Issue #5 • Winter 2007 Editor's Note Features Investor News Company Briefs Start-up News Retail & Restaurant People Community Around the State Sustainability Marketplace About Naturally Boulder News EDITOR'S NOTE Happy New Year and welcome to the Winter 2007 quarterly edition of Naturally Boulder News, reporting business news related to natural and organic products companies in the Boulder region. As always, numerous stories have been generated in the region, from local start-up news to events with national impact. Please share your news with us. Send your news or press releases to news@naturallyboulderproducts.com. We are happy to report that Naturally Boulder Day 2006, held this past October, attracted 360 participants, more than double the number of registrations from the previous year. Please mark your calendar for Oct. 25-26, 2007, when the third annual Naturally Boulder Day will be held at the St. Julien Hotel in downtown Boulder. Also, on behalf of Naturally Boulder and with the support of the City of Boulder and the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Compass Natural is currently developing international trade missions in 2007 to London, England, and Tokyo, Japan, to promote export sales for Boulder-area natural and organic products companies. For more information, you can contact me at steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042, or contact Seleyn DeYarus at seleyn@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.886.9844. Also, if you haven't attended one of the Naturally Boulder monthly networking socials, please plan to do so. These events, coordinated by Naturally Boulder Task Force Member Kyla Duffy Buli, are popular and well attended, and are held at a different area restaurant or venue each month. Our next gathering is scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Culinary School of the Rockies. Wishing you all the best for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2007, I remain, Naturally yours, Steve Hoffman, Editor news@naturallyboulderproducts.com back to top FEATURES Grocers' Shelves Affected by December Snowstorms Natural and conventional grocers struggled to keep products on the shelves after the first major snowstorm of the winter season struck Colorado's Front Range on Dec. 20. Closed highways, snowed under delivery trucks and icy parking lots slowed deliveries to many stores and left shelves bare by Friday, Dec. 22. While Whole Foods Market's Boulder location was well stocked, Safeway's shelves were empty of many products. However, stores were better prepared for the second major snowstorm of the season on Dec. 28. Fearful shoppers were stocking up heavily for the second storm, and on Dec. 28, Wild Oats reported a 45-percent sales increase at its Colorado stores. The region has experienced heavier than normal precipitation, with snowstorms occurring four weekends in a row from late December to mid January. New Hope Natural Media Now Part of Larger Media Empire The owner of New York magazine, Bruce Wasserstein, through his Prism Business Media Holdings unit, is now the owner of New Hope Natural Media, the leading publishing and trade-show company serving the natural and organic products industry. Penton Media of Cleveland, OH, which purchased Boulder-based New Hope from founder Doug Greene for more than $80 million in 1998, was recently sold to Prism for nearly $200 million in cash and $330 million in assumed debt. Prism, formerly Primedia Business Information and based in Overland Park, KS, publishes 70 trade magazines, 50 directories and more than 100 websites, and it also organizes 25 industry events. New Hope's titles will join other Prism industry titles such as American Trucker, Beef, Fire Chief, Hay & Forage Grower, Religious Conference Organizer, and Waste Age, according to the Daily Camera. In October 2006, New Hope purchased NPIcenter, an Internet-based publisher of nutrition industry news. Big Chill: Boulder Ice Cream Goes Green--and Organic Boulder Ice Cream's move to larger facilities has enabled the company to expand its production to 1 million gallons from 50,000 gallons, plus it has incorporated sustainable elements into its manufacturing process, according to co-founders Scott Roy and Glennise Humphrey. In addition to tripling its size from its former location to 5,200 square feet, the company also plans to introduce its first organic ice cream in July. To reduce heating costs, the company moved its refrigeration compressors to inside the plant where they warm the air. During the summer, heat from the compressors will be vented outside. Boulder Ice Cream also installed closed loop heat exchangers, and it participates in Eco-Cycle's Zero Waste program. Roy, who was a frequent customer, bought Boulder Ice Cream's original scoop shop in 1996. Boulder area organic industry veteran and Horizon Organic co-founder Mark Retzloff recently invested in the company and has joined the Boulder Ice Cream board of directors, according to the Boulder County Business Report. Trade Missions to Promote Naturally Boulder Products