Raise a Glass to Dairy Month!

Ellie Wilson, MS, RDN  Senior Nutritionist

June 1st is a holiday for our dairy farmers – it is World Milk Day, and kicks off the annual celebration of Dairy Month and all that dairy brings us! Full of flavor and nutrients, packed with protein, familiar and affordable, wholesome dairy brings richness to so many foods. Across the Northeast, dairy is considered a unique “natural resource”, which supports healthy people, healthy communities and a substantial and sustainable positive impact on local economies. We use milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese to bake, batch, sip, and savor our way through delicious and nutritious meals and snacks. Welcome to Dairy Month, an annual national celebration of all that dairy brings us. There would be no dairy without dairy farming, which encompasses time-honored heritage and forward-thinking scholarship – this industry keeps innovating, and is full of hard working, passionate people that ensure animals have the best care, and milk is the highest quality. About 97% of dairy farms are family-owned, generation after generation that have moved the industry forward and treat animals, land and the future with reverence and respect. Dairy also delivers crucial nutrients – milk, yogurt and cheese contribute 51% of calcium and 58% of Vitamin D for just 10% of the calories in the overall American diet. The Great American Milk Drive also kicks off in our stores today – with a $1 or $5 donation at the register, you can join in and get milk to children and families that are less food secure. Check out our Facebook Live visit with our friends at Ivey Lakes Dairy in Stanley, NY, follow the blog, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram learn more about how fresh, nourishing dairy foods make their way from the farm to your table, and the delicious ways you can enjoy them. In case you couldn’t tell, we love dairy – Price Chopper and Market 32 are highlighting dairy and dairy case items all month – you will love the selection and the savings. Celebrate with us! Written by Jane Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs November 12, 2017

