatly missed.

Read Horst's book, Minding Your Business, first published in 2008.

At the Epicenter Presents: The Natural World According to Bill Weiland

Boulder’s premier sustainable business entrepreneurship speaker series, At the Epicenter, on February 20 will host Bill Weiland, founder and CEO of Presence Marketing / Dynamic Presence, the nation's leading independent natural and organic products brokerage. Named by Forbes as a "Top 25 Consumer Products Kingmaker," Bill Weiland will talk trends driving the healthy lifestyles market. At the Epicenter is produced by Compass Natural Marketing and Best Organics Inc. For more than 20 years as President and CEO of Presence Marketing / Dynamic Presence, Bill Weiland has become a leading expert in forecasting and marketing consumer product trends in the natural, organic, and healthy lifestyles arena. At the Epicenter is pleased to host Bill on February 20 in Boulder for an interactive conversation with local and regional business leaders to discuss upcoming trends in the healthy lifestyles market as well as the future of consumer transparency and GMO labeling.

Recently named by Forbes as one of the “Top 25 Most Influential “Kingmakers” in Consumer and Retailer Companies,” Bill Weiland has dedicated his career to promoting natural foods and health. Presence Marketing / Dynamic Presence is the largest independently owned natural and organic products brokerage in the U.S. Weiland and his team work closely with leading retailers, distributors and manufacturers, and he will share insights for how entrepreneurs and innovators can get their natural and organic products on the shelves.

"In working with leading national brands as well as successful startups, Bill has a keen eye on consumer and product trends driving the rapidly growing healthy lifestyles market,” said Steven Hoffman, co-producer of At the Epicenter and Director of Compass Natural Marketing. “We're excited that he will share his expertise with local and regional entrepreneurs. Also, I have had the opportunity to work with Bill on a number of GMO labeling initiatives and can personally attest to his commitment to consumer transparency and truth in labeling.”

At the Epicenter will be held Thursday, Feb, 20, 2014, at the Sterling Rice Group Event Center in downtown Boulder. The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with a welcoming reception including natural and organic beer, wine and appetizers, followed by an interactive conversation with Bill Weiland at 6:30 pm. For press passes or more information contactinfo@compassnaturalmarketing.com.

Tickets are available for adults ($12), nonprofits ($8), students ($6) and a group rate of 3 adult tickets for $30. For tickets, visit www.billweiland-attheepicenter.eventbrite.com.

At the Epicenter Sponsors Gold Sponsors include Sterling Rice Group, Nature’s Path Foods, Boulder Brands (Earth Balance, Glutino, Udi’s Gluten Free and Evol Foods) Silver Sponsors include New Hope Natural Media, Boulder Weekly, Boulderganic, Bonterra and EKS&H Bronze Sponsors include Pax World Investments, Bay State Milling, St. Claire's Organics, EnerHealth Botanicals, Runa and Care2 Supporting Sponsors include Eco-Products Inc., Shine, Boulder Valley Voices, Eldorado Springs Water and Chinook Book

About At the Epicenter
At the Epicenter is a series of interactive talks for entrepreneurs, 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 and brand promotions company; and Compass Natural LLC, a leader in LOHAS communications, public relations, strategic marketing, branding and business development.

Launched in 2010, At the Epicenter has featured nationally syndicated radio show e-Town Founders Nick and Helen Forster; B Lab Co-founder Andrew Kassoy; Jenn Vervier, Director of Sustainability at New Belgium Brewery; world renowned author and Founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, Hunter Lovins; Nature's Path Foods Co-founders Arran and Ratana Stephens; Kim Coupounas Co-founder of GoLite; Bhakti Chai CEO Brook Eddy; Brendan Synnott, Co-founder of Bear Naked Granola; 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; author and non-GMO expert Jeffrey Smith; Tom Harding, founding President of the Organic Trade Association; advertising and marketing gurus Alex and Ana Bogusky, noted natural foods retailers Sandy Gooch, Harry Lederman and Cheryl Hughes; and others. Visit www.facebook.com/atheepicenter.

