Coming Up: Sial Montreal
Posted - March 30, 2009
Coming Up! International Food Trends at Sial Montreal, April 1-3
Organic Village New Feature This Year
By Dallas Terry, O.W.N.
Over 500 exhibitors from all corners of the world are ready to welcome 10,000 North American food industry professionals at Sial Montreal this coming April 1-3 at the Palais des Congrès. Along with Canadian and US firms, this year most exhibitors displaying their latest food innovations come from Italy, France, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico.
Innovation will continue to be one of the main focus at the event, with over 65% of Sial Montreal visitors looking for new products, at the 2nd competition of “Trends & Innovations”. Last year’s winning selections included goji berry smoothies, frozen Chinese dumplings in a bamboo steamer basket, garlic flower flavored organic sea salt, individually quick frozen organic berries and fruit pieces, rabbit chorizo and sausage, cranberry and wild blueberry juice vinaigrette infused with green tea, and organic chocolate bars. African culinary sauces, value-added coffees supporting local farmers and environmental protection, and unique ready-to-eat entrees in microwaveable, steam cooked packaging, where other highlights.
Besides taste, creativity, product presentation and convenience, this years’ “Trends & Innovations” award will also take into consideration nutrition value. How a product reflects regional and local traits, while still playing with foreign or unusual flavors and “made-to-order” foods or customization are also among main international food trends considered.
Competing exhibitors offering unique and delicious products at Sial Montreal include: Le Petit Mas, producers and distributors of Canadian organic-certified garlic, creators of a new seasoning – garlic flowers fermented in oil. Theobroma Chocolat,100 percent natural, organic, and gluten-free bars and Maison Orphee, introducing the “Discovery Pack”, a fine selection of different oils tofamiliarize consumers with the different types available.
Reflecting the growing trend for healthy foods, the Agora Nutrition forum will once again explore and present evidence of the connection between nutrition and health. The forum program will focus on obesity and health trends and is designed to allow professionals to meet and share experiences within the framework of a series of conferences.
“We are excited to exhibit at Sial Montreal”, said first time exhibitor Ming Liu, project manager of OrganicsBrasil, a government and private marketing initiative to promote organic products from Brasil in the international market. Brasil is one of the top suppliers of organic ingredients and a growing number of food processors are introducing a variety of foods such as organic cookies, jams, juices and energy bars with unique tropical fruits and ingredients. For the past four years, OrganicsBrasil has presented a large and attractive pavilion at organic oriented international fairs such as Biofach in Nuremberg, All Things Organic in Chicago and Expo West in Annaheim, California. At Sial Montreal, the project will be exhibiting along with other conventional Brazilian firms, some wine suppliers among them.
“It is great to see Sial promoting organics too”, said Chakib Azzizi of the Montreal based organic trading firm Bianca Organic International. “It shows the sector is still growing in spite of the recession”. Sial Montreal is introducing the Organic Village this year in response to a survey, where over 50 percent of visitors clearly indicated last year, interest in more organic products.
Sial Montreal is one of the sister fairs of Sial, headquartered in Paris and second largest food fair in the world. Co-located with Sial Montreal and the Agora Nutrition Forum will be Set Canada, a showcase of trends in services, equipment and technologies for the food service industries.
More information www.sialmontreal.com.
Predictions for 2009
Posted - March 30, 2009
Organic Monitor Shares 2009 Predictions
Presented by Amarjit Sahota, Organic Monitor
With the slowdown in the global economy, uncertainty for ethical & sustainable industries built up during 2008. Organic Monitor, a UK based business research & consulting firm specialized on the global organic sector & related product industries, has offered its predictions for 2009.
Organic Foods
Global sales of organic food & drink have been increasing by over US $5 billion a year, reaching US $46 billion in 2007. Positive growth is expected to continue in 2009, however slower growth rates are envisaged in countries affected by the financial crisis.
The UK market has been the most adversely affected because of the harsh economic climate reducing consumer expenditure. Other countries have been less affected with double-digit growth still continuing in northern European countries. Although consumer demand for organic foods remains high, increased price sensitivity is leading consumers to ‘trade downwards’. 
Thus, organic food sales from discounters and other low-cost retailers are increasing at the expense of other retailers. Retailer private labels are also becoming more popular than manufacturer brands.