COUNTRY CROCK BUTTERY STICKS

                Country Crock knows you want to feel good about what you feed your family.  That’s why they make Country Crock with the goodness of plants. Real simple ingredients you can recognize and pronounce.  It all about providing a source of good fats along with a country fresh taste the whole family will enjoy.  Country Crock Unsalted and Salted Buttery sticks are made with Sunflower Oil and have a delicious country fresh taste your family will love.  They can be used one for one like butter in your favorite recipes.  They have a soft and creamy texture so they are easy to mix straight out of the refrigerator, meaning you don’t waste any time waiting for them to soften. Look for Country Crock Buttery Sticks in the Dairy aisle. On Friday, August 4th our team headed north to visit two manufacturing facilities of HP Hood.  Hood has been a strategic Dairy partner to Price Chopper for decades; producing many of our Price Chopper and PICS dairy products. The team started the day at the HP Hood plant in Vernon, NY.  This plant produces Price Chopper brand Greek yogurt, as well as Hood cottage cheese. The milk sourced for their Dairy production comes from local farms within a 50 miles radius of the plant. We’re proud of our local roots and being able to source #homegrown milk for our Price Chopper Greek yogurt!  The team also toured ESL processing plant in Oneida, NY where Hood branded creams, coffee creamers, and a variety of plant-based and lactose-free milks are made and packaged. The tour of the facilities was nothing short of impressive! Hood’s dedication to quality, innovation and service was evident in their state-of-the-art operation! HP Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the U.S. as well as an experienced leader in ESL (extended-shelf-life) & aseptic processing and packaging. Thanks to the team at HP Hood for inviting us in! We had a great day moo-ving around the plants!     Written By: Ellie Wilson, MS, RD  Senior Nutritionist, Price Chopper Supermarkets Better & Better From the outside looking in, it might appear that getting milk from cow to cup is actually a very old farming tradition that has been adapted and improved and is no big deal now. It might look like there is not a lot of room for innovation, or that it isn’t really needed – you don’t hear about many problems with dairy, right? You can feel confident in the quality of Price Chopper milk, cream and half and half because there are many safety and quality checks and procedures that go into turning raw milk into all of these wholesome products. It starts at the farm – I already shared some of the procedures that help the farmer get milk ready to be picked up by the tanker truck. Garelick field rep Jackie inspects the farm periodically to ensure they are maintaining their safety practices and supports John with any updates or recommendations that have been identified. Next, the tanker truck has to pump the milk into the two separate holding tanks in the truck and seal those tanks. When the tanker gets to the plant, it is quarantined outside the building, and a lab tech comes out to verify the seals, then open the two compartments and take samples to the lab. If the seal is broken, or anything is detected by the lab, that milk cannot enter the plant. The milk is checked for any substances that don’t belong – like antibiotic residue, or high bacteria count. It is also checked for quality measures, like butterfat content. This is all tracked and is part of the information Garelick Farms sends back to John Green that he uses to take care of his cows. Once the technician gives the ok, the truck can move into one of two bays and the milk is transferred into the raw milk silos. Then the tanker is cleaned and sanitized so it can go back out for pick ups. If the schedule is working, they move a truck in and out every 1 ½ hours. Jeniece Goellner, the plant quality manager, ensures that all of the quality and safety procedures happen at every critical point in the process where something could go wrong and compromise the quality of the milk. This requires great attention to detail, constant consideration on how to improve the process, and passion – which plant manager Dave shared is a key ingredient from the many long term, committed workers that are part of the plant team. This process is so well coordinated, there are only about 10 tanker rejections out of over 1100 tanker deliveries per year. The milk is bottled, labeled and moved into cold storage. Each Price Chopper store has a dairy manager who tracks milk sales and sends an order in to Garelick Farms for exactly what they need each day. That order goes to the plant and then to Garelick employees like Isaac Seldman. He reviews and assembles each order, and out they go to the trucks for store delivery. This is why the milk is so fresh – it can be from cow to cup in less than 24 hours, sometimes even in 12 hours! So there it is – your cow to cup tour. In addition to the milk itself, I hope you can see that there is a lot of passion, commitment, and connection poured into that cup. Enjoy a glass of Price Chopper milk today! Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs CHOBANI BITE Chobani – America’s #1 selling yogurt brand – has been crafting wholesome products using only the best ingredients since 2007.  Instead of cutting corners, Chobani takes the time to make their yogurt using a centuries-old authentic straining process.  It’s a back to basics approach rooted in their core values of craftsmanship and innovation, and their belief that yogurt is meant to be simple.  Just milk and cultures paired with only natural ingredients. With their new product line, Chobani Bite, you’ll find a snack you can sink your teeth into.  Each scrumptious serving contains 8 grams of protein to help keep your afternoon hunger pangs at bay.  These convenient 3.5 oz. cups of blended Greek non-fat and low-fat yogurt come in four crave-worthy flavors: Caramel with Pineapple, Coffee with Dark Chocolate Chips, Fig with Orange Zest and Raspberry with Dark Chocolate Chips.  With this perfectly portioned cup, snack attacks don’t stand a chance! Look for Chobani Bite in the Dairy aisle. PURINA FRISKIES RISE & SHINE Friskies Rise & Shine will awaken your cat’s senses and feel their adventure of a new day.  No one loves morning more than cats.  They’re the ultimate “morning people.”  So Friskies is not offering a whole new way to start your cat’s day. Try NEW Purina Friskies Rise & Shine wet cat food in the following unique and tasty flavors:  Tasty, Turkey & Egg Scramble, Savory Salmon & Egg Scramble, Savory Chicken & Egg Scramble and Sizzlin’ Beef & Egg Scramble.  Also, try NEW Friskies Rise & Shine dry cat food, available in two sizes. Friskies Feed the Senses.  Look for Purina Friskies Rise & Shine in the Pet aisle. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs BUCKS COUNTY ICED COFFEE Introducing Bucks County Iced Coffee.  Their signature cold brewed process delivers a bold flavor with a smooth mellow finish – creating the perfect balanced coffee. Bucks County steeps their high-quality Arabica coffee beans in cold pure filtered water to create the perfect extraction.  The end result is a refreshing Iced Coffee that is perfect for any occasions! You can currently find Bucks County Iced Coffee in the Dairy case in Sweetened and Unsweetened varieties.  Just open an enjoy straight from the container – or add your favorite flavors.  It is the perfect afternoon treat or in place of your morning cup.  A perfect pick me up any time of day, so pick some up today. Delicious, new, ready to drink.  Put a bottle of all natural Bucks County Iced Coffee in your refrigerator today!  Go to their website and tell them your coffee story:  www.buckscountyicedcoffee.com T.G.I.FRIDAY’S DIPS Introducing New T.G.I.Friday’s Dips.  Each Greek Yogurt based variety is Trans Fat FREE and offered in an 11oz. container.

• Ultimate Spinach Dip with 3 Cheeses – Only 90 calories and 9g of fat per serving.
• Jalapeno Artichoke & Cheese Dip – Only 60 calories and 5g of fat per serving.
• Signature BBQ Dip with Roasted Red Pepper – Only 35 calories and 2g of fat per serving.
• Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip – Only 80 calories and 7g of fat per serving.