About Best Organics Inc.
Best Organics Inc. 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 at www.AmericasBestOrganics.com, and for corporate gifting. Best Organics Inc. is a Certified B Corporation, a member of the Organic Trade Association, Colorado Proud, and Naturally Boulder, and is a Green America-Approved Business. Contact us or call 303.499.ORGANIC (6742).

About Compass Natural Marketing
Compass Natural, founded in 2002 by healthy lifestyles and LOHAS industry veteran Steven Hoffman, brings more than 25 years of experience in natural and organic products marketing, public relations, social networking, market research, package design, product development, online and print content and design, event planning, business development, and strategic guidance in the $300 billion market for natural, organic and sustainable products and services. Contact info@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.

The Natural Scene: Will these Food Trends Shape 2014?

Source: Pexels

As a former food editor and evaluator of the natural products scene, many times I've wished for a crystal ball to help me determine the next big food product. While there have been plenty of surprises (who could have predicted chia would make its way from infomercial novelty to functional food?) through the years I've landed on a formula for helping me determine what will stick around and what will likely fade away.  It seems when innovation meets a market need, a brand is on to something. Sprinkle in quality ingredients at a fair value and success is nearly guaranteed. Based on my not-so-scientific analysis, here's a look at the some of the trends I'll be following this year. Insect protein. Beetles for breakfast anyone? Ten years ago, this idea was total yuck. Fast forward to tomorrow and I won't be surprised if we're sprinkling crushed crickets on our cereal. Think I've missed the mark? Consider that most of the world eats insects in one form or another and the reasons are simple:  they're nutritious, sustainable and cheap. I know of at least one innovative company that's experimenting with cricket meal for use in a nutrition bar (think of it like cricket flour). This may be the perfect entry for American consumers who are likely not ready to bight down on bits of antennae or hindlegs in their food snacks—at least, not before noon!

Hyper convenience. On-the-go consumers have long fantasized about the perfect meal in a pill. Pop it, and keep going. While I'll never totally understand this mentality since meal times are built in excuses for taking a break, who's not been hit with hunger pangs and nowhere to turn? Airport terminals, malls, suburbia—these are common danger zones. Convenience foods save the day, and we're learning that the more portable and nutritious a product, the more likely consumers will give it a try… even if it doesn't entirely deliver on flavor. Any early Power Bar fans out there? Manufacturers are experimenting with convenient ways to deliver nutrition that break out from the now boring bar.  I've seen fortified ice cream cups, and yogurty push pops, but what's catching my attention is the pouch.  Similar to the bar, pouches are great for on-the-go, and can be filled with just about anything. Offerings currently are primarily fruity but I see protein-fortified formulations and possibly even savory options in the horizon.

Pale-eee-ohhhhhh! Blame Crossfit Boxes or simply consider Paleo a rebound from the high-carbohydrate low fat days of our past. Consumers are experimenting with this entirely new style of eating, and I think it will stick around. Why? Much about the Paleo diet is based on sound wisdom. The eating plan emphasizes sustainable meat sources such as buffalo and grass fed beef and encourages consumers to look to whole food sources for daily nutrition.

Big brands appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach before marketing to the Paleo crowd, but smaller companies aren't holding back. Snack formulations emphasize transparency, better-for-you ingredients and minimal sweeteners. Who doesn't like that? Expect more convenient food products such as cereals, cookies and bars made with just nuts, seeds and berries that are Paleo ready even if they're not ready to call out their primal appeal.

Kelsey Blackwell is former Senior Editor of New Hope Natural Media, publisher of Natural Foods Merchandiser and New Hope 360, leading print and online trade publications serving the natural and organic products industry. She is currently based in the San Francisco Bay area.