Abroad Boulder-based Compass Natural, on behalf of Naturally Boulder and the City of Boulder, is developing international trade missions in 2007 to help Boulder-area companies sell their natural and organic products abroad. Compass Natural served as producer of the 2006 Naturally Boulder Day conference. The international trade missions will include a cooperative Naturally Boulder exhibit pavilion at one of Europe's leading trade shows, Natural & Organic Products Europe, held April 15-16 in London, England. The trade mission also will feature meetings with key buyers and distributors, a networking reception and area business tours. Organic products sales in the United Kingdom are growing at 30 percent annually, and Whole Foods Market is opening a 75,000-sq.-ft. flagship store-its first outside of North America-in London in early 2007. Compass Natural is also developing a Naturally Boulder trade mission to Tokyo, Japan, tentatively scheduled for summer 2007, in partnership with Boulder-based Izawa & Associates. For more information, contact Seleyn DeYarus, seleyn@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.886.9844. Naturally Boulder Website Provides Improved Interactive Services Naturally Boulder's website, www.naturallyboulderproducts.com, now features profiles of local businesses on its home page. Companies are highlighted on a rotational basis and include Amazing Grains, Bobo's Oat Bars, Boulder's Best Organics, Fiona's Granola, Justin's Nut Butter and Organic India (formerly Om Organics). The Naturally Boulder website also features area business news and events and past newsletter archives. Visitors can register to receive a free quarterly email newsletter and Naturally Boulder event announcements, as well as post news and events, and marketplace announcements. Future improvements will include a directory of Naturally Boulder businesses, where companies can register for free, a forum where visitors can post and receive responses from small business advisors including the Boulder Innovation Center and the University of Colorado Deming Center of the Leeds School of Business. back to top INVESTOR NEWS Greenmont Capital Partners Announces Sales, Investments Greenmont Capital Partners, a private-equity fund formed by Boulder area natural products pioneers including Mark Retzloff, Hass Hassan, Paul Repetto, Barney Feinblum and others in partnership with Colorado-based investors, announced in late 2006 that Pepsico purchased Izze Beverage Co., one of its portfolio companies. Also, in 2006, Community Energy Inc., another Greenmont portfolio company, was acquired by Iberdrola of Madrid, Spain, the world's largest owner and operator of renewable energy facilities, for $30 million. In December, Greenmont announced that it has invested in Blue Horizon Organic Seafood Co., based in Aptos, CA. Blue Horizon is a leading supplier of branded and private-label seafood from environmentally sustainable sources, according to Greenmont Managing Director David Link. Visit www.greenmontcapital.com. Healthy Foods Holdings Acquires Van's International Foods, Breyers Yogurt Healthy Food Holdings of Boulder is purchasing Van's International Foods of Vernon, CA. Healthy Food Holdings, headed by Chuck Marcy, former CEO of Horizon Organic, and in December 2006 also purchased the Breyers yogurt line from Ontario, Canada-based Cool Brands International. Both purchases were for undisclosed sums. Van's, with annual sales of more than $25 million, is known for its wheat-free and organic frozen waffles, according to the Los Angeles Times. Breyers yogurt is distributed mainly on the East Coast. Healthy Food Holdings is a portfolio company of Greenwich, CT-based Catterton Partners, an investment company formed to buy healthy, natural and organic food and beverage companies. back to top COMPANY BRIEFS Phil's Fresh Foods of Boulder announced it Burritos are now in 350 stores in 26 states, both under founder Phil Anson's own name and as privately manufactured product on behalf of Wild Oats. Anson is currently working on a national-scale business plan with the assistance of the Boulder Innovation Center, which selected him for a prize of free business counseling as a result of his 'Pitch Slam' at the 2006 Naturally Boulder conference. Boulder-based EcoBunz, an online diaper company that uses home-sewn sustainably grown hemp and cotton, serves a small clientele of green-lifestyle parents. Tami Simon, founder and owner of Louisville-based Sounds True, placed 6th on the Nov. 2006 Boulder Daily Camera's Top 25 Women-owned Local Businesses list. The company publishes audio programs, videos, music and books dedicated to disseminating spiritual wisdom with sales of 13.4 million in 2005. Boulder-based Pangea Organics' Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask was awarded Best New Product for 2007 at Natural Products Expo East. The product's cardboard packaging has herb seeds embedded in it and can be planted in a garden. Also, Pangea products were featured on HGTV's Ed Begley, Jr.'s "Living with Ed" show on January 7, 2007. Louisville-based