DOLE POWER UP GREENS
PRESTO PASTA from REAMES
CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT OATS
A new Greek Yogurt, Chobani Oats, is a deliciously satisfying hearty start to your day.
Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats blends creamy authentically strained Greek Yogurt with real fruit and steel-cut whole oats for a flavorful filling combination of protein and fiber. With 10 grams of protein, 8 grams of whole grain and as much fiber as a serving of instant oatmeal, it is sure to sustain you.
Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats is available in four flavors: Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Banana Maple and Cranberry.
Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats is made with all natural ingredients and is Gluten Free.
Look for Chobani Greek Yogurt Oats in the Dairy aisle.
DOLE CHOPPED SALAD KITS
This week, I had the great pleasure of visiting Jeff Jones at Vermont Hydroponic Tomatoes in Florence, VT. The directions to the farm brought me over 3 miles down a winding side road with few houses. As I drove down the driveway, the GPS kept telling me to turn around when I could make “a legal u turn” in that encouraging/demanding computer voice. There was no need – I had arrived at the farm. But there was no barn, no tractor, and no duck pond – three long white plastic sheet-topped Quonset huts greeted me, along with the buzz of insects in the sun.
I have a question for our farmers about game-changing technology or practices that they see as significant – this farm is using some of the most cutting edge techniques. Hydroponic farming – a farming technique that relies on a closed water-based planting system, is actually old technology enjoying a rising popularity for a number of reasons. As population increases, pressure on land and water availability has turned into an opportunity for hydroponics to create local agriculture in many parts of the world. A number of Caribbean islands use hydroponics because they rely primarily on rain for fresh water, and have to import produce. This is where Jeff first encountered it, after a unique career. Rising from being a produce clerk in a traditional food retailer, a produce manager at 18, and being recruited to improve produce programs in a variety of island settings after making changes at one retailer on Nantucket that topped all sales records, Jeff has some great insights on best practices. He is passionate about the possibilities hydroponics offers, especially with water conservation – hydroponics uses 1/3 less water than conventional farming. He has helped Price Chopper be the first retailer to grow cherry tomatoes inside a store. Talk about innovating fresh!!! It is also very safe – this operation has both GAP and SQF certification, which makes the farm one of the strongest in food safety practices in the Northeast.
The operation and the tomatoes are eco-friendly – the plants are started in little rock wool holders in January, moved into larger containers as they grow, then placed on ground coconut husks to anchor the plants. The nutrients they need are added in to the water that is circulated through the system, a hive of bees at the back of the farm building pollinates the tomatoes, and they are harvested from March through December. No pesticides are used in production, and the packaging is also post-recycled material. The operations are also very energy efficient.
Jeff chooses two types of tomatoes, beefsteak and cherry, based on taste and sugar content (degrees Brix again!), as well as resistance to disease. In our stores, you will find their display
at the end of the tomato section of produce, beautifully ripe and flavorful. They work with the Vermont Food Bank, donating when excess is available. This operation has created about 10 jobs, and its sister operation in Quebec has created about 40 more. Price Chopper is their primary customer, but they also work with other retailers in the Northeast, keeping it regional to manage costs and ensure the best quality tomatoes are in stores.
Jeff is looking hard at the future too – currently navigating the permits and politics around partnering with a biomass energy company, Beaverwood, in Fairhaven, a little south of their current location. This partnership would allow them to expand to a 10 acre site, and to tap into the warmth the biomass facility sheds as a byproduct of their energy generation, warmth vital to growing tomatoes in Vermont. It’s a great opportunity for synergy.
I learned much of what I have shared here while enjoying fresh tomatoes sliced with basil and a cherry wood smoked fresh mozzarella that just rocked – (I immediately shared that item with our cheese manager when I got back!). Jeff’s favorite recipe is to take one of the beefsteak tomatoes, hollow it out and chop up the centers, then mix with crab meat and Cholula sauce. Serve over greens, and enjoy each burst of flavor as it comes together, with a glass of wine to finish the fun. I can’t wait to try it!
Written by Jane N. Golub
Director In-Store Marketing Programs
SUPERIOR BROWNIE BITES
DOLE KALE CAESAR
Lloyd Zimmerman did not grow up farming – he was a NYC kid, child of two college professors, but he became interested in agriculture because his family had a summer home in the country. At 21, he graduated with a degree in agricultural economics, and purchased an old farm in Coeyman’s Hollow with the help of his parents. He farmed part-time, while working for New York State, eventually working in the Governor’s office on agriculture and civil defense. In 1964, the farm started making money and he “retired” from state service. He and his wife raised lamb, initially, and one of his first customers was Central Markets. After Vietnam, market pressures moved him into vegetables, and he hasn’t looked back.