The Palm Oil Conundrum

Source: Pexels

Palm oil may be heaven for food and cosmetics manufacturers, but it’s hell for orangutans. The issue is not about the palm oil itself – it’s actually proven to be a great substitute for more unhealthy hydrogenated oils and trans fats. The problem is the way palm oil is grown that is so incredibly destructive to the world’s most sensitive tropical rainforest environments.

The ingredient has soared in worldwide demand, particularly in the US and EU, and is used in everything from lipstick and soap to soymilk, cookies and ice cream. Because it is so inexpensive in commodity markets, it is estimated that 50% of all packaged grocery products sold in the US and EU contain palm oil, and the oil is also a staple in India, China and many developing nations.

Yet, large-scale production of low-priced, conventionally produced palm oil is now taking a serious toll in terms of massive environmental and habitat destruction, social unrest and global climate change.

Derived from the high-yielding oil palm of African origin, palm oil is primarily cultivated in huge plantations that today have displaced millions of hectares of native tropical rainforests from Indonesia to Africa, and with it, iconic species including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, pygmy elephants and rhinoceros, now on the brink of extinction through outright killing and devastating loss of habitat.

According to the UK’s The Guardian, in only a “single generation,” logging and global agribusiness, including primarily palm and acacia plantations, have cut Indonesia’s rainforest – nearly the size of Europe – by half, and the news source also warned that “the Sumatran rainforest will mostly disappear within 20 years.”

Indigenous peoples and rural communities in these regions also have been affected by the exponential expansion of palm oil over the past 20 years, and the industry has been responsible for numerous human rights abuses and hundreds of conflicts between agribusiness conglomerates and local communities, with entire forest towns forcefully removed or relocated to make way for more palm oil acreage.

Climate – and Market – Heating for Palm Oil So much pristine rainforest – among the earth’s densest in biodiversity – is being cleared in Indonesia and Malaysia, the world’s largest palm oil producers, to make way for palm oil plantations that the region has become the world’s third largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, behind only China and the U.S. Rainforests, and especially the peat forests of Indonesia, sequester massive amounts of carbon. However, when vast swaths are cleared through bulldozing and burning, all that carbon is released into earth’s warming atmosphere.

Palm oil plantation expansion is projected to contribute more than 558 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in 2020 – an amount greater than all of Canada's current fossil fuel emissions, says a Stanford study published Oct. 7, 2012, in the journal Nature Climate Change. The study concluded that deforestation for the development of oil palm in Indonesian Borneo is becoming a globally significant source of carbon dioxide emissions.

All this is driven, of course, by rising demand for “healthier” and less costly fats. Globally, palm oil consumption has quintupled since 1990, says Bloomberg Business Week. In February, exports from Indonesia, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, hit a five-year high. Demand is predicted to more than double by 2030 and to triple by 2050. Over 70% ends up in food, but biofuel demand for palm oil is expanding rapidly, reports Greenpeace. Indonesia already has 6 million hectares of oil palm plantations, but has plans for another 4 million by 2015 dedicated to biofuel production alone. Africa and Latin America are the next frontiers to supply rising global demand for palm oil, with tens of thousands of hectares under development in sensitive and ecologically diverse rainforest regions and wildlife corridors.

The Natural Industry Responds The natural and organic products industry, alas, is also responsible in part for the environmental destruction caused by commercial palm oil production. A walk down the aisles of any natural foods store will reveal a number of products made with palm oil or one of its many derivatives, including Vitamin A Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Palm Kernel Oil, Palmitate, and other ingredients.

In response to growing pressure from consumers and leading NGOs about the destructive impact of commercial palm oil production, some sustainably minded food companies are taking action, and suppliers including Agropalma in Brazil and Daabon in Colombia are seeking to provide sources of certified organic and sustainable palm oil. While still a drop in the bucket in terms of overall global impact of palm oil, these initiatives are welcome steps in the right direction.