Cooper Tea Co., founded by Barry Cooper, is coming out with Baza High-Energy Tea which contains guarana, cola nut, yerba mate and taurine. The company reported that the mega-store 7-Eleven has agreed to a national roll-out of the product. Boulder-based Aurora Organic Dairy, donated $200,000 in October 2006 to the Organic Dairy Research and Education Farm at the University of New Hampshire. Founder Jim Heiden of Boulder-based Teko, maker of environmentally friendly high-quality socks, stated in an October 13, 2006, interview in the Rocky Mountain News, that the company's entire supply and production chain was eco-friendly including recycled packaging that uses soy-based ink and suppliers that operate under a coordinated ecological plan that measures impacts on biodiversity. The newest product from the company uses a renewable corn-based fiber called Ingeo. Martek Biosciences has signed a 15-year supply agreement for its algae-derived DHA with organic manufacturer WhiteWave. The companies have conceived of a co-branding strategy where the Martek logo for the product will appear on WhiteWave packaging, similar to the way "Intel Inside" was used to promote the computer-maker's chips in other companies' products. Martek employees 26 in Boulder. Coleman Natural Foods, which has Colorado facilities in Denver, Limon, and Golden, was a key sponsor of the 1st annual Denver marathon in October 2006. That same month, the company won the "Poultry Industry 2006 Industry Innovator Award" from the National Chicken Council. Fiona's Granola, located in the Colorado Tech Center in Louisville, has cemented a deal to put five flavors in Whole Foods stores in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Kansas. The wheat-free, dairy-free, and vegan product will be manufactured in a new dedicated 6,300-square-foot facility. Boulder-based Spring Foods (formerly called Nutballz Inc.) has been sold by its owner-founder Kyla Duffy to Rheinlander Bakery of Arvada, CO. Rheinlander founders Maro and Ed Dimmer intend to pull the product line out of larger store distribution and focus on specialty stores and web sales at www.wheatfreefood.com. Hain-Celestial Group announced December 2006 it is purchasing Avalon Natural Products for $120 million. Hain CEO Irwin Simon said that the purchase will strengthen the company's position as a leader in the personal care products sector, complementing its previous acquisitions of Jason Natural Products and Zia skin care brand in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Madhava Honey Co., based in Lyons, reported annual sales of $2.5 million. The low glycemic index of the sweetener has made it a star in new diets, and Madhava's product was mentioned recently on Oprah. As a result, sales are now in a period of explosive growth, according to the Daily Camera. The Fresh Ideas Group, a Boulder-based strategic public relations firm, has new clients: Vatanna Health of San Clemente, CA; Organic to Go of Los Angeles; Mateo Restaurant of Boulder; and the National and Canadian Bison Association. Doc Popcorn, Boulder-based maker of all natural popcorn products, is now selling its popcorn in the Broomfield Events Center, at kiosks in the Flatiron Crossings Mall and other locations, and at regional Whole Foods Markets. The company was founded in 2003 by husband and wife team Rob Israel and Renee Rosen. Visit www.docpopcorn.com. Boulder's Best Organics was awarded Top-ten Eco-Gift for 2006 by Elephant Magazine, a regional eco-lifestyle magazine. The company was acknowledged for its recycled cushioning and reusable packaging. Visit www.bouldersbestorganics.com. back to top START-UP NEWS Boulder-based Hep Helper is focusing on providing daily supplement products that assist people who have hepatitis in strengthening their livers and immune systems. Founder Sally Fischer, who has hepatitis C, is collaborating with Boulder herbalist Brigitte Mars on the formulas. Boulder-based Mix1, launched an all natural, fast food drink called Mix1. The company founded by Greg Stroh, a co-founder and former owner of the IZZE Beverage Company, along with his partners James Rouse and Wes Brasher, has placed the product in Colorado grocery stores. The product is intended to be a meal substitute with a balance of high protein concentration and good carbohydrates. Boulder-based eConscious.org is launching a new online eco and fair trade marketplace in early 2007, featuring thousands of products ranging from high end fashion to sustainable furniture. Consumers can direct 25 percent of the suggested retail price to a favorite charity. Boulder-based online retailer Only Natural Pet Store reported a 132 percent increase in sales volume over 2005, and a 147 percent increase in sales generated by its e-newsletter that features articles on animal health and behavior. Erie-based Tsukiji Market Baskets is a company founded by Tim Larson, the senior international marketing specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and his wife, Candace. They are importing handmade bamboo baskets from Viet Nam and distributing