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.

Annual Gathering of Socially Responsible Investors

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

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

Patrick Mitchell, for First Affirmative, tel 703.276.3266, pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com

Deepak Chopra, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Headline Nation's Largest Annual Gathering of Socially Responsible Investors

Colorado Springs, CO (July 10, 2012) – Natural, organic and sustainable business-sector leaders have a unique opportunity to learn about the growing market for green investing at the 23rd Annual SRI Conference to be held October 2-4, 2012, at the Mohegan Sun Conference Center in Connecticut.

The SRI Conference on Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing is the nation's leading gathering of fund managers, investment bankers, investment advisors and other professionals in the socially responsible "conscious investor" market with an estimated $3 trillion under asset management.

The SRI Conference provides a unique bridge into the conscious investing market and how natural and organic products businesses are creating positive change and achieving profitability as they work to solve real social, environmental and health challenges. 

SRI investing in the United States continues to grow at a faster pace than the total universe of investment assets under professional management, according to the 2010 edition of the Social Investment Forum Foundation’s Report on Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States. Growth in SRI-related investments has increased more than 34 percent since 2007, while the broader universe of professionally managed assets has increased only 3 percent.

The 2012 SRI Conference (formerly known as SRI in the Rockies) is produced by First Affirmative Financial Network, and this year's event is the first to be held near major financial and business centers in New York and Boston. Visit www.SRIconference.com.

Plenary Speakers Include:

Deepak Chopra, Renowned Author and Pioneer in Mind-Body Medicine

Deepak Chopra, M.D., is a world-renowned author of more than 64 books and founder of the non-profit Chopra Foundation, with the mission to advance the cause of mind/body spiritual healing, education and research. Chopra is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, adjunct professor of Executive Programs at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and senior scientist with The Gallup Organization.

Muhammad Yunus, the Father of Microcredit, to Speak Opening Night

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, who is widely regarded as the father of microcredit and also is the founder of Grameen Bank, will be the keynote speaker on October 2nd, the opening night of the SRI Conference. In March 2012, Fortune Magazinenamed Yunus “one of the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time.” In 2006, Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Professor Yunus began providing collateral free loans to the poor in his country of origin, Bangladesh. Originally called the Grameen Bank Project, it later became a full-fledged bank providing loans to the poor, mostly women, in rural Bangladesh. Today Grameen Bank has 8.4 million borrowers, 97 percent of whom are women, and disburses $1.5 billion each year. His microcredit idea hasspread across the world, including the industrialized countries of the West.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Takes on Sustainable Waste Recovery Challenges

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., president of the Waterkeeper Alliance and senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), will join Kim Jeffery, CEO of Nestlé Waters North America, the largest bottled water company in North America, to discuss corporate responsibility and sustainable waste recovery challenges. Their presentations will focus on the urgency of advancing more comprehensive waste recovery systems in the U.S., bottom line implications for companies, and how shareholder advocates are influencing corporations to mitigate shareholder risk.

From Chief Executives to Tribal Chiefs: Women Leaders Spotlighted at Conference

The 2012 SRI Conference features a number of women business and financial leaders, including Chief Lynn Malerba, the first female chief of the Mohegan Tribe; Barbara Krumsiek, CEO of Calvert Investments, one of the nation's leading SRI management companies with $12 billion under asset management; and Mindy Lubber, J.D., President of Ceres, the leading U.S. coalition of investors and environmental leaders working to improve corporate ESG practices, and director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk.

About the SRI Conference

The SRI Conference (www.SRIconference.com) is the leading forum for the Sustainable, Responsible, Impact (SRI) investing industry in the North America. For its 23rd year, The SRI Conference will be held at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in southeastern Connecticut, Oct. 2–4, 2012. For more information about the agenda, speaking, or sponsorship, or for media inquiries, contact Krystala Kalil, tel 888.774.2663, krystala@SRIconference.com; or contact Steven Hoffman, tel 303.807.1042, steve@compassnatural.com. Register online atwww.SRIconference.com/register.

About First Affirmative Financial Network

First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC (www.FirstAffirmative.com) is an independent fee- only Registered Investment Advisor (SEC File #801-56587) offering investment consulting and asset management services through a nationwide network of investment professionals who specialize in serving socially conscious investors. First Affirmative produces the annual SRI Conference, the premier gathering of investors and investment professionals focused on sustainable, responsible, impact investing in North America (www.SRIconference.com).