One company that uses palm oil in its proprietary vegetable oil blend is Boulder Brands, publicly held maker of Earth Balance plant-based, natural and organic buttery spreads. “We are aware of the issues surrounding palm oil and are pushing our supply chain for more sustainable options,” says Duane Primozich of Boulder Brands, maker of natural, organic and gluten-free products under the Smart Balance, Earth Balance, Udi’s, Glutino and Evol brands.

“Currently, we purchase Green Palm certificates to offset our conventional palm oil purchases, and we source only from (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) RSPO member suppliers,” says Primozich. The company also contributes to the work of Dr. Birute Galdikas, the world’s foremost authority on orangutans, whose foundation is seeking to establish orangutan Legacy Forests in Borneo. Working with Daabon, which Primozich says has a strong reputation for sustainability in South America and takes a holistic approach to agriculture, Boulder Brands is seeking to convert more of its supply chain to South America – currently, 40% of the palm oil it purchases is sourced from South America and is certified organic - as demand for organic is growing twice as fast as its natural and conventional products, says Primozich.

“While we still have conventional palm oil in our non-organic Earth Balance items, we have affidavits in place from our suppliers certifying our oil comes from peninsular Malaysia vs. the Talamantan region of Borneo, which is one of the last habitats for orangutans. However small a role, the company remains committed to exploring all options to source sustainable plant-based oils" he says.

Organic and fair trade company Dr. Bronner’s has gone to great lengths to develop its own sustainable, certified organic palm oil farm project, Serendipalm, to supply the ingredient for its own solid soap bars and other products. According to Les Szabo, who helps director the Serendipalm project for the fourth-generation family owned business, Dr. Bronner’s works directly with farmers and producers in Asuom, Ghana, where no rainforests are destroyed for palm plantations. The company works with its Ghanaian partners to improve soil quality and yields through organic farming practices; respect and promote endemic species' habitats; ensure safe working conditions; and pay fair wages. Dr. Bronner's also pays 10% into a fair trade fund, which is used for community development projects in the area. To date, these fair trade funds have helped to provide four deep-water wells, living quarters for nurses at a local hospital, and school supplies for local children, Szabo says. The company hopes to scale production to provide for future growth and possibly to supply other companies with organic, fair trade palm oil, but that’s a long-term goal, he says.

Sustainable food producer Nutiva recently introduced certified organic Red Palm Oil grown on small family farms in northwest Ecuador. By partnering with Natural Habitats in Ecuador, the company says it ensures that no deforestation or habitat destruction results from the growing or harvesting process, and the product is fair trade certified by Fair for Life. The region in Ecuador where Nutiva’s palm oil is sourced is grown on organic farms averaging 10 hectares (about 25 acres), interspersed throughout regional forests. These farms were planted many years ago, says the company, and are now being worked by second and third generation family farmers.

Anther company, Justin’s Nut Butter, uses only what it calls “Orangutan Friendly Palm Oil” in its peanut butter and related products from organic ingredients trader Ciranda and sourced from Brazil. "We don't believe boycotting palm oil - the harvesting and production of which is the livelihood of so many - is the solution; but rather it's being conscientious about where and how we source the ingredient," explained Justin Gold, CEO and founder of Justin's, in a July 2011 press release.

NGOs, Sustainable Palm Oil Producers Collaborate The production and sourcing of palm oil has been subject to intense criticism by heavyweight NGO organizations, including Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, Rainforest Alliance, World Wildlife Fund and others. That’s why it was promising when a joint collaborative of major NGOs, including RAN, WWF and Greenpeace, plus palm oil producers and traders including Agropalma, Daabon, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. and others announced in June 2013 the formation of the Palm Oil Innovation Group (POIG), designed to enhance and set out clearer sustainability standards than the RSPO, an industry led association that has been criticized as weak by environmental groups and industry critics.

According to the Rainforest Action Network, “Responsible palm oil is produced without contributing to rainforest or peat land destruction, species extinction, greenhouse gas emissions or human rights abuses. Food manufacturing companies need transparent and traceable supply chains from the plantation where the palm oil was sourced to the final product on your grocery store shelf.”