the product to small independent grocery stores nationwide. Longmont-based Mozdy Kuchen, a bakery specializing in brioche bread in flavor mixes such as Apricots and Lavender or Apple Chai and Cherries. The product can be found in front-range Vitamin Cottage stores and deals are in the works for Wild Oats, Safeway and Whole Foods. Great West Cattle Co., of Peyton, CO is marketing free-range veal that the company says involves no crates, skimpy diets or antibiotics. Jon Cordonier, the ranch owner, worked with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association in Denver and the USDA to develop regulations for labeling free-range veal, which the USDA approved in early 2006. For product or more information, visit www.greatwestcattle.com. Newport Beach, CA-based Zpizza, a health-conscious gourmet pizza chain is looking to expand into Colorado with stores all over the state. Ingredients in the product include whole wheat crust and organic sauces. For franchise information visit www.zpizza.com or call Katie Magers 703-837-5183. Corazon Coit, a new 70-acre, eco-friendly cemetery near Greeley, is to begin selling plots in early 2007. Founder Laina Corazon Coit says it is the first low-impact cemetery in the state. Corazon will work closely with Natural Transitions in Boulder, a non-profit that helps families understand after-death rights and arrange home funerals. back to top RETAIL & RESTAURANT Lakewood-based Vitamin Cottage opened its 24th store in November 2006. The 10,000-sq.-ft. store is located at Platte and 15th streets in Denver. The company is scheduled to open its next store in Dillon in early 2007. According to Progressive Grocer, Price Chopper Supermarkets is the first independently owned retailer to sign on to sell Wild Oats Markets branded natural and organic products in 115 stores in six northeastern states. Also Carteret-based supermarket Pathmark Stores Inc. will sell several hundred natural and organic Wild Oats products through its grocery chain. Wild Oats and Ahold-owned online grocer Peapod have expanded their partnership into the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland markets with more than 120 Wild Oats branded products available on the Peapod online grocery site. Wild Oats Markets, Inc announced in January, the launch of Wild Oats Magazine with publishing partner Active Interest Media. The magazine will be a free bi-monthly publication printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Wild Oats Market will be opening a store in Longmont at the Twin Peaks Mall. The date of the opening was not disclosed. Wild Oats announced it will close eight underperforming stores, including one in Fort Collins. Wild Oats said its third quarter revenue grew 5 percent to $291.8 million from $278.5 million a year ago. Also, Wild Oats announced it will donate $65,500 to Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides health education and nutritional supplements to medically underserved communities around the world. Austin-based Whole Foods Market stock fell 23 percent in November after a weaker-than-expected outlook for same-store sales was reported. Whole Foods said its fourth-quarter profit rose to $39.8 million on sales of $1.29 billion. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 8.6 percent, down from 11 percent last year. Boulder's Pekoe Sip House, a premium tea house, is now offering premium coffee. The business is one of only 35 worldwide that invested thousands of dollars in a new machine that combines the French press and vacuum-brew methods. Pekoe is using Denver-based Novo Coffee Co.'s estate grown beans. University Hill's Flatirons Theatre is soon to be the new site of Anjou, an organic juice bar, as well as other retail establishments. The organic juice bar concept was developed by Craig King, who has also started an organic juice delivery company. Chipotle Mexican Grill founder and Boulder native, Steve Ells, received the Rocky Mountain News Business Person of the Year Award for 2006. Chipotle started in 1993 in Denver, and now is worth $1.8 billion with 540 Chipotle stores in 25 states and more than 14,000 workers. The chain has become known for its commitment to free-range pork. McDonald's divested its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill after an eight-year relationship Door to Door Organics has opened a 2,500 sq. ft. distribution warehouse in Michigan and will begin delivering organic produce to homes and businesses in Genesee County, MI in January 2007. The company is a Pennsylvania-based family owned business. The founder, David Gersenson moved to Denver, where he started a branch. King Soopers owner, Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., has switched to trans-fat free cooking oil for its in store food preparation in all of its 2,473 supermarkets, which in addition to King Soopers includes City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. Colorado Restaurant Association predicts Colorado restaurant sales to top $8 billion in 2007, based on figures from the National Restaurant Association. The sales are likely to be driven by growth in population and employment along with increased spending by tourists and business travelers. Noodles & Company has completed the relocation of its headquarters to Broomfield from Boulder. About 75 employees have moved into a 21,000 sq. ft. office space at 520 Zang Street. Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority has approved a new deal with Cheese Importers Warehouse to open its retail shop no later than Sept. 1, 2007, in the Coal Creek Shopping Center. The city loaned Cheese Importers $2.35 million to buy the shopping center with a promised move in date of 2005. Over the last 2 1/2 years, the city and Cheese Importers have been making renovations to the center, according to the Daily Camera. V.G. Burgers, an organic vegan quick-stop restaurant, opened on 28th Street. Vegan burgers as well as organic salads, juices and non-dairy desserts are served. Nothing is fried on the menu and those who have dairy, soy, or wheat allergies will have options available. Boulder-based Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc. raised $18 million to help accelerate its plans to add locations across the country. Pharmaca currently has 12 locations nationwide. Pharmaca opened its second New Mexico store in Albuquerque in November and its third store in Boulder in December. Wal-Mart recently introduced its own private-labeled organic milk packaged by Boulder-based Aurora Organic Dairy. Boulder-based Aspen Grove Market, an online grocer, expanded its delivery area to include the city of Longmont. Aspen Grove now serves all of Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Longmont and areas east of Boulder County including portions of Erie. New Boulder restaurant The Black Cat features chef Eric Skokan's natural, gourmet cuisine and Highland beef produced by local area rancher Frank Silva. The Black Cat is hosting a special four-course dinner with paired wines on Feb. 27. For information contact 303.444.9110 or visit www.blackcatboulder.com. back to top PEOPLE Boulder-based Organic India, maker of Tulsi tea products, appointed Ken Vickerstaff as CEO. Previously, Vickerstaff served in senior-management positions at Hain-Celestial Group, Inc. and WhiteWave Foods. Boulder-based Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy announced Janet Mathews has been named CFO. Mathews is the former CFO of Broomfield-based Gaiam, Inc. Pharmaca also announced that Ian Mukaida will be vice-president of store development. Boulder-based Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy announced founder Jim Schott is stepping down as CEO. The new CEO will be Tim Overlie, a 23-year veteran at Wild Oats Market. Robert Dimond is stepping down as CFO of Wild Oats Markets and Gregory Mays will assume the role of CFO until a permanent replacement is selected. Stephen K. Onody resigned as CEO of Lifevantage Co., maker of Protandim®. He will continue to act as a management consultant while a replacement is recruited. Ryan Black, former football player for the University of Colorado, received one of three 2006 U.S. State Department Awards for Corporate Excellence, presented in November by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Black was recognized for his work with Sambazon, manufacturer of South American acai products. Black's company, based in San Clemente, CA, supports nearly 1,000 grower families who work in the Amazon rainforest through its purchases of acai. Following CEO Perry Odak's resignation, who received a $3.7 million severance, the board of directors of Wild Oats Markets, Inc. named Chairman Gregory Mays interim CEO. Mays brings 33 years of retail grocery experience to Wild Oats and will continue in his role as Chairman. New senior vice president of merchandising and marketing, Roger Davidson, will have an initial base salary of $350,000 with a guaranteed bonus of $43,750 for 2006 that is payable in 2007 and will receive a guaranteed bonus of at least $75,000 in 2007, according to a Security and Exchange Commission filing. Davidson has more than 37 years of operations and management experience in the food retail industry, and he most recently held the title of senior vice president and chief operating officer for Supervalu Inc.'s retail food division. He replaces Stephan Kaczynski, who left Wild Oats in April 2006 to head the Cincinnati-based Biggs grocery chain. Boulder's Best Organics, makers of organic gift collections featuring exclusively Boulder-based companies, has hired Laura Ruby, formerly of Door-to-Door Organics, to oversee Marketing and Business Expansion. back to top COMMUNITY Steve Demos, founder of Boulder's WhiteWave Foods Inc. is expected to speak at Naropa University as part of Naropa's Authentic Leadership Certificate Program. Demos' presentation, "Leading with a Purpose" is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Jan. 30, at the Nalanda Campus. Todd Woloson, former CEO and co-founder of IZZE Beverage Company spoke recently at Naropa University 's weekly Wednesday Community Gathering Series on small