Natural, Organic Foods Tracking 10% Growth

Source: Wikimedia Commons

We are pleased that Compass Natural Marketing was included as a source in New Hope 360's 2012 annual Market Overview of the natural and organic products industry. Here's an excerpt, below. For the full story, click here.When it comes to natural products hotbeds, Louisville, Ky., doesn’t make the top 10—or maybe even the top 40. But last year, the five Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Markets in the Louisville area posted 9 percent sales growth. Even more impressively, the stores—which range from 3,500 to 7,500 square feet—did this while competing with a Whole Foods Market, a new Trader Joe’s and a Vitamin Shoppe for the city’s natural products audience.

The fact that eight naturals stores—soon to be joined by two more: Earth Fare and another Vitamin Shoppe—could thrive in an area that Rainbow Blossom Chief Operating Officer Summer Auerbach diplomatically calls “not the most progressive” illustrates the post-recession strength of the natural and organic industry. Indeed, Natural Foods Merchandiser’s 2012 Market Overview Natural Retailers Survey shows that nationwide, sales of all natural and organic products (including dietary supplements) within all channels jumped 10 percent to nearly $91 billion last year.

The natural channel (which includes independent and chain natural products retailers) continued to generate the lion’s share of sales in 2011, growing 9 percent to $37 billion. Although growth in the natural channel was better last year than in 2010 (when sales expanded just 7 percent), mass market retailers—particularly club stores—remain hot on the heels of the naturals stores and, in fact, grew their sales of natural and organic products by 11.2 percent, to $36 billion, in 2011, according to NFM’s Market Overview survey.

Conducted in collaboration with Nutrition Business Journal, a sister publication, NFM’s research shows that growth of natural and organic products sales in all channels is being fueled by a variety of factors: consumers who are becoming more educated about health and environmental issues; foods that taste as good or better than their conventional counterparts; consistent, favorable media attention about the merits of natural and organic products; the growing foodie and farm-to-table movements; and even the rising popularity of yoga.

“The number of natural products shoppers has increased so much that stores like Whole Foods are now opening in secondary markets like Basalt, Colo. [located near Aspen],” says Steven Hoffman, managing partner of Boulder, Colo.-based consulting firm Compass Naturals. Hungry and well capitalized for expansion, Whole Foods is on track to open between 24 and 27 new stores during its fiscal year 2012 and another 28 to 32 in fiscal year 2013, the company’s co-CEO Walter Robb told analysts in February.   (Read more...)

Source: Natural Foods Merchandiser, June 2012, published by New Hope Natural Media.

New Packaging & Expanded Product Offerings for Cocomels™

For Immediate Release:

Contact:

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

JJ Rademaekers, JJ’s Sweets®, tel 303.800.6492, jj@cocomel.com

JJ’s Sweets® presents its expanded product offering of Cocomels™, the original, artisan-crafted, coconut milk caramel—in a newly-designed, “flagship” box—filled with rich, smooth and creamy caramel confections that are always gluten free, dairy free, GMO free and vegan. JJ’s Sweets® will launch the newest offering at the Fancy Food Show in Washington, DC. Visit the company at the Buyer’s Best Friend Booth #229.    

Boulder, CO (June 5, 2012) – Dairy-free, caramel confectioner JJ’s Sweets® is bringing its newest collection of hand-made, coconut milk treats, Cocomels™ – featuring a new look and an expanded product line – to the Fancy Foods Summer Show in Washington, DC.

“We are extremely excited to exhibit at the 2012 Fancy Food Summer Show and feature our delicious, dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO caramels,” said JJ Rademaekers, Chief Candyman and Founder of JJ’s Sweets®. “In anticipation of the show, we’ve expanded our product line to include an appealing new look and product offerings from Cocomels™, the Original Coconut Milk Caramels. With our new ‘flagship’ box design plus a more convenient, grab and go ‘Pocket Pack’ size, as well as our original single Cocomels™ in display jars, the distinctive Cocomels™ package stands out on the shelf, as well as the countertop,” added Rademaekers.

“The Fancy Foods Summer Show, held June 17-19, 2012, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC, is North America’s largest specialty food and beverage trade exhibition, attracting more than 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions. The Show will include more than 180,000 products including confections, cheese, coffee, snacks, spices, ethnic, natural and organic foods. JJ’s Sweets® will sample its Cocomels™ caramels at the Buyer’s Best Friend Booth #229 at the show.

