August 31, 2024

Unpacking Our Second Summer

The summer sun has peaked, the kids are back in school, and the days will soon be getting shorter but there is no reason to get sad as it is always summer somewhere and the sun never truly sets!

With our second summer under our belt, I spent a lot of time out of state sowing the seeds to grow into new markets. It’s too early to make any big announcements, but after a trip to California and another to Colorado, I am optimistic that we will have the wind in our sails as we chart west!

Partying in Silence with Startup CPG

Anyone reading this who has even explored launching their own food or beverage business is probably already familiar with Startup CPG. But for those of you who aren’t already familiar, Startup CPG was started to be a resource for emerging brands and founders to connect, collaborate and share experiences with one another so they can learn from each others successes and mistakes.

If you are thinking about launching a brand, I would highly recommend becoming involved in Startup CPG’s online slack channel. Or if you’re just curious and love a story about entrepreneurship, you ought to check out the Startup CPG podcast. 

Every year, Startup CPG hosts the Shelfies Competition to spotlight new & innovative products and spread the word across the industry.  The Shelfies are judged on: taste & experience, branding & packaging design, innovation and mission. We were very excited earlier this month, we learned that our Madagascar Vanilla Bean Frozen Greek Yogurt was selected as a Shelfie Finalist for the frozen category! The winners will be announced in an online award ceremony on September 4. If you are curious and would like to tune in, you can sign up here.

True to its mission to promote young brands, Startup CPG launched an online marketplace for this year’s Shelfie Finalists. If you’re curious and want to see what creative folks are bringing to to market, check out the finalist collection and give some of these products a try before they become mainstream!

TruJoy Yogurt was also featured as a ‘Backpack Brand’ at Startup CPG’s Discotopia Silent Disco at the Newtopia trade show in Denver, CO.  DJ TJ made an appearance and dished out samples (in silence) while the joyful partied!

I am very grateful for the community that Startup CPG has created for first time founders and industry veterans. No matter where you are in your career, there is always something to learn and there is no better way to keep learning and growing together.

Real California Milk!

Since the beginning, we have sourced our milk from California to make TruJoy Yogurt. Earlier in the year, we opened up a conversation with the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) to put the ‘Real California Milk’ seal on our packaging and I’m excited to say that TruJoy Yogurt will soon bear the seal!

The CMAB is an organization funded by Californian dairy families and is charged with promoting dairy products with their milk in the state and beyond.

Some California Milk Facts:

• There are over 1,100 dairy farms in California, 99% of which are family owned

• There are six primary species of dairy cows in California – Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Ayrshire & Milking Shorthorns

• Over 250 different varieties and styles of cheese are produced in California

• California is the leading producer of Mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Fluid Milk, Butter & Ice Cream in the Nation. I was not able to find any data about where California ranks for Frozen Greek Yogurt, but we are doing our best to make the state the leading producer of Frozen Greek Yogurt as well!

The Real California Milk seal verifies that the product is made with real dairy from family farms using the most sustainable farming practices in the world. A number of brands with products ranging from fluid milk to ice cream and to artisanal cheese all bear the seal and you will be hard pressed to find a single one that isn’t truly exceptional. I am honored that TruJoy Yogurt is now a member of this family!

TruJoy Yogurt was also accepted as one of the eight finalists for CMAB’s Real California Milk Excelerator Program which is presented in collaboration with VentureFuel. The Excelerator is a three-month program for innovative brands and provides mentorship, industry specific resources and a network to grow their businesses and promote the utilization of California milk. At the end of the three months, we will have the opportunity to pitch to retailers and compete for funding to help market our Frozen Greek Yogurt. You can learn more about the seven other brands in the program here!

Next time you are filling your shopping cart, look for the seal and know that you are supporting family farms while nourishing yourself with the finest! I am proudly Texan and come from a family with deep agricultural roots (literally, my grandfather is a pecan farmer), but California is second to none when it comes to agriculture - the golden state produces the nations finest produce, wine and of course, milk!

Truly & Joyfully,

Charlie

The Lagniappe

This month’s Lagniappe is more cheesy than creamy! I’ve used our recent involvement with CMAB as an excuse to dive deep into the world of Californian Cheese. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

Marin French – Breakfast Brie. Who says Brie should only be enjoyed later in the day? This Brie is different than the gooey bloomy rind Brie you’re used to. This is a fresh and firm brie, a bit tangy like a feta but with out the salt and with all of the creaminess of a brie.

Point Reyes – Toma. Probably best know for its Blue Cheeses, Point Reyes’ firm cheeses should not be overlooked. The Toma is a perfect snacking cheese. It’s buttery and grassy and goes with just about anything. My favorite way to enjoy it though is sliced thinly and drizzled with some Truffle Honey.

Sierra Nevada Cheese Company – Fresh Farmers Cheese. During the CMAB kickoff event, I was lucky enough to visit the Sierra Nevada Cheese Company to tour their facility and see how they make their cheese and yogurt. At the end of the tour, we sampled all of their cheeses and their Fresh Farmers Cheese is truly a show stopper. Think cream cheese but with more tang and a creamy umph! Give it a go next time you’re looking for something spreadable, you won’t be buying from Philadelphia again…

Bellwether Farms – Basket Ricotta. Not all Ricotta is created equally and this one reigns supreme. Made with whole milk (traditionally ricotta is made with whey), it is rich and buttery. I enjoyed my fair share of it this year with grilled Texas peaches! Another Bellwether Farms product worth a mention, though not made with cow’s milk and does not bear the Real CA Milk Seal, is their Sheep’s Milk Yogurt, it’s super tangy and creamy. I love it straight up or use it to make Labneh and other yogurt-based sauces that can use a bit of extra zing.

Despite its relatively young age, Californian cheese is every bit as rich, complex and delicious as the famous European cheese regions. In California, cheesemakers often produce a number of different varieties of cheeses compared to European cheesemakers who typically specialize in a single style of cheese. And because Californian creameries aren’t withheld to stodgy old-world rules of classification they are able to use artistic license to make truly wonderful cheeses!

I hope that you support Californian farmers and make a bit of room for these cheeses next time you are putting together a charc platter!