Author: Greg Koenig

Santa Cruz, Ca. – SunRidge Farms is proud to announce its partnership with members of the Santa Cruz National Surf League (NSL) team. Santa Cruz surfers Darryl “Flea” Virostko, Randy Bonds, Peter Mel, Jason “Ratboy” Collins, Tyler Smith, Josh Loya, and Bud Freitas, among others, will be energized by SunRidge Farms organic and natural snack and trail mixes, dried fruits, and nuts during this weekend’s “Game” at Steamer Lane. The Santa Cruz team will take on teams from San Diego, Orange County, and Ventura in an attempt to win the California Cup of Surfing, a new competition format that places emphasis on regional teams rather than individual contest results.

“SunRidge Farms is excited to be supporting the Santa Cruz NSL team,” says Kai Conner, director of Public Relations at SunRidge Farms, “As a local business, we feel that it is essential to honor our vision in supporting our community.”

“We’re stoked.” says Darryl “Flea” Virostko, “SunRidge Farms products are the best in the industry and our team is the best in The Game. It’s a natural fit–no pun intended.”

Santa Cruz, Ca. – SunRidge Farms is pleased to announce that Eric Birckner has joined our team as Eastern Division Sales Director, a newly created position. This position has been created due to increased demand for SunRidge Farms organic and natural products in the midwest and eastern parts of the U.S. Eric will report to Mark Devencenzi, National Sales Director.

Prior to accepting the position at SunRidge Farms, Eric was the Eastern Division VP of Retail Sales for Harmony Foods Corporation. He has also served as Category Manager and Natural and Bulk Food Merchandiser for Safeway Stores of Landover, Maryland.

Eric will represent the company both to the natural food trade, and the mass market. His efforts will be in concert with Oasis Sales and Marketing, whom SunRidge Farms retains as consultants, and the existing SunRidge Farms distributor and broker network.

Wells Reveals Secrets to Using Spices to Boost Flavor and Reduce Fat in Spa Cuisine, Grilling and Low Carb Meal Preparation

January 29, 2004 – Monterey, CA – David Wells, professional chef and founder and president of Wholearth Spice Company, will be giving a series of three cooking classes at the Salud Room at Whole Foods Market in Monterey starting February 20. In each class Wells will demonstrate that great tasting food can also be healthy. The series consists of “The Best of Spa Cuisine” on Feb 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., followed by “Luscious Low Carb Cooking, the Right Way” in March and “California Grilling” in April. Registration is available by calling 333-1600.

One of Wells’ fortes, developed during his 24-year career as a professional chef, is combining and using organic spices from around the world in savory dishes to tantalize the taste buds without added fat, sugar or salt. Using spices to create flavorful meals without the fat is a valuable part of each cooking class. According to Wells, people are afraid to use spices because they aren’t sure how to use them. When people do use spices, they use too little and don’t incorporate them at the right time or in a balanced way. Spices require a medium to release their flavor and the best medium is a small amount of hot oil. “What some people don’t realize is that spice is a flavor-boosting technique that doesn’t require much fat, in fact you can reduce the amount of fat that you use. For example, one tablespoon of oil is all you need to flavor a whole pot of soup with the right spices,” Wells said. In addition to reducing calorie intake with less fat, cutting fat has another benefit — fat coats the taste buds which keeps the tongue from experiencing the full flavor of food.

Wells’ love of cooking with spices goes back to when he was 17. Working as a chef at his family’s restaurant in Mendocino, on the north coast of California, he used spices to create a very flavorful, nutritious granola made with nuts, seeds and grains, with no sugar or salt. This granola became a major draw to the family Bed & Breakfast and along with his evening culinary fare (which won him Bon Apetit magazine’s Restaurant of the Year) helped put Albion River Inn on the map as a destination with more than just beautiful ocean vistas. Wells continued to perfect his granola and in 2001 founded Wholearth Spice Company and introduced Grandma Dave’s Organic Granola to the Central Coast of California. Today Wells’ granola is distributed throughout California by Falcon Trading under the SunRidge Farms/Grandma Dave’s label. “Wholearth Spice Company products fit with SunRidge Farms’ mission to provide the healthiest products to our customers by producing foods without highly processed or refined ingredients,” said Morty Cohen, president, SunRidge Farms, based in Santa Cruz.

Wells starting developing organic spice blends in 1998. In the late 1990s, while working as the head chef at George Lucas’ Sky Walker Ranch in Northern California. Wells was invited to the renowned filmmaker’s ranch to help change the lunchtime diet of employees so they would no longer fall asleep at their computers after lunch! Wells introduced energy-sustaining lunches that were flavorful and fresh, with little fat or processed carbohydrates. Early each morning Wells would create his organic spice blends for that day’s meals, drawing from thirty five mason jars filled with spices. Today, the Wholearth Spice spice blend line includes Italian, Cajun and Latin American. Other spice blends are in the works such as Middle East, Asian Fusion, Mediterranean, and Korean Barbecue Rub. Wholearth Spice is also bringing out a line of vinaigrettes to be released in the Spring of 2004. The Lemonagrette and Super-Citrus-Salmic vinaigrette, the first two in the series, are a result of intense consumer demand after Wells’ used them as a complement to his spice-filled barbecue and grilled culinary creations during demonstrations.

