Chosen Foods Obtains B Corporation Certification
Chosen Foods, America’s #1 Avocado Oil and one of few on shelves that is guaranteed to be 100% pure, is certified as a B Corporation (B Corp). This accomplishment reinforces the brand’s commitment to a range of sustainable practices encompassing environmental performance, business standards, governance, community involvement and customer engagement.
To achieve B Corp Certification, companies must undergo a rigorous assessment process and meet a B Impact Assessment score of at least 80. Chosen Foods exceeded the requirements, demonstrating its years-long commitment to and presence of accountability and transparency through its mission-driven business.
“We’re honored to receive this certification as a proof point of our commitment to positively impacting people and our planet,” said Douglas MacFarlane, CEO. “From day one, we’ve been dedicated to building a responsible business through our better-for-you kitchen staples that replace bad fats with good fats from 100 percent pure avocado oil. Becoming B Corp Certified is an exciting milestone in recognition of these efforts and we’re proud to join the growing movement of companies working to create the positive change we need to see in the world.”
Chosen Foods considers the effects of its business and operational decisions on all its stakeholders (not just shareholders) to make a positive, material impact on society and the environment. As part of its business model for good and governing documents, the company has taken several key steps that led to it achieving B Corp Certification. These include:
- Using primarily bruised or damaged avocados that would otherwise end up in waste streams to make its 100% pure avocado oil.
- Thoroughly monitoring potential environmental impacts through regular visits to suppliers’ operations to ensure waste reduction practices and growing practices are aligned with Chosen Foods’ expectations and standards.
- Transforming any leftover matter from the oil extraction process into natural gas, animal feed, or fertilizer for farming purposes.
- Adhering to environmentally friendly purchasing procedures by routinely conducting packaging footprint assessments to review the environmental impact of packaging from conception through the sale of the product.
- Purchasing carbon offsets for all of Chosen Foods’ scope 1 and 2 emissions and a percentage of its scope 3 emissions.
- Facilitating a process of tracking all greenhouse emissions to ensure a cleaner business model and a safer planet.
Chosen Foods is dedicated to offering consumers better-for-you kitchen staples with its 100% pure avocado oil, ensuring the quality and purity of its products. By achieving B Corp status, Chosen Foods is committed to contributing to sustainable and economic system change while delivering products that are better for people and the planet.
Chosen Foods, America’s #1 Avocado Oil and Avocado Oil Spray, is always 100% pure, made with good fats from avocados, has a neutral taste, and is great for high-heat cooking (up to 500°F). Chosen Foods Avocado Oil is a versatile cooking staple and kitchen must-have that is great for general cooking, grilling, baking and more. The brand also makes additional pantry staples made with 100% pure avocado oil including: mayo, salad dressings, dip & drizzle sauces, and chocolate hazelnut spread. Learn more at www.chosenfoods.com/.
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Swamp Dragon Hot Sauce Reluctantly Suspends Operations
Matt Beeson created Swamp Dragon hot sauce for those who love hot sauce but don’t like the vinegary taste. Beeson created the world’s first hot sauce made with liquor as a preservative, not vinegar. He put a lovable dragon cartoon on the label, so families would know it’s still kid-friendly.
Making Swamp Dragon and growing the brand was a passion for Beeson. He’s been networking to find the resources to keep Swamp Dragon going, but has been unable to. (Read more in the April/May issue of Gourmet News.) Now, Beeson has made the heartbreaking decision to suspend operations.
“Swamp Dragon is officially suspending operations,” Beeson wrote on his LinkedIn page, the company website and other social media, this time featuring a sad dragon. “We will continue filling web orders until inventory depletes (very soon, so go now if you care to), and then the company will remain idle until I fix things.
“I am sorry that most or none of you have had, and may never have, Chocolate Bourbon Hot Sauce or Piña Colada Hot Sauces. The flavors I am able to achieve without vinegar are unlike anything before, and cannot be had by any other than my patented method.
“This company and invention is a source of deep pride for me. Suspending the operation does not change that. With the help of supporters, family, volunteers and more, Swamp Dragon made a very real splash. Alas, with insufficient funding, the runway WILL expire. It did.
“As I suspend things, I walk away from massive sales and business opportunity that was always and still is there. The product is delicious, incomparable, and very easy to sell. It’s a f$%King shame of the highest order.
“Hopefully soon, I will have the necessary resources to relaunch properly. Thank you all so very much for your support, advice, patronage, and love.
“I cannot say with any certainty that I will relaunch. But it is the plan. Don’t give up on me.
:Now that’s out, so maybe I can get a little more vocal about finding my next job. Hire me!”
Once again, Gourmet News will feature more on Beeson’s quest to save Swamp Dragon in the April/May issue. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it!
San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition Winners Announced
After an extensive judging of quality California-produced olive oils, The Big Fresno Fair is excited to reveal the winners of the 8th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition. This competition, which is open to all olive oil producers in California with products made from their 2022 olive harvest, received a total of 63 entries from 27 olive oil producers from throughout the state.