"Also, we look forward to featuring the newest Cocomels™ product selection, available in four flavors, including: Original, Sea Salt, Vanilla, and Java (made with organic espresso beans),” said Rademaekers. “Cocomels™ are hand-crafted in Boulder, Colorado, using only the finest, sustainably sourced, premium ingredients and organic sweeteners. Cocomels™ also are healthier than regular caramels thanks to the many benefits of coconut oil rather than dairy fat. Cocomels™ are vegan, gluten free, and corn and soy free. We hope you’ll visit our booth and try this new, award-winning take on caramel decadence!”

The company continues to capitalize on the growing U.S. market for specialty candy, including natural and artisan-made candy, reports Specialty Food Magazine in its    Candy Forecast 2012. “The biggest trend in candy is heading toward more natural, less manufactured confections,” says Kara Nielsen, a trendologist at the Center for Culinary Development in San Francisco. “Artisan candy producers are re-creating recipes for classic candies with great care and lovely packaging,” she adds.

JJ’s Sweets® is positioned to springboard this launch off the company’s success at the 2012 Fancy Food Winter Show last January and the growing popularity of coconut products. Cocomels™ were featured as one of the top 14 confections at the show by the editor ofCandyBlog, who reported, “I’ve had a few vegan caramels over the years and they kind of violate the essential definition of caramel in the first place, so it’s hard for me to appreciate them. JJ Rademakers has created something that gets so close and is such a good product in its own right. His JJ’s Cocomels are made with coconut milk instead of butter and cream. They’re fully emulsified and smooth but with strong caramelized sugar notes. Looks like a great option for both vegans and those sensitive to dairy.”

The Cocomels™ brand relaunch includes an updated logo, new package design, new product offerings, and sizes. In addition to capitalizing on healthy and nostalgic candy trends, the branding offers enhanced shelf appeal to grab customer’s attention and capture additional consumer price points.

Cocomels™ are now available in all four flavors with approximately 12 caramels in each “flagship” box, as well as the new 5-caramel Pocket Packs, which are a perfect size and price point for customers on the go. In addition, Cocomels™ are available for sale as singles in beautiful glass jar displays, custom-made for coffee shops, cafes, juice bars and retail or foodservice counters. For chocolate lovers, Cocomels™ singles are available covered in premium Fair Trade organic dark chocolate for an unparalleled caramel experience.

About Cocomels™ and JJ’s Sweets®

Artisan-crafted in copper kettles, Cocomels™ are made with only the finest sourced coconut milk, premium, all natural ingredients and organic sweeteners. The result is a rich, smooth and creamy caramel confection that is blissfully gluten free, dairy free, GMO free and vegan. Cocomels™ are available in four flavors, including Original, Sea Salt, Vanilla, and Java, made with organic espresso beans for a delicious coffee flavor. Plus, our singles are also available in chocolate covered varieties, made with premium fair trade organic dark chocolate. JJ’s Sweets® confection collections are presented in newly designed, nostalgic boxes, with a touch of tradition matched with modern gourmet appeal, and are available online soon at www.cocomel.com, and at coffee shops and gourmet markets around the U.S. 

Contact info@cocomel.com, tel 303.800.6492.

University of Colorado Scientists are Wrong on GMO Data

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This blog was originally submitted to the Boulder Daily Camera in response to an opinion piece the paper ran on May 25, 2012, stating that GMOs are safe. In the following letter, we present peer-reviewed evidence on why the commentator - a University of Colorado biotech professor - is wrong about GMOs.

University of Colorado professors who benefit from the multi-billion-dollar biotech industry do the community a disservice by spreading misinformation, hubris and slanted opinion in their guest commentaries of Jan. 8, 2012, and also May 25, 2012, in the Boulder Daily Camera. Meanwhile,the Camera itself has presented little balance from non-GMO experts, and in fact the newspaper endorsed GMOs on Boulder open space land.

While Prof. Andrew Staehelin in his May 25 commentary criticizes one particular study, conducted back in 1999, he fails to acknowledge a growing body of research that clearly demonstrates the significant health and environmental risks associated with genetically engineered (GMO) foods.