His favorite part of farming is watching crops grow, and working with the broad group of people in the produce business. While he did not grow up farming, his children did, and two daughters, Chellie Apa and Lisa Buhrmaster, now run major aspects of the operation. They employ on average about 55 people – this is a diverse and dynamic business. At this time of year, his day starts at 4:30 AM, but has started as early as 2:30, which some of their team starts still because they are packing trucks. That work is essential to bringing in those fresh items – time between field and fork is important.
Lloyd chooses his seeds based on science and savvy – sweet corn and tomatoes should have a good, sweet taste, so they start there, and then look at some of the scientific specifications of a product, like the measurement of sweetness, called degrees Brix. They work with the seed salesman to locate varieties of new items that have a good reputation and production.
There are very strict standards and procedures in place around harvest and packing – cleanliness is king, and Black Horse Farm is GAP certified. GAP stands for Good 
Agricultural Practices, and it is a system of practices and record keeping that helps farmers ensure food safety is being managed. Price Chopper only works with farms that are GAP certified, as part of our commitment to ensuring our customers can be confident that they really are getting the best quality fruits and vegetables from us. Attention to refrigeration, hand washing and other aspects of safe food production are part and parcel of their work. They also sort their produce with those less fortunate in mind, and work with local food pantries to supply good food that is not premium grade.
There are some game changers on the horizon – Lloyd sees two that he thinks will impact farming in enormous ways. The first is the use of drones – he has been wishing for these for over 20 years, and is excited that they are coming to farming. The other is the advanced education farmers are starting to benefit from, as children return to their family farms with degrees in agronomy, veterinary science and business.
I really enjoyed speaking with Lloyd – his gravelly voice ebbed and flowed as we spoke, full of passion and humor and knowledge. With helping people eat more fruits and vegetables so central to my role, I asked what he thought would help people do a better job, and he thought helping people understand what local produce is and who the farmers are is a great start. We completely bonded over favorites – tomatoes, on a delicious BLT sandwich with a malted milk (I make mine with the Price Chopper pre-cooked bacon – slices are nice and thin, great for sandwiches). So, please take my advice – take advantage of the season and enjoy the bounty Price Chopper brings you from farmers like Lloyd Zimmerman – sweet summer!
Check out this recipe for Lemon & Garlic Glazed Corn on the Cob! Written by: Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN
In my work as Senior Nutritionist for Price Chopper, I have been part of the team that helps our customers understand our commitment to quality, of being the best in fresh, and how that heritage has driven what we do. We embody what people are seeking so much these days – a company that is, itself, homegrown, conceived here in upstate New York, with one family shepherding it forward throughout the Northeast, always seeking to innovate for our customers and deepen its roots in each community we serve.
Of course, one of the things I focus on is our produce department. Produce is central to a healthy diet, and helping customers purchase, prepare and best of all, enjoy the great variety of produce items we work so hard to responsibly source and present to our customers is one of best parts of my job.
There is a unique history to how we work with our farmers. The supermarket industry is relatively young, and no business has been more involved in the farm to fork movement than this one. Creating that channel has taken a lot of collaboration and investment, and started here with some very thoughtful efforts by Bill Golub, beginning around 1943. As Central Market (Price Chopper’s original name) started to grow, it needed a larger volume of produce and fresh products for customers. When Bill Golub realized they were having to source fresh items from different areas each year, he started working with egg producers to create an organized industry, so Central Markets would have a reliable supply of the highest quality eggs available. Cornell University and several producers all partnered to discover and develop best practices, and they were very successful. That recipe has served our shoppers well, and we have grown deep connections to some generations of farmers and producers in our communities, to ensure the highest quality, freshest local foods are on your table.
Flash forward to 2014, and you will find a constantly renewed passion to continue this legacy. Price Chopper has developed
a food hub, designed to answer the needs of today’s farmers and the demands of our discerning customers for the best local, high quality, safe and delicious apples, squash, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkins, corn, onions, peaches, tomatoes and more. We work with big and small farmers throughout the Northeast, and help them access the food safety training and other resources they need to be successful. We haul product and produce two ways, so the trucks are always full, protecting the environment while providing the highest quality in service.