T.G.I.Friday’s Dips are infused with favorite T.G.I.Friday’s menu item flavors.  They offer the convenience of enjoying T.G.I.Friday’s flavors at home while dipping into a healthy alternative compared to other store bought dips.  Use T.G.I.Friday’s Dips as spreads on sandwiches or in place of your favorite condiments.  Try the Ultimate Spinach Dip with 3 Cheeses heated and you will discover the best dip you’ve ever tasted! Look for T.G.I.Friday’s Dips in the Dairy case. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In Store Marketing Programs DOLE BANANA DIPPERS New Dole Banana Dippers come in two varieties – Dole Banana Dippers in  Dark Chocolate and Dole Banana Dippers in Dark Chocolate with Almonds. The goodness of bananas comes together with the rich indulgent taste of dark chocolate and almonds.  New Dole Banana Dippers are fresh frozen banana slices covered in a splash of dark chocolate or dark chocolate with a touch of almonds. Dole Banana Dippers deliver 4 grams of Dietary Fiber, 180 mg of Potassium, only 7 grams of sugar and 120 calories per serving.  Dole Banana Dippers are a convenient healthy snack for families and an elegant way to serve fruit for parties.  Simply pull from your freezer and enjoy anytime, anywhere! Dole continues to reinvent Frozen Fruit by offering consumers easier ways to incorporate fruit into one’s diet – with an  emphasis on quality.  Dole has a variety of other frozen fruits like blueberries and strawberries in cups or bags and ready-cut fruit like strawberries and bananas.  New Dole Shakers are a fun and easy way to make a fruit and yogurt Smoothie for home or on the run. Banana Dippers, Shakers and Dole Fruit can be found in the frozen fruit section of the Frozen aisle.  Dole is committed to bring healthy and delicious product to the market and is your brand for quality and innovation. GARELICK FARMS NEW TruMoo LOWFAT VANILLA MILK For a limited time only, Garelick Farms NEW TruMoo Lowfat Vanilla Milk has turned a lucky green color for St. Patrick’s Day! TruMoo Vanilla Lowfat Milk offers the same wholesome goodness of regular lowfat TruMoo with a delicious vanilla taste kids love and essential protein, calcium and Vitamins A & D kids need every day. TruMoo Vanilla Milk is made with delicious vanilla flavor, just enough sugar (no high fructose corn syrup) and a lucky green color to add some fun.  TruMoo Lowfat Green Vanilla milk, with a festive St. Patrick’s Day label, is only available in Half Gallons through March 17th.  Make St. Patrick’s Day Delicious and Nutritious! TruMoo Lowfat Chocolate Milk is available in a variety of sizes: Gallon, Half Gallon, Quart and Single Serve.  Visit www.TruMoo.com for more information. Look for Garelick Farms TruMoo Lowfat Vanilla Green Milk in the Dairy aisle. Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs SILK SOY MILK Your heart works hard for you every minute of the day.  Isn’t it time you showed it a little love in return?  Very low in saturated fat and 100% cholesterol-free, Silk is a naturally heart-smart choice that you can feel great about. Now Silk Soy Milk has the seal of being Non GMO verified.  For consumers, it can be difficult to stay up-to-date on food ingredients that are at-risk of being genetically modified.  This seal can now assure you that Silk is verified to be non GMO. In addition, their non-GMO verified Almondmilk has a mildly nutty taste and a calorie count that isn’t nutty at all.  And their Coconutmilk says no to GMOs and yes to a little exotic flavor, along with more than a little calcium.  Try any of them in a shake, as a substitute for milk in recipes or straight up on their own. For more information and recipe ideas, visit http://silk.com/.  Look for Silk Soy Milk in the Dairy aisle. EVOLVE NATURALLY FLAVORED PROTEIN SHAKE Evolve is sweetened with Stevia, Monk Fruit and Cane Sugar – no artificial sweeteners.  Look for Evolve Naturally Flavored Protein Shake in the Nutrition aisle!

• 110 calories – Tonalin adds fat calories
• 12 grams of protein – an excellent source of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E
• Excellent source of fiber – gluten and lactose free
• Tonalin for reducing body fat.  Shaped by Muscle Milk.

Written by Jane N. Golub Director In-Store Marketing Programs LAND O LAKES SAUTE EXPRESS SAUTE STARTERS Sauté Express Sauté Starters are first-of-its-kind meal starters that cook and flavor chicken, fish or pork in one easy step! Looking for a new way to create a sizzling meal?  With Sauté Express Sauté Starters, it’s all inside.  One convenient square combines butter, olive oil and a variety of herbs and spices – all the flavor you need for a delicious meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Find all four of these delicious flavors in the Dairy aisle: Garlic & Herb, Italian Herb, Savory Butter & Olive Oil and Lemon Pepper. How It Works: 1.  Melt Sauté Express square until hot and sizzling. 2.  Add chicken, fish or pork. 3.  Sauté until golden brown. Pair with pasta, veggies, rice and more for a flavorful meal your family will love! YoCRUNCH BREAKFAST BLENDS Whether you need a quick breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up, the familiar crunch of Post Honey Bunches of Oats Granola cereal in creamy Vanilla Non-Fat Greek Yogurt makes for an on-the-go snack with long-lasting satisfaction. The fat-free Vanilla and Strawberry Greek Yogurt, made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives is the perfect way to start your day off right.  And you can grab breakfast at any time, too! Greek Yogurt is a great way to turn your favorite breakfast cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats, into an anytime snack that is tasty and satisfying.  With less than 200 calories and as an excellent course of protein and calcium, you’ll be ready to go all day! Look for YoCrunch Breakfast Blends in the Dairy case.