Entries were received in two categories: Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Flavored Olive Oil, with 10 classes in total. Gold and Silver Medals were awarded, as well as an overall “Best of Show” and “Best of the Valley” selected from all of the highest scoring gold medal entries in both categories. In total there weres44 EVOO and 19 Flavored Olive Oil entries that were entered for judging. The winners of the 8th Annual San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition are as follows with counties of ranch locations noted in parenthesis:
Best of Show
Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Tulare) – EVOO
Corto Olive Co. Yuzu Citrus (San Joaquin) – Flavored Olive Oil
Best of the Valley
- Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium 100% Mission (Merced)
Extra Virgin Olive Oils
- Gold Medal Winners
- Spanish Blends: Corto Olive Co. Truly (San Joaquin), J. Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium 100% Mission (Merced), Cobram Estate Olive Oil 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Robust (Yolo/Sacramento), California Olive Ranch Miller’s Blend (Glenn)
- Spanish Singles: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina (Monterey), Olivaia’s OLA Estate Sevillano (Tulare), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Picual (Yolo), The Olive Press Picual (Sonoma)
- Italian Blends: San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Eleganza (San Luis Obispo), San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Paradiso (San Luis Obispo)
- Italian Singles: Rio Bravo Ranch Coratina (Kern), Rio Bravo Ranch Frantoio (Kern), Tres Osos Olive Oil Taggiasca (Monterey), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Coratina (Yolo), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Late Harvest Coratina (Yolo), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Itrana (Yolo), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Coratina (Sutter)
- Gold Medal Winners
- Other Blends: OH Olive Oil (Kern), Olivaia’s OLA Block X Heirloom (Tulare), Rio Bravo Ranch Miller’s Reserve Blend (Kern)
- Other Singles: Coastal Press Extra Virgin (Madera/Tulare)
- Silver Medal Winners:
- Spanish Blends: Olivaia’s OLA Block X Super (Tulare), Cobram Estate 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Classic (Yolo/Sacramento) Cobram Estate Olive Oil 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil – CA Select (Yolo/Sacramento)
- Spanish Singles: Rio Bravo Ranch Picual (Kern), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil (San Joaquin), Grumpy Goats Farm Organic Hojiblanca (Yolo), California Olive Ranch Reserve Arbequina (Glenn), California Olive Ranch Reserve Arbosana (Glenn)
- Italian Blends: San Miguel Olive Farm Tuscan Gold Fantastico (San Luis Obispo), Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Estate Olive Oil (Monterey), J. Marchini Farms Joe’s Premium Tuscan Blend (Merced), Terra Savia Field Blend (Mendocino), Colomba Bianca Frantoio/Mission (San Joaquin)
- Italian Singles: Terra Savia Moraiolo (Mendocino)
Flavored Olive Oils
- Gold Medal Winners
- Citrus: Corto Olive Co. Yuzu Citrus (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Lavish Lime (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Blood Orange (San Joaquin)
- Pepper: Corto Olive Co. Calabrian Chili (San Joaquin), The Olive Press Jalapeno (Sonoma)
- Other: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina-Smoked (Monterey), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Jalapeno Garlic (San Joaquin), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Citrus Habanero Olive Oil (Sutter)
- Silver Medal Winners
- Citrus: Rancho Azul y Oro Olive Farm Arbequina-Lemon (Monterey), The Olive Press Citron (Sonoma), Coastal Press Lemon Olive Oil (Madera/Tulare), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Meyer Lemon Olive Oil (Sutter)
- Herbal: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Bountiful Basil (San Joaquin), Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Rustic Rosemary (San Joaquin), Coastal Press Basil Olive Oil (Madera/Tulare)
- Pepper: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Hot Virgin Jalapeno (San Joaquin)
- Other: Coldani Olive Ranch Calivirgin Guilty Garlic (San Joaquin), Sutter Buttes Olive Oil Co. Garlic Herb Olive Oil (Sutter)
All winners will be on display in the Agriculture Building with educational information on the art of making olive oil and its health benefits. Gold Medal, Best of Show and Best of the Valley winners will have the opportunity to have a booth in the Agriculture Building on one day during a weekend at the 2023 Big Fresno Fair.
Participants in the 2023 SJVOOC were evaluated and scored on the following criteria:
- Gold Medal: Awarded to an olive oil that demonstrated its type and/or varietal character, balance, structure and complexities to the highest standards. Gold Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 86 – 100 points.
- Silver Medal: Awarded to an olive oil reflecting the correct distribution of balance and character of its type or variety; an oil deemed to be well crafted and of excellent quality. Silver Medals were awarded to those oils receiving scores between 76 – 85 points.
- Best of Show: Awarded to an olive oil recognized to possess special characteristics of the highest quality overall.
- Best of the Valley: Awarded to the oil that scored the highest with the ranch or office located in the San Joaquin Valley. Medals were awarded for both EVOO and flavored oils. (Kern, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties eligible)
Details and the 2024 SJVOOC entry application will be posted in February 2024.
For more news of interest to the specialty food industry, subscribe to Gourmet News. This fall, we will publish our yearly Oli y Aceti magazine. Send an email to sales@oser.com to place an ad for your products!