Natural Cosmetics
Global sales of natural and organic cosmetics are increasing by over US $1 billion a year. As for organic foods, most demand is concentrated in Europe and North America. Preliminary research shows that European sales exceeded US $2 billion for the first time in 2008.
Healthy market growth rates are continuing in 2009, with most growth observed in mainstream retailers like supermarkets, drugstores and pharmacies. Retailer private labels are a major driver of market growth; a growing number of retailers are launching certified natural & organic cosmetics under their private labels, offering consumer low-price quality products. However, some rationalization is expected in 2009 due to a large number of brands competing with private labels for retail shelf-space.
Fair Trade Products
Consumer demand for fair trade products continues to strengthen in spite of the economic slowdown. Preliminary research indicates that global fair trade product sales exceeded US $3.5 billion in 2008.
Growing interest in social & trade issues involving developing countries is driving market growth. Retailer investment is stimulating production of fair trade products; a number of European supermarkets have converted their entire supply chains of certain products to fair trade. The fresh produce category is tipped to show the highest growth in 2009.
Natural & Organic Ingredients
Slowing demand from food processors, beverage companies and other end-users is bringing supply in balance with demand. After experiencing several years of undersupply, ingredient prices are expected to decline in 2009. Increased globalization of supply chains is predicted to continue as large ingredient companies spread their production bases.
Soya & Functional Foods
Dairy alternatives are continuing to gain popularity across the globe. The success of soya milk is leading to high investment in related products, marketed as dairy alternatives and / or functional products. Oat-based dairy alternatives are expected to continue to gain ground in 2009. A major advantage soya and oat-based products have is that they can be marketed on health claims.
Many new functional foods are expected to be launched in 2009, however few are likely to have a long-term presence because of the high rate of product failures in this market.
Ethical Textiles
Rising ethical consumerism is fuelling demand for organic and fair trade textiles. New product launches are expected to continue in 2009 as investment comes in from new producers and retailers.
Sustainability
Organic Monitor also expects sustainability to become increasingly prominent in 2009. Natural & organic product companies are at the forefront of adopting sustainable and ethical business practices. This development is leading to some convergence between product sectors. Indeed, many new organic product launches contain fairtrade ingredients. The number of carbon neutral companies is also expected to increase in 2009.
Brazil Third in Organic Farms
Posted - March 30, 2009
Brazil Ranks Third in Number of Organic Farms
OrganicsBrasil Reported Successful Participation at Biofach
By Sofia Garcia, O.W.N.
Brazil, a country known for the cultivation of both exotic and staple food ingredients, currently ranks third in terms of number of organic farms, according to a recent survey by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).
This vast Latin American country, which concentrates most of the Amazon rainforest, has been leading the world in production or export volume of coffee, soy beans, cane sugar, orange juice and beef. Now it also offers a wide range of organic certified products for export. Thirty one exhibitors with quality ingredients such as cashews, acai berries, cacao, coffee, and processed foods, supplements, essential oils, cosmetics and even apparel made of organic certified cotton were on display at the OrganicsBrasil Pavilion at Biofach in Nuremberg, Germany this past February 19-22. Exotic Umbu fruit jam and Baru nuts, where two new product introductions at the fair.
OrganicsBrasil also had a stand for the first time at Vivaness (Biofach’s sister and parallel fair for personal care products), with leading Brazilian natural cosmetics firms Ecove and Surya present. Beraca, Brazilian leading supplier of natural and ethical cosmetic ingredients was also showing its range for the third time, first under the umbrella of OrganicsBrasil. “Biofach ‘09 was impressive”, said Filipe Sabara, Beraca’s business director. “The organic market has been growing each year in different product categories, and in the personal care market, it was amazing to see an increase of exhibitors and visitors, compared to Biofach last year”. Sabara added that visitors seemed more focused and knowing the products they wanted to find.
The Beraca group is working hard to supply products that will help natural cosmetics manufacturers continue strong focus on “naturally and organically” claims, which may help them go through tough economic times. Surya export manager Vinicius Vasconcelos was also satisfied with the response to his line at Biofach. “Interest has been high and we have excellent medium term prospects for closing deals with retailers and importers.” Surya’s products use ingredients from the Amazon and are fair trade certified.