principle-centered companies being purchased by large conglomerates, and how that process can ultimately be a force for social change. For information call 303.245.4800. The new 7,000-seat Broomfield Events Center sports complex will feature a large proportion of all-natural and organic ingredients at its concession stands. The City of Boulder announced a new business incentive pilot program with an $850,000 budget. The program will include rebates on city fees such as permits or construction taxes, employee training assistance, a park and recreation discount, and an owner-occupied loan pool. Visit www.bouldercolorado.gov and select "Business Incentive Program." Boulder Small Business Development Center's Director Sharon King announced an expanded service portfolio and roster of skilled advisors. To find out more about the availability of counseling on strategy and market analysis, and/or to participate in networking events and trainings, visit www.bouldersbdc.com or call 303.442.1475. The Boulder History Museum presents Natural Conversations with Extraordinary People, a series of evenings where you can learn through their personal stories how Boulder helped shape the natural and organic food industry. The dates and speakers are as follows: February 7, Speakers: Paul Repetto - Co-founder, Horizon Organic Dairy and Sylvia Tawse - President and Founder, The Fresh Ideas Group; February 28, Speaker: John Sackett - CEO, Avista Adventist Hospital - direct successor of the Boulder-Colorado Sanitarium & Food Company (1st Health Food Manufacturers in Boulder, ca. 1900); March 14, Speaker: Mo Siegel - Founder, Celestial Seasonings; April 4, Speakers: Hass Hassan - Founder and CEO of Alfalfa's Markets, Past President of Wild Oats Markets, Current Director of Whole Foods Markets and Dale Kamibayashi - Sales & Marketing Director for Vantage Organics; April 25, Speaker: Mark Retzloff - Co-founder, Aurora Organic Dairy; May 2, Speaker: Steve Demos, Co-founder of White Wave Tofu & Silk Soymilk. Please call 303.449.3464 to make your reservation, space is limited to 25. back to top AROUND THE STATE Denver-based GF Culinary Productions Inc., is sponsoring an 11-month education event series with experts speaking on various aspects of nutrition followed by a cooking demonstration performed by a chef from a top area restaurant. www.theglutenfreelifestyle.com. According to Don Gallegos of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, statewide production of organic vegetables is ranked 8th in the country and production of organic herbs is ranked 4th in the country. The State of Colorado favors a petition currently being considered at the EPA that would require the vendors of natural pesticides to submit their products to a safety/effectiveness testing regime similar to the procedure applied to mainstream insecticides such as OFF! and Raid. Also, Wal-Mart has announced that it is pursuing a two-year phase-out of any products containing one or more ingredients from a 'black-list' of 20 toxic chemicals. Denver-based Western Plains Seed and Garden Supply Inc. is gearing up to promote organic and environmentally friendly farm and garden products in the Western United States. Visit www.wpseed.com or contact Jim Holland at 720.260.0736. Mineral Fusion cosmetics, a new product from Denver-based Caleel + Hayden, a maker of skin care products, is offering a complete product line of foundations, eye shadows, and lip colors that are based on naturally occurring minerals and red and white teas. Austin-based Whole Foods Market will carry the line and offer in-store demonstrations by makeup artists at stores nationwide. According to Tom Theobald of the Niwot Honey Farm, honeybees, the premier pollinator of most agricultural crops, are experiencing an over 50 percent decline in Colorado since 1990. Scientists are as yet undecided what the primary causes of this phenomenon are, but it is speculated that non-native parasites, pesticides, land-use changes, and the replacement of wild grasses with lawns are all critical factors. back to top SUSTAINABILITY Boulder-based Renewable Choice Energy, Inc., is launching Wind Power Cards that allow consumers to purchase wind energy credits at about 80 Whole Food Market stores. Cards represent a month's worth of electricity consumption: 250 kilowatt hours for "individuals" and 750 kilowatt hours for "family." When a card is purchased the same number of kilowatt hours are added by wind energy producers to the national grid. The cost is $5 for an individual card and $15 for the family card. San Francisco-based bank Wells Fargo & Co. plans to buy wind-power certificates to offset 40 percent of its electricity consumption during a three-year period. The company plans to buy 550,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy certificates, representing the largest such program in the United States. Wells Fargo bought the credits from emissions broker 3 Phases Energy with branches in Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont and Louisville. Broomfield-based Gaiam, a lifestyle-media company, has