Humans have been cultivating and using palm oil for thousands of years, however it wasn’t until 1885 when William Lever founded Lever Brothers in England and became the first to commercialize the use of palm oil for its bar soaps, and to build palm oil plantations in Indonesia. The company, which later became Unilever, is now among the world’s largest buyers of palm oil for its myriad consumer products. Yet, the company’s CEO Paul Polman is now committed to cutting in half Unilever’s massive environmental impact while doubling sales, stating that doing one is good for the other. If Unilever can effect such a change it would have a massive impact and perhaps take a bit of pressure off such aggressive palm oil expansion.

The question is can we put a check on a largely unregulated, expansionist industry in time to save what’s left of Indonesia’s native rainforests and iconic species, and promote sustainable palm oil development there and in Latin America and Africa, where rainforests and species of their own could be under threat by rampant palm oil expansion? There’s got to be a better way to make a candy bar!

Photo 1: Deforestation in Riau Province in Sumatra makes way for an oil palm plantation. Wikipedia

Olomomo Nut Company Secures Crowd Funding Investment as Growth Accelerates

For Immediate Release:

Olomomo Nut Company Secures Crowd Funding Investment as Growth Accelerates

BOULDER, CO (January 8, 2014) – OLOMOMO Nut Co., a leading, Boulder, CO-based producer of all-natural, gluten-free, artisan-roasted nuts, achieved a key milestone in its national growth strategy today by securing a $450,000 round of funding with help from angel investor crowd-funding platform, CircleUp. Founded in 2012, CircleUp is an internet-based platform primarily for natural consumer packaged goods companies aiming to reach accredited investors. OLOMOMO was one of the first companies featured as part of CircleUp’s Seeds Program for startups under $1 million in revenue.

“We are incredibly grateful to CircleUp for backing this fundraising round. The exposure on CircleUp put us in front of thousands of potential investors we would never have accessed through our own limited time and network,” said OLOMOMO CEO Mark Owens. “We also attracted some very experienced and influential angel investors with the help of CircleUp – including Brad Feld of the Foundry Group, a couple of key natural food industry veterans, and a variety of finance, tech and CPG marketing experts.”

CircleUp’s CEO Ryan Caldbeck is thrilled to welcome OLOMOMO to the platform’s community of funded companies. “Snacking is on the rise and consumers are looking for healthier ways to snack. OLOMOMO leverages these trends in the market in an exciting way with strong branding and a healthy habit-forming product with unique flavors. We were excited by the team’s experience in the food sector and their commitment to building an authentic brand within the nut category,” he said.

OLOMOMO's current flavored nut product line is kettle-roasted using a new twist on centuries-old techniques, and lightly seasoned with individual spices to prevent masking the nut’s inherent flavor. According to founder Justin Perkins, “I’m a busy professional, a dad, and a weekend-warrior athlete who depends on sustained, even energy. I wanted a snack that wasn’t overly sweet or salty; I don’t have time for sugar crashes and ingredients that are dehydrating. Therefore, all of our products adhere to that guiding principle of minimal sugar, low-salt, but loads of flavor.”

Current flavor offerings have the following attributes: all natural and organic ingredients, vegan, gluten free, dairy free, no trans fat, no added oils, no cholesterol, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners and no GMO ingredients.

The folks at OLOMOMO use distinctive, fair-trade spice combinations to create mind-blowing roasted almond, pecan and walnut flavors including Cherry Vanilla Dream, Chai Bliss, Mango Chipotle Zinger, and Righteous Cinnamon Cayenne, available in 1.5-oz. and 4-oz. sizes - and Cosmic Maple Masala Pecans, available in 3.25-oz. bags. The company plans to roll out new flavors in early 2014.