According to Ming Liu, OrganicsBrasil project manager, the thirty one Brazilian exhibitors at Biofach generated an estimated $21.8 million in sales opportunities.
“Despite fewer visitors, approximately 30% less than previous years, we noted that those who did appear were more objective, focused on closing deals and establishing long term partnerships”, said Ming Liu. “The results achieved by Brazilian participants were solid and positive.” This season OrganicsBrasil also had a pavilion at Expo West in Annaheim , March 5-8 and is joining the Brazilian pavilion at Sial Montreal, April 1-3 exploring the Canadian market.
More information available at www.organicsbrasil.org.
An Organic Valentine
Posted - February 9, 2009
Choose Organic This Valentine’s Day
Give your business partners, clients, secretaries and loved ones a sweet organic treat this Valentine’s Day. Innovative organic options in the chocolate and cut flower categories abound.
There are good reasons to choose organic in both cases. Conventional flowers normally have heavy applications of pesticides and fertilizers. This threatens low-wage workers’ health, in many cases, even before its “green” impact.
So source a quick certified pesticide-free bouquet on-line at Organic Bouquet or find a local option through Local Harvest’s organic flowers page.
Meanwhile, organic, fair-trade chocolate benefits the communities that grow it – contrasting the economic and environmental exploitation on so many large conventional cocoa plantations.
Ecuadorian Organics’ Pacari Chocolate helps the communities its crop grows in by paying a fair, living-wage price, with guarantees from one year to next. The cocoa is processed into bars right in the same communities, adding value locally instead of in a foreign country. The firm has also funded green projects such as solar-powered flashlights to replace disposable battery-powered ones, in communities where home electricity is a luxury and flashlights are a must.
Want to make your own, maybe with the kids? Then check out US firm Glee Gum’s Make Your Own Chocolate Kits. Made with organic cocoa, they’re just the thing to get your hands dirty with They are on discount until Valentine’s Day. Glee Gum also sells natural make-your-own chewing gum kits that are bound to be a hit with “kids” young and old.
When purchasing gifts this Valentine’s Day, be sure to spread your corporate and personal image of environmental and social responsibility while also spreading the love.
Africa at BioFach 2009
Posted - January 18, 2009
Africa Pavilion Going Strong for BioFach 2009
Africa will again makes its presence known at BioFach. After great success with its first Africa Pavilion at the 2008 edition of the Nuremberg, Germany, fair, 2009 fair visitors will again enjoy African designs, colours, sounds and flavours.
Last year, the Africa Pavilion gathered 73 exporters exhibiting from 13 African countries, generating favourable coverage and sales. This year over 100 exporters, export promotion agencies and non-governmental organizations will showcase specialities from Sub-Saharan African countries, connecting buyers and suppliers. According to organizers Grolink and Agroeco, this year, around 35 stands with 120 exhibitors from 14 African countries will be exhibiting a full range of organic certified products.
Products to be displayed include cashew nuts, cereals, cocoa, coconut oil, coffee, cotton, dairy, dried fruit, essential oils, fertilizers (organic, of course), flowers, fruits, spices, nuts, herbs, hibiscus, honey, wax, macadamia, natural products, oilseed, processed food, pulses, rice, sesame, shea butter, spices, tea and vegetables.
Countries represented are: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The 2009 Africa Pavilion will occupy 500 square metres of space; Uganda alone will occupy 90 square meters.
Products to be displayed include cashew nuts, cereals, cocoa, coconut oil, coffee, cotton, dairy, dried fruit, essential oils, fertilizers (organic, of course), flowers, fruits, spices, nuts, herbs, hibiscus, honey, wax, macadamia, natural products, oilseed, processed food, pulses, rice, sesame, shea butter, spices, tea and vegetables.
Organizations cooperating with Grolink and Agroeco in the development of the project include IFOAM, ITC, Organic Exchange, Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, NOGAMU (a Ugandan agricultural movement), TOPAZ, Hivos and the Triodos Foundation.
If the Africa Pavilions at Biofach 2009 and 2010 show results similar to those in 2008, organizers will consider to celebrate Africa as Continent of the Year in BioFach 2011.
Visit http://www.organicafrica2009.com and send any requests to africa2009@grolink.se.
