Supplier Business
Prairie Farms Hauls Home Awards from Dairy Competitions
Prairie Farms Dairy took home dozens of awards from the 2017 World Dairy Expo Product Competition. The awards ceremony was held on October 3 at the 2017 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin.
Prairie Farms competed in nearly 30 categories and won 40 awards. The awards included 14 first place championship trophies, 11 second place medallions, and 15 third place medallions. The big win included six perfect scores for salted caramel milk, sea salt caramel milk, white milk (two trophies), chocolate milk and whipping cream. Prairie Farms swept the competition in three categories: southwest dip, low-fat chocolate milk, and fat-free chocolate milk.
“To earn prestigious World Dairy Expo Awards, a dairy company must offer top-quality products. Prairie Farms competed in 27 categories and won 40 awards, that’s nearly 50 percent of total category awards and more than any of our competitors. Our performance was outstanding in all categories,” said Rebecca Leinenbach, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Prairie Farms. “We serve millions of customers each day who deserve the highest quality products available, and during the past 75 years they have counted on Prairie Farms’ commitment to delivering the best of the best from our farms to their tables.”
The World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, is the only judging contest of its kind in North America. More than 1,200 products were entered from all over the country in 79 contest classes, including cheese, fluid milk, yogurt, butter, sour cream, dairy dips, ice cream, cottage cheese and whey products.
Prairie Farms results from 2017 state fair competitions in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky were equally impressive. Over 150 red, white and blue ribbons were awarded in numerous categories. New this year for Prairie Farms were entries in the Illinois State Fair Cheese Competition where the company’s cheese division won blue ribbons for cream cheese, blue cheese, and gorgonzola. The Missouri win included five blue rosette ribbons, which are the highest-ranking ribbons, for sour cream, ice cream, yogurt, fat-free milk and iced coffee. In Kentucky, six gold medals were awarded for butter, cottage cheese, chocolate milk, buttermilk, low-fat and reduced-fat milk.
United Fresh Winter Meeting to Transition to Fresh Start Foundation Annual Conference
The United Fresh Start Foundation will become the host event in January 2018 for both the association’s and foundation’s traditional winter leadership meetings.
“With the growing importance of the United Fresh Start Foundation’s work to increase children’s access to fresh produce, we wanted to create a new annual platform focused on the impact we’re having in communities across the country, to recognize our donors and supporters, and to work together to advance this critical mission,” said United Fresh Chairman of the Board Susan Reimer-Sifford, General Manager of CC Kitchens for Castellini Companies.
The United Fresh Start Foundation Annual Conference January 16-18 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California, will feature a new half-day program focused on growing access to fresh fruits and vegetables; all of United’s traditional volunteer leadership board, council and committee meetings; the Foundation’s annual fundraising golf tournament, a new silent/live auction, and the organization’s annual gala dinner recognizing the recipient of United’s 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award.
“As Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, I’m excited to add this third leg to United Fresh events through the year – complementing United’s Washington Conference focused on public policy issues, and the Annual Convention and Expos focused on expanding the fresh foods marketplace and technology innovations,” said Phil Muir, President and CEO, Muir Copper Canyon Farms. “This annual platform will bring the industry together to focus on how we can fundamentally change the way the next generation connects with fresh produce from their earliest years to become lifelong consumers,” he said.
In order to maximize participation in the conference and gala dinner, registration for the entire event is open to all United Fresh members for a modest $200, with a non-member rate of $400. Participation in the United Fresh Start Foundation Golf Tournament is set at $300 per player.
“I can’t think of a more important cause to support, nor a nicer place to be than San Diego in January,” said Reimer-Sifford. “We invite members from across the industry as well as all of our volunteer leaders to join us for a little fun-in-the-sun to support a great cause!”
Registration for all events opens November 6.
Hammond’s Brands Popular Holiday Line Selling Fast
Halloween may not be over just yet, but the USA’s largest manufacturer of handmade candy canes is already having a busy holiday season. Hammond’s Brands, the parent company of Hammond’s Candies, Old Dominion Peanut Company, McCraw’s Candies, and Mellow Fluffs, has announced a December 15 deadline for wholesale orders of its popular line of stocking stuffer-worthy seasonal candies.
When consumers think of the holidays, thoughts of Hammond’s peppermint-flavored sweets aren’t far behind. The company’s small batch Candy Canes are made from the same old-fashioned recipes that the company began using almost a century ago. Packaged in cases of 48, the oversized 8’-inch, 1.75-ounce canes are delicately hand crooked with a beautiful shine and tempting flavors, including Classic Peppermint, which retails for $2.99, and Chocolate Cream Filled Peppermint, which retails for $3.49. Hammond’s line of canes features a total of 30 unique flavors.
In addition to its Candy Canes, Hammond’s gives its lollipops, hot chocolate and chocolate bars a refreshing, peppermint-infused update this time of year as well. Peppermint Christmas Tree Lollipops make a sweet and festive topper for gifts of all sizes. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Dunking Spoons give the gift of a warm and comforting beverage on the go. Candy Cane Crunch Bars combine dark chocolate and bits of peppermint for a tingly treat.
“For our wholesale partners, the holiday season starts long before Advent calendars do! Knowing this, we’ve made it a habit to always get a head start on our peppermint-infused treats,” said Andrew Schuman, Hammond’s President and CEO. “This year, we’re prepared to support wholesale holiday orders right up until December 15th so we can spread as much cheer as possible.”