OLOMOMO Nut Company – The Good Nuts™ -- is a cause-oriented brand with a mission to do and inspire more good in the world while creating a healthy snack alternative. 

About OLOMOMO Nut Company

OLOMOMO - The Good Nuts™ - offers healthful, artisan-roasted, all natural nuts. Since launching in 2008 at Boulder, CO area farmers’ markets, OLOMOMO has grown to be the snack of choice for thousands. OLOMOMO Nut Co. is a sustainable business with a commitment to fair labor practices, all natural and organic ingredients, and a wide variety of environmental and social causes. OLOMOMO Nuts inspires people to... ”Be Nutty.  Be Good.  Be Adventurous™.”

OLOMOMO is now available at more than 80 natural grocery stores and 250 coffee shops and smoothie shops nationwide, including Whole Foods Markets in Colorado, Alfalfa's Market, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Akin's Natural Foods, Smoothie King and other leading retailers. OLOMOMO is now available nationally through distributors KeHE/ Tree of Life, Garden Spot, Shamrock Foods, and Barista Pro Shop. For more information, visit www.olomomo.com, contact Mark Owens, info@olomomo.com, 303-242-5509, or join the community atwww.olomomo.com/facebook.

About CircleUp

CircleUp (www.circleup.com) is an online private company investment platform. CircleUp provides accredited investors free access to direct investments in high-growth consumer product and retail private companies that were previously difficult to identify and access. For retail and consumer product entrepreneurs, CircleUp offers an efficient way to access a network of sophisticated investors as well as value-added partners.

As one of the largest equity based crowdfunding sites, CircleUp provides not only access to interesting consumer and retail private company investments, but also a wide ranging, sophisticated investor network. The platform’s investor base includes retail and consumer product industry experts, venture capital, private equity and other financial professionals, business leaders, angel investors and others interested in expanding their investment portfolios with private company investments.

For more information, visit the CircleUp Press Room, like us on Facebook, follow us on LinkedIn orTwitter, or visit our blog.

Communications by Compass Natural Marketing

info@compassnatural.com | 303.807.1042

Historic Mainstream Cereal Brands Make Non-GMO News

Food giants General Mills and Post Foods both announced in the same month that their flagship Original Cheerios and Original Grape Nuts cereals will now say “Non-GMO” on the label, however, consumer watchdog groups fear that voluntary non-GMO claims may be meant to pre-empt any prospective state and federal mandatory GMO labeling efforts.

After contributing millions of dollars in campaign funding in 2012 and 2013 to oppose GMO labeling bills in California and Washington state, mainstream food manufacturer General Mills announced in early January 2014 that it has reformulated its flagship Original Cheerios cereal to remove GMOs from the product. The company said it had spent the past year sourcing non-GMO ingredients and changing some manufacturing practices, and beginning this month, Original Cheerios will now bear a non-GMO claim on the package.

General Mill’s non-GMO claim has not been verified by any third party agency, and the Original variety is the only Cheerios flavor to make the non-GMO claim. To respond to consumer questions, the company posted a non-GMO FAQ web page here.

Taking it one step further, cereal maker Post Foods announced just days later that its Original Grape Nuts variety is now Non-GMO Project Verified and U.S. consumers will see the familiar blue butterfly non-GMO seal on the front of the package in supermarkets across the country. Both Post and General Mills are members of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), a mainstream food industry lobby group that has opposed mandatory GMO labeling measures.

Proponents of GMO transparency lauded the news, including the nonprofit GMO Inside, a project of Green America, which has targeted Cheerios for not disclosing its GMO ingredients in widespread social media campaigns. Given the historic stature of the brands - Grape Nuts was first introduced in 1897 by mainstream food pioneer C.W. Post, and General Mills first launched Cheerios in 1941 - plus their dominant position in the cereal aisle, the moves were heralded as a major step forward in GMO labeling and in exposing a far greater number of consumers to the issue of GMOs in food and agriculture.

