The Daily Scoop

Everybody's going surfing...surfing the Stonyfield wave!

Next week we're surfing into a new era at Stonyfield--with Surfin' Strawberry and Orange Wave Juice Smoothies hitting the store shelves. These are kid-tested (see photo below) and made with 60 percent organic juice and nonfat organic yogurt. Each six-ounce serving contains 120 calories, 4 grams of protein, and 0 calories from fat.

Our CE'Yo, Gary, said, "Two of my kids, Ethan age 14, and Danielle age 11, liked them so much they even agreed to appear on the package, and can be seen surfing right on the box."

The new juice smoothies contain no starches, gelatins, preservatives or artificial colors and flavors. They do have six live active cultures, for good digestive health, and the natural fiber inulin, which helps boost calcium absorption.

Surfin' Strawberry and Orange Wave Juice Smoothies will be sold in 4-packs.

Stonyfield Farm gets an A+ from the U.S. Army

In April, the U.S. Army conducted an audit of our production facility in Londonderry, New Hampshire in order to determine if we could be approved and listed as a supplier of food for our troops. The Army purchases the "Lunchables" product by Oscar Mayer, and within that package is our Squeezers, a 2-ounce tube of yogurt—generally a favorite with the kid set. Well, the Army returned its report of the audit to Alton, our Director of Corporate and Regulatory Compliance, with "no findings"—which means they found absolutely nothing wrong with our plant! The Army had a 45-item checklist for us and they had nothing to complain about. We received the maximum score possible. Alton says it’s very rare to have no findings from the U.S. Army and it’s rare to pass on the first try. Alton credits the collective efforts of our operational team and the company’s adopted "Good Management Practices" for keeping our plant up to the highest standards in food safety—always on top of the biological, chemical and physical hazards that could be present in a facility such as ours. "We got it right the first time," Alton said. "We did as well as any first-time supplier can do during a military qualification audit."

What's Stonyfield Farm got to do with a Gold Medal won at the Olympics in Athens yesterday? Tune in to Strong Women Daily News today and find out.

The yogurt guy meets His Royal Highness

In June, our CE'Yo Gary Hirshberg was invited to tour the Highgrove Farm owned by HRH Prince Charles (yes, that Prince Charles), who is one of the world's leading advocates for organic farming. Gary had the opportunity to meet and share views about organic dairy in conversation with Prince Charles at his London residence.

Below: Gary, left, speaks with the prince.

Watching the Olympics? Watch for Kristine Lilly

Kristine Lilly, soccer player for the Boston Breakers' and the U.S. Women's Team soccer team, is a Stonyfield Farm partner, working with us since last year on promoting strong women and girls. Now we're cheering her on as she competes in the Olympics! The team beat Germany on Monday to advance to the gold-medal game, this Thursday against Brazil. Go Kristine!

Read the news account in The Mercury News, then follow the daily updates at the Olympic site.

Kristine reports on her activities (though not while in the MIDST of the Olympics) at her own web site. We suspect she'll have plenty to say after this Thursday!

Kristine has been a mainstay of U.S. women's soccer since 1987, when she started her first seven games for the Women's National Team. She was one of 20 Women's United Soccer Association Founding Players, and the Boston Breakers' inaugural season captain and Most Valuable Player. Kristine has played in more international soccer games than any man or woman in the world.

Kristine partnered with us here at Stonyfield in last year's Strong Women Summit, and took part in a contest we sponsored to "Win Kristine Lilly for a Day." The winner gets to have Kristine host a soccer clinic with her team, which will happen this fall. (Sorry, the contest is already closed.)

About the over-time win against Germany, Kristine said, "Both teams were balanced. We were fortunate to score in the extra-time period and get a wonderful victory. We believed in our strength. Our team had the chance to pass to the final and we didn't let the chance go."

Review our recipes--tell others what you think

Everyone loves visiting the Recipe Section of our web site, and now you can tell us what you think of those recipes, using a 5-Hoof system. On a scale of 1 to 5 hooves, cooks can tell us:

One hoof: I'll stick to my grain
Two hooves: OK
Three hooves: Good
Four hooves: "Moo-licious"
Five hooves So good it caused a stampede in the kitchen
You can also tell us whether your kids tried it and liked it:
Calf-tested, Gurt-approved (My kids loved it!)

The top rating is 5 Hooves. Recently our Strawberry Pancakes hit a perfect 5, with this comment from a loyal reader:

"These pancakes are so moist and nutritious. My whole family loves them and requests them often."

Before summer slips aways, you might want to try this Summer Quiche (4 Hooves) which earned this comment from a reader:

"My husband loves zucchini,yellow squash, and tomatoes, so I gave this recipe a try. I was initially hesitant because we love cheese and I wasn't sure 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese would add enough flavor. BUT we both loved it!! I have made this recipe quite a few times, and would highly recommend it. It is a little different than traditional quiche, but it is very tasty. The leftovers are great reheated also."

Victor spends his days in the cold, and loves it

Although he was born and raised in the warmth of Mexico, Victor Salas now spends every day—winter and summer—in temperatures of 35 - 40°F, and he doesn’t mind. Victor works in Stonyfield Farm’s huge, refrigerated warehouse, shipping our products to the right places and helping to train the 20 or so forklift operators working with him. Victor has been employed here 8 years, though he came to this country 25 years ago as a young man. “I had to come see for myself,” he says. “This is the best place in the world to work. I like it here.”

Before working for Stonyfield Farm, Victor tried other jobs, including apple-picking in Washington state. At first his work at Stonyfield Farm was difficult because he couldn’t understand the language or make himself understood. After two years of English classes, he did very well, though, and is also happy to have more co-workers who speak Spanish. Victor and his wife, Claudia, who also worked for Stonyfield, have three children, including 4-year-old twin girls.