partnered with The Conservation Fund to launch "Go Zero,"a sustainable shipping program. The initiative allows online customers to add a small donation at checkout that goes directly to The Conservation Fund to enable the planting of trees to offset carbon dioxide emissions. Since the program launched in June 2006, Gaiam shoppers have purchased more than 10,000 trees. Colorado-based TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Cyclo-Cross Team is pioneering an environmental sustainability program. Taking inspiration from Berkeley-based Clif Bars, Inc.'s "Start Global Cooling" campaign, the team's carbon footprint from travel miles will be offset by purchasing wind energy credits from Native Wind. Working with Boulder-based Eco-Cycle to become a Zero-Waste operation, the team will be recycling and composting as much of its waste as possible. Team sponsor Door to Door Organics is providing each cyclist and their family with a box of fresh produce every week of the season. The team is sourcing local and organic food when on the road to cook its own meals. Boulder-based ColoradoSkiTunes.com is using a fleet of pickup trucks powered by vegetable oil, to collect skis or snowboard for tune-up and then bring them back to customers. Boulder-based Natural Habitat Adventures, an ecotour company, announced its trips and office operations in 2007 will be 100% carbon neutral. As part of its Carbon Pollution Reduction program, the company has teamed up with nonprofit MyClimate, which will invest in environmentally friendly developments in developing countries. The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado in Boulder has hired Gifford Pinchott, founder of Bainbridge Graduate Institute, a school offering a pioneering MBA in Sustainable Business. Pinchott will be a scholar-in-residence to teach and consult on how to incorporate sustainability and social justice into Leed's school curriculum. WhiteWave Foods Co. of Broomfield won a 2006 Green Power Leader Award from the EPA and Department of Energy. The company has been among the top 25 green power purchasers each year since 2004. The Kitchen, a Boulder restaurant, noted for its dedicated 'green' business practices and design, is 100 percent wind-powered and all cooking oil is recycled for bio-diesel fuel. Large boards in the restaurant feature the local family farmers and ranchers who supply its seasonal ingredients. All paper products and straws are biodegradable and nearly everything is recycled or composted. Restrooms have low-flush toilets and washcloths for hand towels to reduce the need for paper products. Bentonville, AR-based Wal-Mart, the nation's largest retailer, posted in November 2006, the first year's data from its two sustainable and green built 200,000-sq.-ft. stores in Aurora, CO and McKinney, TX. LED lighting is one technology the company will be deploying widely, replacing fluorescent tubes in freezer and display cases, resulting in 50 percent energy savings and longer life expectancy. Native landscaping, waterless urinals and electronic sensor sinks decreased water use by 85 percent at the McKinney facility, according to Wal-Mart's special projects engineer. Boulder-based Eco-Cycle celebrates 30 years and is one of the oldest and largest non-profit recyclers in the United States. With the help of the Boulder County Recycling Center, Eco-Cycle has increased its collections to nearly 50,000 tons of material a year. It plans to offer single-stream collection in the hopes of boosting participation in 2007. The County Commissioners approved $500,000 for the single-stream recycling equipment. back to top MARKETPLACE Join Our New Online Community We invite you to become part of the new Naturally Boulder online community. Register on our website, and visit our brand new forums to post your natural product industry job opportunities, classifieds and more. back to top ABOUT NATURALLY BOULDER NEWS Naturally Boulder News is distributed to Boulder and Colorado-area natural, organic and healthy lifestyles businesses, and other interested individuals. For a free subscription, visit www.naturallyboulderproducts.com. Please share your news with us at news@naturallyboulderproducts.com, and feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues. For more information on Naturally Boulder's business-promoting activities, visit www.naturallyboulderproducts.com. © 2007, Naturally Boulder Task Force, published by the Naturally Boulder Task Force, an economic development initiative supported by the City of Boulder, CO, with a mission to promote the growth of natural and organic business in the Boulder area. All rights reserved. Editor: Steve Hoffman, Compass Natural, news@naturallyboulderproducts.com Contributor: Seleyn DeYarus, Compass Natural, seleyn@naturallyboulderproducts.com Newsletter Production: Heather Morgan, Canvas Interactive, heather@canvasinteract.com Naturally Boulder Chair: Linnea Simons, Caplan and Earnest, lsimons@celaw.com City of Boulder Liaison: Frances Draper, Boulder Economic Council, frances.draper@boulderchamber.com back to top