Organic milk is sold in glass pints

Straus Family Creamery, Petaluma, Calif., is selling single-serve, organic, cream-top 2% milk in its signature, reusable pint-sized bottles. The milk is available in cafés, coffee houses, neighborhood grocery stores and supermarkets in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a suggested retail price of $1.50 plus deposit.

The line extension provides a convenient way for consumers to enjoy single servings of the creamery’s cream-top milk without the waste of small, individual packages. The processor says its milk is gently pasteurized, “leaving the milk as close to its natural state as possible, which is the key to the milk’s celebrated flavor.”

Milk bottles are adorned with drawings inspired by founder Albert Straus' mother Ellen Straus, reflecting the creamery’s family roots. Straus Family Creamery’s reusable glass milk bottles are made with 40% recycled content and have a return rate of over 80%. They are reused by the creamery an average of six to eight times before reentering the recycling stream.

 

French Toast is Baskin-Robbins' Flavor of the Month

Baskin-Robbins says it flavor of the month for September is French Toast ice cream, which includes gooey maple bread pudding. The company suggests the food be served on top of homemade waffles, pancakes and French toast. The flavor is also available in hand-packed pints, quarts and half-gallons.

 

Blue Bell introduces tiramisu ice cream flavor

Tiramisu is the newest flavor of ice cream from Blue Bell, Brenham, Texas. The processor describes it as “a smooth coffee ice cream loaded with delicious cake pieces, dark chocolate flakes, a creamy caramel sauce and a whipped topping swirled throughout.” Christy Moran, the company’s research and development manager, says "Our version of tiramisu perfectly captures the flavor of the traditional dessert in an ice cream form. There is a mild coffee flavor in your first bite, but it is quickly sweetened by the caramel sauce and whipped topping. The cake pieces have the perfect texture and really make this ice cream unique. And we have added the chocolate flakes in as the perfect garnish."

 

Beef and cheese sandwich wins award

The Big AZ Kickin' Jalapeno Beef Charbroil With Cheese sandwich from AdvancePierre Foods was named the “most delicious new sandwich” and the best value by Convenience Store News magazine. Launched in January, the sandwich is sold at convenience stores and vending machines.

 

Milk cartons to be recycled in Dallas

Dallas is adding food and beverage cartons to its residential curbside recycling program. Residents will be able to place all empty cartons, including milk and juice cartons, in their blue recycling bins or at community recycling drop-off containers. Dallas is said to be the first major city in Texas to have a carton recycling program. The effort is supported by the Carton Council, a collaborative of carton manufacturers committed to expanding carton recycling in the United States.

Sartori, Green Bay Packers support Make-A-Wish

Sartori Co., Plymouth, Wis., is partnering with Green Bay Packer Mason Crosby and the Green Bay Packers Radio Network to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation during the 2011 NFL season. Sartori has pledged to donate $1,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every field goal Crosby makes during the 2011 season. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through the fulfillment of childhood dreams. 

 

Stonyfield Farm collects lids in support of Breastcancer.org

Stonyfield launched a new yogurt lid campaign to support nonprofit Breastcancer.org, the world's leading online resource for expert-reviewed information and support on breast health and breast cancer. To encourage participation, Stonyfield will donate up to $100,000 to Breastcancer.org for actions participants take online.

The lid campaign (which started Sept. 1) is part of an ongoing partnership between Breastcancer.org and Stonyfield. Earlier this year, Breastcancer.org launched its Organic Living section. The goal of Organic Living is to help people understand how the outside environment affects breast health through the chemicals in food, beverages, medications, and other products they use. Stonyfield sponsored the development of this new section.

The campaign lids will appear on approximately 20 million Stonyfield Organic yogurts and Stonyfield Organic Oikos Greek yogurts across the United States through Nov. 30. The lids will direct consumers to Breastcancer.org where they can read, listen, and watch stories of why and how others adopted an organic diet and planet-friendly lifestyle as a way to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Visitors are encouraged to "like" and share these stories with others through Facebook, Twitter, and email. They can also share their own stories as a way to motivate others and take part in online surveys. Each action generates a "click." Stonyfield has pledged $0.10 per click or $100,000 if the campaign achieves 1 million clicks.

 

Organic Valley sponsors ‘Who’s Your Farmer?’ tour

Organic Valley, America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands, said the Generation Organic 2011 “Who’s Your Farmer?” tour will start Sept. 26 from its headquarters in La Farge, Wis. The bus caravan will travel through the Pacific Northwest and end Oct. 17 at Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif. Organic Valley’s Generation Organic is a group of young farmers aged 18 to 35 representing sustainable agriculture leaders who believe in the power of Organic to change the world. “Gen-O” farmers will make the three-week tour on a bus fueled by sustainably produced biofuels. Along the way they will urge people to own their food and arm them with knowledge about how personal food choices affect the health of our bodies and our planet-and drive their future.

 

Who will be the 2011 Dairy Foods Processor of the Year?

Dairy Foods seeks nominations for its 2011 Processor of the Year award. Among the criteria considered by the judging panel are: new product introductions, sales growth, marketing campaigns, investment in plant and equipment, involvement in the community and involvement in the dairy industry. E-mail your nomination, along with the reasons why, to editor in chief Jim Carper (carperj@dairyfoods.com). The winning company will be featured in the December issue.

 

National Dairy Council encourages healthy habits in children

In observance of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month (September), the National Dairy Council (NDC), the National Football League (NFL) and Carla Hall (the “hoo-de-hoo contestant from  Top Chef) are jump starting Fuel Up to Play 60 and the new school year by motivating students to take charge of their well-being.

The Fuel Up to Play 60 program empowers youth to take action for their own health by providing an opportunity to implement long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. For example, students are working directly with their schools to have breakfast offered in new and fun ways or to start walking clubs. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

 

Mobile truck sells frozen yogurt in Chicago

Chicago-based Culture, The Yogurt Society, has been selling its frozen yogurt from a mobile food truck in the city. The truck visits popular neighborhoods, special events, private parties and corporate outings. Fans with a smart phone can find the truck’s location. It is also shown on the company’s website. The company uses Twitter and Facebook to deliver daily updates and promotions. The frozen yogurt is non-fat, about 30 calories-per-ounce, 97% lactose free, 100% gluten free, kosher and vitamin fortified. It contains probiotics not found in traditional frozen yogurt. Culture is certified by the National Yogurt Association and the yogurt base is certified kosher by KSA.

 

Marble Slab, MaggieMoo give away ice cream on Sept. 28

To celebrate the launch of the new Mini Waffle Sundae, Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery will be giving away a Mini Waffle Sundae to customers from 3-6pm at participating locations. Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream and Treatery are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group.

The Mini Waffle Sundae comes in four different flavors for customers to choose and the giveaway will feature an assortment of these combinations: Rocky Road - Chocolate Swiss with Chocolate Chips, Marshmallows, Walnuts & Fudge; Red Velvet - Red Velvet with Pecans, Brownies & Fudge; Strawberry Skydive - Strawberry with Oreo® Cookies, Strawberry, & Fudge; and Cookie Dough Drizzle - Birthday Cake with Cookie Dough, Oreo® Cookies & Fudge.

  

Mikael Pedersen was appointed chief operations officer at Agro Farma, maker of Chobani yogurt. Pedersen reports to CEO and Founder, Hamdi Ulukaya.