GMO Inside continues to press General Mills; its current campaign calls for removing GMO ingredients from Honey Nut Cheerios, and for General Mills to engage a third-party verification service such as Non-GMO Project to ensure the authenticity of the company's non-GMO claims.

A Toe in the Non-GMO Water Granted, the main ingredients in Original Cheerios and Original Grape Nuts - oats and wheat, respectively - are essentially non-GMO, making the products relatively easy to reformulate. Yet, in sourcing non-GMO corn starch, non-GMO sweetener from sugar cane instead of GMO sugar beets, and other non-GMO ingredients, and investing in segregating production, these mainstream cereal giants for the first time are responding to clamoring consumer demand for GMO labeling and transparency. While the Original flavors of Cheerios and Grape Nuts are the only non-GMO offerings, Post said it is pursuing other potential non-GMO products.

It is a testament to the efforts of sustainable food and farming organizations, consumer advocacy groups, natural and organic industry supporters, and grass-roots campaigns behind mandatory GMO labeling bills in states and federal government over the past few years that prompted these mainstream food corporations to finally acknowledge GMO transparency by announcing their non-GMO product claims.

Too Good to be True? Industry watchdogs, however, warn that the claims made by General Mills and Post are strictly voluntary non-GMO claims only, while consumers remain largely unaware that the majority of conventionally processed foods contain GMOs without requiring any disclosure on the label. While non-GMO claims are laudable, proponents of GMO labeling transparency wonder if this may be part of a roundabout move by the mainstream grocery lobby to pre-empt mandatory state and federal GMO labeling measures in favor of being able to make voluntary non-GMO claims, or abide by voluntary or watered-down GMO labeling standards that will likely be full of exemptions and loopholes.

Food Safety News reported in early January that GMA lobbied Congress and federal regulators to allow foods containing GMOs to be called "natural." Also, in an internal letter outlining GMO talking points intended for food industry lobbyists, GMA warned that, "The first state to implement a GMO labeling law will be sued on the constitutional grounds seen in IDFA v. Amestoy. Litigation in this area could be long, costly and will probably be decided by the Supreme Court," the letter stated. However, GMA's claims that state GMO labeling efforts are unconstitutional are baseless, according to legal experts and reported by Organic Consumers Association on January 23.

"If we’re to follow Cheerios and Grape Nuts down the rabbit hole, then states and federal GMO labeling laws will never happen," notes journalist Jill Ettinger in EatDrinkBetter.com. "Instead of mandatory labeling, with defined parameters, we’ll end up with a sugar-coated self-regulated system that’s about as healthy for you as the average breakfast cereal. In the long run, we’re much better off with tangible labeling laws instead of voluntary proclamations," she wrote.

One bright spot is that “now that Original Cheerios has gone non-GMO, it has proven one thing we've known all along and that is that GMO labeling doesn't cost the consumer any more money," said David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner's and a longtime GMO labeling advocate. Bronner noted at a recent GMO labeling meeting in Portland, OR, that prices have not gone up for non-GMO Cheerios or Grape Nuts, despite repeated claims by GMO labeling opponents that mandatory labeling requirements would increase food prices for consumers.

This post originally appeared in the January 2014 issue of Presence News, a leading industry newsletter published by Presence Marketing / Dynamic Presence, the nation's largest independent natural and organic products brokerage.

Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural LLC, a full-service marketing, branding, public relations and business development agency serving natural, organic and sustainable products businesses. As a GMO labeling proponent, he served on the finance committees of California’s Prop 37 and Washington State’s I-522 voter campaigns to label GMO foods. Hoffman is former Editorial Director of New Hope Natural Media and former Program Director of Natural Products Expo. A co-founder of the annual LOHAS Conference for the $300-billion “Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability” market, and former Director of The Organic Center, Hoffman also served as Rocky Mountain Sales Manager and National Marketing Director for Arrowhead Mills, now a leading organic division of the Hain-Celestial Group. Contact steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042.