When it’s grown here, we get it here. I consider myself the chief promoter of produce, so you know how important ensuring we have the best of the best, and how we partner with the farming community to bring it to you, to be one of the most important things I think we do. I am going to be getting to know our farmers, and bringing their commitment to you here, through our blog. I hope you will join me for some delicious, nutritious, colorful connections that will give us all the insights we are craving lately – where our food is coming from, and who has grown it for us.
Written by Jane N. Golub
Director In-Store Marketing Programs
FRESH GUARD by EFFERDENT
Fresh Guard by Efferdent is available in a 20 Wipes package especially designed for:
Daytime wearers, who are looking for a quick clean for their retainer, mouthguard or removable braces.
Fresh Guard Wipes can be used anywhere. Simply wipe the device – no water needed.
This is ideal for after meals and Wipes can be used anytime.
Fresh Guard by Efferdent Soak is for all wearers who are looking for a deep clean at home.
Simply soak the retainer, mouthguard or removable braces for five minutes with warm water, then rinse. This should be done daily and you can soak with Fresh Guard by Efferent while you are taking your shower.
Using Fresh Guard by Efferent Wipes and/or Soak will not damage the unique materials your dental devices are made of.
Look for Fresh Guard by Efferdent Wipes and Fresh Guard by Efferdent Soak in the Oral Health section.
KEMPS FROZEN YOGURT
New Kemps Sea Salt Caramel Truffle is here! Kemps, the #1-selling frozen yogurt brand in America, has the smooth-and-creamy taste of ice cream, but with less fat and fewer calories. They have introduced a decadent new flavor and we think you’ll agree that Sea Salt Caramel Truffle – caramel frozen yogurt with caramel filled chocolate truffles, sea salt and ribbons of caramel is a great addition to the other Kemps family-pleasing flavors you’ll find at Price Chopper:
Black Jack Cherry – made with real cherries
Vanilla – a creamy classic
Moose Tracks – smooth vanilla frozen yogurt swirled with Moose Tracks Fudge and mixed with creamy peanut butter cups
Treat your family to one of these delicious flavors today!
Look for Kemps Frozen Yogurt in the Frozen aisle.
Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing ProgramsBEYOND
- REAL MEAT, FISH OR POULTRY IS THE #1 INGREDIENT
- NO CORN, WHEAT OR SOY
- NO ADDED ARTIFICIAL COLORS, FLAVORS OR PRESERVATIVES
- NO POULTRY BY-PRODUCT MEAL
- Look for Purina Beyond in the Pet aisle.
FANCY FEAST BROTHS
Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs
ICY HOT SMART RELIEF TENS THERAPY
- Same technology used by doctors
- Relieves painful muscles and joints
- Reusable, wire-free and easy to use
- Customizable – 63 intensity levels
- Prescription strength
- For persistent sore or aching muscles
- For relief of chronic pain associated with arthritis
- Convenient: Includes an easily replaceable standard 3V (CR 2032) watch battery
- Safe & Effective: Drug free. Blocks pain signals at the nerves
- Energy Saving: Automatic shut-off after each 30-minute session
- Reusable: Control Unit, electrode pads and battery all are reusable
- Discreet and Portable: Use while doing normal activities
- Personalized Relief: Intensity is adjustable (63 levels)
OSTEO BI-FLEX EDGE
Are your joints ready for action? Osteo Bi-Flex Edge helps strengthen your joints with their exclusive Joint Shield plus Glucosamine and Chondroitin formulas – one for Joint & Energy support and one for Joint & Muscle support.* Joint Shield is designed to help maximize flexibility and agility so you can perform the way you want to.* After all, active joints deserve the best possible support, the kind found in Osteo Bi-Flex.
The Edge Energy formula contains an array of B-Vitamins to help support energy metabolism. The Edge Muscle formula includes Co Q-10, which is naturally produced in the body where its normal role is to help produce energy within muscles.
Osteo Bi-Flex was created to:
- Nurture and help defend your joints.*
- To make sure they’re always ready to perform
- To give you the freedom to chase your joy
- So that you can always be… Ready for Action!
- Look for Osteo Bi-Flex Edge in the Vitamin section.
Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs
JOHNSONVILLE MEATBALLS & SAUSAGE SLICES
NABISCO WHEAT THINS POPPED
- Wheat Thins Popped comes in three flavors:
- Wheat Thins Popped Sea Salt
- Wheat Thins Popped Spicy Cheddar
- Wheat Thins Popped Sour Cream & Onions