New Hope NEXTY Finalist: 32-ounce Organic Chocolate Milk in Reusable Glass Bottles & Climate Collaborative Influencer Award: Founder/CEO Albert Straus
ANAHEIM, Calif., (March 8, 2018) – Straus Family Creamery is recognized for leadership in the creation of great-tasting organic dairy products, mission-driven initiatives, and influence in innovative, sustainable organic farming practices at the 38th annual Natural Products Expo West & Engredea.
The pioneering company, led by organic dairy farmer Albert Straus, returns to Expo West for the 24th consecutive year. Straus said, “the brand’s mission remains focused on sustaining family farms and producing the highest-quality dairy products consistent with the values used in organic farming.“ He added that the company continues to evolve and seek new ways to innovate in all areas of the business.
Taste the Straus Difference – Organic Chocolate Milk
Tradeshow producer New Hope Network acknowledged Straus Family Creamery Organic Chocolate Milk as a NEXTY award finalist in the “Best New Mission-Based Product” category. In addition to creating an irresistibly delicious organic chocolate milk, the company stood out for its mission to sustain family farms, its innovative product formulation, and its commitment to sustainability and clean labels.
Straus Family Creamery Organic Chocolate Milk is crafted from only five simple all-organic ingredients: homogenized premium whole milk from nine family-operated dairies, cane sugar, Fair Trade Certified™ cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and a lactase enzyme. The enzyme provides sweetness with 38 percent less total sugars than competitive chocolate milk brands and creates lactose-free milk.
The product has no emulsifiers, gums or stabilizers and is a good source of protein (16 grams per serving). Like Straus Family Creamery Organic Cream-Top Milk, the chocolate milk is sold in reusable glass 32-ounce bottles made with up to 30% recycled glass. Straus Family Creamery will be sampling this product at Booth # 2104 in Hall B throughout the show. The NEXTY winner will be announced during the tradeshow between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10th.
Environmental Leadership
During Climate Day at Expo West, Climate Collaborative and National Co-Op Grocers honored Founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery Albert Straus with the “Outstanding Influencer” award for his substantial accomplishments using forward-thinking sustainable practices on his dairy farm. In 2017, Straus launched the country’s first full-scale electric truck—powered by cow manure. On the Straus farm, the cows’ waste is turned into electricity via a methane digester. The electricity powers the truck, which feeds the cows – creating a “closed loop” system. The truck is Straus’ next step in his quest to make his organic dairy farm carbon positive, demonstrating to other farmers and food businesses agriculture’s power to reverse climate change.
A New Look at 24
The Straus Family Creamery team is unveiling a preview of its new packaging, an updated logo, and a redesign of the strausfamilycreamery.test website at Expo, as they celebrate the company’s 24th anniversary. Stop by the upgraded booth, constructed with recyclable and sustainable materials, to learn more (#2104, Hall B). The brand’s new packaging design will debut at natural food co-ops, independent grocers, and select retailer chains later this year.
Straus sees the brand enhancements as the perfect opportunity to generate more awareness of the brand, educate about organic farming practices and remind consumers that their purchasing decisions make a difference.
“Our mission to sustain family farms is the underlying factor in our business decisions. From the first planning discussion, we knew this packaging upgrade, and website redesign would ultimately support the farmers who supply milk to us,” said Straus. “The organic sector has grown incredibly from the early days, giving consumers a tremendous amount of choices. By upgrading our packaging and creating a responsive web design, we’re helping our current customer find us more easily and educating new customers about our organic heritage, brand values, and commitment to environmental leadership. When consumers are better informed, they are empowered to shop smarter.”
About Straus Family Creamery
Based in Marshall, CA, Straus Family Creamery is a Northern California, certified organic creamery offering milk, cream, yogurt, butter, sour cream, ice cream, and a variety of wholesale and specialty dairy products distributed throughout the Western United States. The Creamery makes minimally-processed dairy products from organic milk supplied by family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Straus Dairy Farm, which is the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River. Straus Family Creamery, the first 100 percent certified organic creamery in the United States, continues to make business decisions based on its mission to help sustain family farms, revitalize rural communities, and protect the environment. The family-owned business sustains collaborative relationships with the family farms that supply it milk, offering stable prices and predictability in what can otherwise be a volatile marketplace. Learn more at strausfamilycreamery.test, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shereen Mahnami
Director of Communications
Straus Family Creamery
M: 510-734-4933
shereen@strausmilk.com
Haven Bourque
Haven B Media
415-505-3473
haven@havenbmedia.com