In May 2011 researchers at the Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec reported finding insecticide toxins caused from dietary intake of GMO grains in the bloodstreams of 93% of pregnant women and 80% of fetuses tested. What will be the effect of long-term ingestion of GMO crops that produce their own pesticides on human health? There have been no studies done, so how are these CU professors so sure GMOs are harmless?

One Professor Emeritus, Dr. Don Huber of Purdue University, a lifelong expert in agriculture, reported on June 16, 2011, on ABC News that he has identified an alarming unknown new disease infecting plants and animals that is strongly associated with GMO agriculture. GMOs now control more than 90% of our major food and feed crops; could such a disease create a crop collapse? Additionally, the Institute of Science in Society reported in June 2010 that GMO genetic material can persist in plant debris and soil residue and literally cross-transfer, or jump into the DNA of plants, animals and humans.

The US Geological Survey reported in August 2011 that the use of Roundup herbicide (glyphosate)—the main pesticide associated with GMO agriculture—is so pervasive and persistent in the environment that it has contaminated the rain, rivers and air throughout the Midwest during the entire growing season. In 2009, The Organic Center and the Union of Concerned Scientists found that GMO crops have been responsible for an increase of nearly 400 million pounds of herbicide use in the U.S. over the first 13 years of commercial adoption of GMO food crops. Yet, Bloombergreported on Dec. 2, 2011, that more than 20 million acres of GMO fields are now infested by Roundup-resistant superweeds, according to research conducted by Monsanto and Syngenta themselves.

In November 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Monsanto’s GMO corn also is rapidly losing its effectiveness against insect pests, and EPA admonished Monsanto that it isn’t doing enough to control growing insect resistance to the very insecticides it is splicing into its crops. These same systemic insecticides used in GMO crops have also been identified by scientists as a dangerous contributor to honeybee colony collapse disorder.

Italian researchers in the Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry in 2008 reported that mice fed GMO corn developed compromised immune systems and elevated levels of a cell type associated with asthma and food allergies in children. However, there have been no long-term human health studies ever published on the safety of GMOs in our diet. In fact, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine in May 2009 called for a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) foods, stating: “Avoid GM foods when possible.... Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with GM food.... There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation.... The strength of association and consistency between GM foods and disease is confirmed in several animal studies."

Despite the fact that there have been no long-term health studies, GMOs now dominate our agriculture and food system: more than 80% of all grocery products now contain GMO ingredients, with no labeling required—basically, GMO corn, soy, canola, cottonseed oil and/or sugar is in nearly every conventionally processed food product. Yet, 91% of consumers surveyed by the JustLabelIt.org campaign want foods labeled if they contain GMO ingredients. Additionally, more than 971,000 California residents signed petitions to ensure that a measure to require mandatory labeling of GMO foods, the California Consumer’s Right to Know Initiative (www.carighttoknow.org), will be on the voter ballot in November.

In their commentaries, these CU professors did the same thing that a group of CSU professors did at the Boulder County Commissioners’ public hearings on GMOs in December – they presented absolutely no science, but voiced only arrogance and ridicule in seeking to discredit valid research and consumer and economic concerns over GMOs, and in discrediting the organic industry. Yet we need to understand that these same scientists depend on the biotech industry for funding, and they stand to enrich themselves through patents on life.

Organic food comprises only 5% of the overall food market, but it has the most to lose as GMO agriculture presents the greatest threat to the integrity of organic—the only food system in the world seeking to keep toxic chemicals and GMOs out of our food and the environment. Organic farmers have no choice when GMO genetic drift contaminates their crops.

Eat GMO food if you want, but put a label on it so I don’t have to. The consumer’s right to know is a fundamental right that is recognized in 40 countries outside the US that currently require GMO labeling. Until that happens in the U.S., it’s a stacked deck in favor of a handful of multinational biotech companies.

Steven Hoffman writes on issues in sustainable food and agriculture. He is Managing Partner of Compass Natural LLC, a full service marketing and public relations agency serving natural, organic and sustainable businesses. He is Cofounder of the annual LOHAS Forum green business conference, former Director of The Organic Center, former Editorial Director of the Natural Foods Merchandiser, a leading industry publication. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Hoffman specialized in food, agriculture and education in Central America. He is a former agriculture extension agent and director of the Philadelphia Urban Gardening Program, and holds a M.S. in Agriculture from Penn State University. Visit his blog at www.compassnatural.com/blog.