Mothers Illness Was Well’s Catalyst for Founding Businesses

When Wells’ 63-year old mother was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 1990, Wells was working as Executive Chef for his own restaurant. His focus switched immediately to learning everything he could about cancer, and its treatment and prevention through nutrition. He learned about the benefits of ingesting various whole foods and supplements, and how they could compliment traditional medicine. We now know that foods that contain Omega-3 fatty acids such as flax seeds, and phyto-nutrients in foods such as tomatoes (it’s the phyto-chemical lycopene that makes tomatoes red), and combinations of herbs such as Essiac Tea (made from burdock root, slippery elm bark, sheep sorrel, and turkey rhubarb root) are proven to fight against various diseases. Wells took charge of his mothers diet and developed recipes to boost her immune system and give her energy after her chemotherapy treatments. Two years later, his mother showed no sign of cancer. She significantly beat the odds, as 90% of advanced ovarian cancer patients live only two to three years.

As a result of dealing with his mothers cancer, Wells founded NutraCoach Services (www.nutracoach.com.) His goal: to coach people who are dealing with illness, and support others to lead healthier, more energized lives through nutrition, exercise and a balanced lifestyle. Whether it is through his personal consultations, cooking classes, or corporate presentations, Wells’ goal is to help people achieve their own health potential through his unique products and services. Wells gained the nickname, “Grandma Dave,” for his nurturing way with clients. When he became frustrated with the shortage of flavorful, healthy foods –foods that weren’t loaded with sugar, animal fats, trans fats, and/or excess salt — to recommend to his clients, he founded Wholearth Spice Company. In addition to using spices from around the world to create satisfying,Wells incorporates a variety of ingredients in each product that are carefully chosen for their nutritional value, balance in flavor, and purity. “Every culture has its signature spices which are treasured. Using spices from around the world literally brings diverse cultures together. That’s a beautiful thing, with so much conflict around the world today,” stated Wells.

For more information about David Wells visit www.wholearthspicecompany.com

and www.nutracoach.com.

Santa Cruz, Ca. – SunRidge Farms recently added six new organic products to its diverse line of candies and confectionery mixes. Organic Milk Chocolate Cherries, Organic Milk Chocolate Almonds, Organic Milk Chocolate Raisins, Organic Dark Chocolate Coffee Beans, and Gold Medal Award winning Organic Hit The Trail Mix and Organic Cranberry Harvest can now be found in natural food and mass-market stores throughout the country.

In addition, SunRidge Farms is currently creating an organic yogurt line, which will consist of Organic Yogurt Pretzels, Organic Yogurt Raisins, and Organic Yogurt Pretzels, as well as Organic Sour Sunny Bears, a complement to the company’s top selling Organic Sunny Bears and Organic Jolly Bean candies. The estimated ship date on these four products is mid to late fall.

Santa Cruz, Ca. (September 19, 2003)–SunRidge Farms recently introduced its new pre-printed packaging program at the Natural Products Expo East in Washington, D.C. SunRidge Farms’ top 66 selling items will be available in the new packaging, which is estimated to ship in mid to late October.

The colorful, eye-catching packaging is color coded by product category, and our resealable zip lock bags are not only convenient to use, but are also the best in preserving freshness. SunRidge Farms uses all natural ingredients in its unique, award-winning selection of packaged snack and trail mixes, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, and candies and confectionaries, and our organic products are QAI (Quality Assurance International) and USDA certified organic.

Click here to download a hi-resolution press photo

Santa Cruz, Ca. – In honoring its vision to “support the successful resolution of environmental, social, food related and world hunger issues,” SunRidge Farms is pleased to contribute $10,000 dollars to the Homeless Services Center of Santa Cruz. The donation was also made in response to Rowland Rebele’s call to the community to match his $62,500 donation to the organization.

SunRidge Farms, along with its parent company, Falcon Trading Company, has been a long-time contributor to homeless causes. In 1999 the company donated $20,000 in seed money to Above the Line, a local organization that provides housing and services to homeless teens who are looking to better their lives. SunRidge Farms also regularly contributes various foods to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, which helps feed approximately 42,000 people per month. Over the years, SunRidge Farms has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in natural and organic foods to the Second Harvest Food Bank efforts.

Santa Cruz, Ca. (November 16, 2006)—SunRidge Farms is pleased to announce the introduction of its all natural Women’s Vitality Mix, the company’s newest high energy snack mix. Women’s Vitality Mix consists of an enticing blend of dried cranberries, cherries, and goji berries, nuts and seeds, roasted soy nuts, and calcium fortified dark chocolate chips. The attractive mix is specially designed to meet the needs of women’s bodies, and is loaded with nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and D, calcium, iron, antioxidants, protein, and fiber. Women’s Vitality Mix is made without preservatives, additives, artificial colors, hydrogenated oils, or trans fats.

“It’s feels great to have produced a mix that caters specifically to the needs of women’s bodies while at the same time being able to contribute monetarily to women’s health issues,” says company spokesperson Kai Conner. Ten percent of net profits from the mix will go to support women’s health issues.