La Vita Launches New Cookies
Posted - December 18, 2008
Crunchy, Healthy Cookies Deliver Old-Fashioned Good Taste: La Vita Introduces Eight New Prebiotic Cookie Varieties
La Vita Health Foods has introduced a line of cookies with a low glycemic index that are also prebiotic, vegan and Kosher, and cholesterol, wheat, dairy and lactose-free. These La Vita All Natural Crunchy Cookies contain no high fructose corn syrup, maltitol, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives and still have a year-long shelf life.
“When family and friends visit this year, hosts can offer adults and children alike La Vita Crunchy Cookies,” said Zina Minz, founder of La Vita Health Foods. “They’re suitable for guests with special dietary needs, or just watching what they eat. As a family-run business, those values are so important to us at La Vita and are always at the forefront of our minds.”
Industry-savvy attendees at the 54th Fancy Food Show in New York City recently proclaimed the cookies the best-tasting sugar free and gluten free cookie they had tried.
“Until now, most healthy, high-fiber cookies simply have not been very enjoyable to eat,” Minz said. “We developed La Vita All Natural Crunchy Cookies to have a delicious homemade taste and fresh-baked texture that melts in your mouth.”
After two decades of research and testing in Israel and Europe, La Vita’s unique soy-flour recipes and baking processes now allow the firm to offer its nutritious alternative to “traditional” grocery-store baked goods, which usually contain artificial preservatives, colors and flavors.
La Vita Crunchy Cookies are available in eight varieties, based on classic recipes updated with a modern twist to appeal to today’s health-conscious eaters. These include Poppy Seed, delightfully matched with a whisper of light lemony goodness, Peanut Butter, for that rich, satisfying wholesomeness, and Cajun, which features cayenne, red peppers and chicory and is subtly sweet with a pleasant saltiness.
Try some out at your next party or as a gift. For once, you can be sure no one will miss the “junk” food!
About La Vita Health Foods, Inc.
Based in Monsey, New York, La Vita Health Foods is dedicated to providing consumers and retailers with the very best “Gluten-Free and Sugar-Free Foods for a Healthy Future.” Its Crunchy Cookies are available in Almond, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, Strawberry, Poppy Seed, Raspberry Lemon, Cajun, and Peanut Butter. For more information, call (845)368-1073 or visit www.LaVitaHealthFoods.com.
New Partnership at ATO
Posted - November 9, 2008
Top Food Industry Trade Events Join Forces to Produce Health & Wellness Content
Diversified Business Communications, producers of Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food Chicago, and the Organic Trade Association, co-producers of the All Things Organic Conference & Trade Show, announced today a strategic alliance with Progressive Grocer to develop an education program for food retailers on trends in the growing health and wellness markets.
Progressive Grocer, a leading publication for members of the retail food industry, is published by Nielsen Business Media.
Co-located with the 2009 All Things Organic in Chicago, the new program will add multicultural, specialty, and health and wellness products to the lineup of organic products. This new combination creates a forum for buyers across retail, foodservice, distribution and manufacturing to enjoy valuable educational opportunities and source products that will help them stay competitive.
“Progressive Grocer’s retail market expertise, backed by the research and data analysis of Nielsen, will add a unique benefit to Diversified’s already attractive event offering,” said Stephen Dowdell, editor in chief of Progressive Grocer.
The Health & Wellness conference complements the already robust organic education program produced by the Organic Trade Association, and will focus on retail trends, consumer nutrition trends, health needs and personal care. Designed to give retail management and decisionmakers information on this growing trend, the program will tackle topics such as merchandising best practices, educating consumers, in-store nutrition guides and merchandising for health conditions.
“This unique partnership with Progressive Grocer allows us to offer retail buyers first-time access to content-rich education and trend analysis. The goal is to give buyers a resource to identify and anticipate the key trends and growth opportunities shaping this market,” said Liz Plizga, show director for All Things Organic, Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food.
In an effort to offer additional product depth for attendees, show producers have also added a specialty food pavilion to the show floor.
Pasta Profits
Posted - November 1, 2008
Alb-Gold : Inspiring noodles
By John Coghlan – as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
How can you succeed with noodles? In 1977, each day, Alb-Gold produced about 110 pounds of Spatzle – traditional German noodles. Today the company produces, each day, a thousand times that much. A European leader in the tough high-quality noodle market, now it’s time for Alb-Gold to increase its market share also in the United States. In Amana, Iowa, where one hundred fifty years before inspired German-Protestant mystics built their communities, Alb-Gold is opening a plant in a joint venture with successful German beverage manufacturer Bionade. Alb-Gold will build the 50 million US dollar factory following the highest environmental standards. Connecting the Alb-Gold plant with the Bionade bottling plant, will be an information and nutrition center open to the public, a similar successful concept of Alb-Gold at its main plant in Germany.