Phantom Gourmet calls O'Naturals a treat for the waistline

O'Naturals, a line of natural and healthy "fast food" outlets begun last fall in northern New England by Stonyfied's CE'Yo and his partner Mac MacCabe, recently got reviews from The Phantom Gourmet, an anonymous restaurant critic who dines in disguise. Here's what the phantom had to say: "...a healthy, environment-friendly version of fast food dining. The earthy atmosphere stems from calming colors, blonde wood tables, leather couches, bookshelves, and even a play area for young tots. The all-natural, organic menu appeals to the masses with soup, sandwiches, salads, pizza, Asian noodles, and even micro brewed beer. This chain is not your typical penny pincher. Healthy portions come with real silverware.

"Going organic was never so affordable. Most meals cost $4.75 to $7.

O’Naturals is a treat for the taste buds, the waistline, and the conscience in Acton, Massachusetts; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; and Falmouth, Maine. "

There you go. Could the phantom be wrong?

Yogurtarians take to the field for a good cause

Our ad hoc Stonyfield Yogurtarians softball team dusted off their bats and gloves over the weekend to participate in a tournament to benefit Child Health Services of New Hampshire. The organization provides medical care, social services and nutrition consultation for infants, children and adolescents in the greater Manchester, New Hampshire area (which is near our yogurt plant).
Though we won only one game, a good time was had by all and we contributed much-needed funds to a good cause in this second annual event.

** Read the story of how one woman committed to climbing Mount Washington, New England's highest peak, after attending our Strong Women Summit, in The Strong Women Daily News. **

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Your Vote Matters--so register already!

It’s 3 months to General Election Day (November 2, 2004) . Do you know where your voting booth is? Well, we do. It’s not too early to get yourself registered for November’s big election. And we at Stonyfield Farm want to make it easy for you. We’ve partnered with the folks at Working Assets to bring you Your Vote Matters, a chance to register on-line if your state allows it, or find a link to detailed instructions on how to register in your state. You can also sign up to get election news via e-mail and even look for volunteer opportunities on-line through Your Vote Matters. This election year, it's too important NOT to vote. Make sure your voice is "herd."

Is your vote worth it? Write and tell us why you think so, or think not, using the comment box below.

** Read the story of how one woman committed to climbing Mount Washington, New England's highest peak, after attending our Strong Women Summit, in The Strong Women Daily News. **

Bushels of blueberries and the recipes to go with them

In our neck of the woods (Northern New England), the blueberries are just coming ripe and we're dusting off our gathering baskets. There's almost nothing better than a fresh, wild blueberry. We'll settle for the cultivated kind, but only when we have to. Interestingly, blueberries and yogurt are the perfect pair, and both of them are high on everyone's list of super-functional foods. In the Stonyfield Farm recipe section, we have recipes for Banilla Blueberry Bread, Blueberry Scones, Blueberry Waffles, Blueberry Yogurt Muffins, Blueberry Yogurt Tart , Yogurt Blender Pancakes with Blueberry Topping , Berry-licious Parfait, and the Mixed Berry Tartlet. Blueberries go well in our smoothie recipes also: Blueberry Smoothie, Brilliant Blueberry Smoothie, Fresh and Fruity Morning Smoothie, and Peachy-Keen Smoothie.

We have bushels of blueberry recipes!

If you try one of these blueberry-based recipes, we'd love to hear about it. If you try more than one, we'd love to hear your favorites. Just write us here, using the comment box below.

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Read today's news in our other blogs and join the discussion:
On environmental issues: The Dairy Planet
News from an organic dairy farmer: The Bovine Bugle
Get junk food out of schools: Creating Healthy Kids
Tips for becoming a strong woman: The Strong Women Daily News

Announcing our newest baby--YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal

August and September are big months for us here at Stonyfield Farm because we’re introducing a lot of new products during this time. Keep your eyes on your grocer’s shelves and these items should start popping up. Already, our new YoBaby Plus Fruit & Cereal, made with whole milk plus organic apples and cereal puree, is ready to be slurped up by the favorite baby or toddler in your life. Here’s a coupon to encourage you to go out and try it. We’re sure it will be a big hit, just like all our YoBaby products have been. If you do try it, we’d love to hear what you think. Feel free to come here, to The Daily Scoop, and comment any time!

Should junk food vending machines be banned from U.S. public schools?
Join the discussion at Creating Healthy Kids

Don't forget our other blogs!
On environmental issues: The Dairy Planet
News from an organic dairy farmer: The Bovine Bugle
Tips for becoming a strong woman: The Strong Women Daily News

Patriots fan keeps the yogurt flowing smoothly

Around the Yogurt Works production facility here at Stonyfield Farm,
Bill Smith is known as “the biggest Patriots fan on the planet,” and also as the guy who is obsessed with the idea that Stonyfield Farm create a Peanut Butter-and-Jelly yogurt flavor. But it’s the complicated schematic diagram with tiny, tiny print hanging on his wall that tells what he does everyday. As maintenance manager, he knows every pipe and valve in the plant, and oversees the 12 mechanics who keep it all operating smoothly. Bill has been with the company since 1991 and marvels at all the changes he’s seen in that time. In 1998, he supervised a 5-day shutdown of the Yogurt Works, where every piece of machinery was taken apart, then put back together to automate what had been a manual process. He loves the challenge of “the ever-expanding world of Stonyfield,” which ensures his job is never boring. It’s also the place he met his wife, Colleen, who worked in the Research and Development department. Bill and Colleen are now expecting their second little yogurt eater.