Egg Crisis, Sunny-side Up
The story begins with Klaus Freidler’s father who had established a chicken farm in 1968. Freidler, Alb-Gold’s CEO, remembers the farm as it was forty years ago:“The egg market was in a big crisis. Prices went down and we had lots of problems selling our eggs for good money.” But one day when visiting a local fair, Freidler turned the egg crisis sunny-side up – into opportunity. An exhibitor was showing onlookers how to make good noodles with a noodle machine. What hit Freidler was how many eggs went into the dough. “That was the answer to our problems. We had tons of eggs, why not produce high quality egg-noodles? I bought the machine the same day.” Alb-Gold hatched.
Creativity and Ecology
Alb-Gold became “bio“. To be even more eco-friendly, Alb-Gold has also used advanced technology to decrease its environmental footprint and reduce the use of natural resources, including solar panels installed on the processing plant. Lost heat from pasta-dryers now heats administrative buildings. But Freidler was too creative to stick to traditional spinach and tomato Spatzle. Alb -Gold moved to making ginger, herbal and other exotic noodles The menu at Alb-Gold’s on-site restaurant “Sonne” (which means the sun, also the firm’s logo) and the cooking studio include lemon, chocolate and gingerbread Spatzle for desserts.
Freidler showed how Alb-Gold added eco-consciousness to the company’s ethos. Alb-Gold stipulates that its spelt farmers must put flower strips around their fields. “For most of our organic products, we use cardboard boxes. There is no extra plastic bag for the noodles,” says Friedler. “We think this is one of the best ways to pack the noodles and to avoid plastic in the landfills.” Then Alb-Gold further committed itself to quality and went organic. It started offering organic pasta in the early 1990s. Today 25% of the firm’s noodles are certified organic. The premium specialties, the ecological and organic and last but not lesast exotic tastes and forms have lead Alb-Gold to success.
Noodle-Beverage Fusion
Then, in 2004, at a mountainbike-event sponsored by Alb-Gold, Freidler showed his creativity yet again: he met Peter Kowalsky, managing director of the German well-known organic beverage company, Bionade. Both were committed to regional values, high food quality and sustainable development. From this and further opportunities to share values and visions came the idea of opening joint plants in Iowa.
Alb-Gold’s success also comes from connecting direct consumers with the roots of the food they taste.Each year, the plant hosts over 350,000 visitors. They see how the noodles are produced; try them at the restaurant; learn some recipes at the cooking studio; walk through the herb garden to learn about the local herbs used in Alb-Gold noodles; shop at the store that features many regional foods and hand-made products from local artesans; visit the stalls where companies offer food samples; and attend the many cultural and sports events the company supports each year – a host of activities to inspire.
Alb-Gold produces 15% of its noodles for export, most going to the United States and Canada. In 2010, when the new plant in Iowa opens, US sales will doubtlessly go up.
But success aside, Freidler wants Alb-Gold to avoid the big mass supermarkets, where price, not quality or health, comes first. The company will continue to sell through the gourmet channels, to natural health stores, specialty food shops and will also provide its line to the food service segment. To meet distributors who share their views Alb-Gold will exhibit along with Bionade at fairs like Expo West, All Things Organic and the Fancy Food Expo in NY. This fall they will also be present at Biofach America, parallel event to Expo East in Boston. A good showing for a remarkable year and company: Alb-Gold is celebrating its fortieth year – contact them and earn a 40th anniversary-discount.
Chocolate for a Good Cause
Posted - November 1, 2008
Pacari Chocolate Goes Beyond Sweet Actions
By Lucia Lorente - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
In Ecuador, some rural areas do not have access to electricity. Communities use a huge number of battery-operated flashlights, consuming 10-12 batteries per month at a total expense of around 5-8 USD – a high portion out of an income that is often less than 2 USD per day!
Further, batteries are toxic products that contain harmful metals and substances. The used batteries are not properly discharged. They fill fields all over, and children are found playing with the colourful used “toys,” even putting them into their mouths!
Aware of this situation, Pacari Chocolate, the first organic and fair trade chocolate developed in Ecuador from bean to final product, and its parent company Ecuadorian Organics have started a new program. The community-minded firm imports solar-powered flashlights to help farmers get around 5-6 hours of light. The batteries required last around three years, saving tremendous expense and waste.
The solar energy flashlights offer a temporary but smart solution, until the government brings electricity to those families, that also implies loss of more natural resources, as more forests are cleared to give space to new roads and antenas. “Solar energy is still one of the few free clean commodities available to all”, says Ecuadorian Organics co-founder Santiago Peralta. “We also aim to help limit the use of other fuels for lamps and candles that can cause domestic fires”.
Ecuadorian Organics has also launched the Organic Agriculture Educational Project, providing technical support in organic farming as well as used computers collected from overseas clients and donors who ship them to rural schools in Ecuador. A pilot project has served 1,000 children and the next phase plans to include other schools.
Amish and Organic
Posted - November 1, 2008
Amish Naturals: Sharing the grain
By Adrian Larose - as printed in O.W.N. Fall 2008
Many would agree most people do not connect with nature these days. We’re separated by walls of technology, away from nature’s rhythm. Yet, you needn’t visit the rainforest to get back in touch. The North American Amish have lived this way since the 18th century.
To say the Amish live in harmony with nature is an understatement. Eschewing modern conveniences like electricity and motor vehicles, the peaceful farming communities are strong in many places across the United States, as well as some parts of Canada.
The Amish’s traditionally organic, hardworking and quality-focused nature leads them to do differently than most. Amish furniture enjoys a quality reputation, and most recently has this extended to another area: food.
This reputation is due mostly to firms such as Amish Naturals. The company brings all-natural and organic products to market while supporting traditional Amish communities.
Amish Naturals began with pasta. Later additions include granola bars, a wheat-derived fibre supplement and microwave popcorn. Some products are organic; others are all-natural; all are kosher. The firm retails through 3,600 US based stores, with Canada and Europe in the works.
Its pasta facility in Holmes County, Ohio is largely operated by Amish. All staff believe firmly in Amish farming traditions.
“Almost 80% of the company’s workforce is Amish or Mennonite, a related denomination with many of the same core values,” says COO and Executive Vice-President Troy Treangen. The company recipes are similar to long-used Amish ones. “We’ve just taken that same process, same ingredients, and made it on a mass scale that they still operate. If you walk in our facility, you’ll see Old Order Amish guys and gals,” says Treangen.
The Amish lifestyle extends to helping others, no matter their faith. When a Holmes County Amish community helped non-Amish neighbour David Skinner recover from severe flood damage, he in turn decided to help them. Feeling there might be a market for the all-natural food the Amish enjoy, he created Amish Naturals and now works as its CEO.
“The Amish take a lot of pride in their work, whether it’s farming, making quilts, or furniture,” says Treangen. “They have the values that bring good quality food to the table. That’s what we’re really about, the wholesomeness.”
Those values have resulted in the firm’s wheat-derived fibre additive, for which Amish Naturals has filed a US patent. “It doesn’t alter taste at all,” says Treangen. “The additive is already in Amish Naturals’ high-fibre products. Other manufacturers could easily replace some flour with this additive.”
Not everything has been smooth sailing. Many Amish prefer to withdraw from the world. This can cause problems with organic certification.
“The Amish are organic farmers by definition,” says Treangen. “Organic is the old, natural farming method. Yet the Amish cultural desire to stay disconnected from the broader world, for independence, security and religious unity, can hamper organic certification.”
It is difficult for some to accept a direct relationship with authorities. Others have nonetheless taken the plunge and are fully certified, including the firm’s egg supplier.
Perhaps combining new and old is the real story. “What we’re doing is taking an ethnic brand, an ethnic culture, an ethnic product, and bringing it to national exposure,” Treangen said. “You do have to apply certain levels of technology to do that.”
The Amish, meanwhile, grow quality crops under organic methods and contribute labour to a company that brings their culture and food to a wider audience.
“We want to be the largest Amish employer in Holmes County,” Treangen said. With 40 employees after only 18 months, Amish Naturals seems to be well on its way.
