Letter from the Editor

Passages and Welcomes

With this letter, I’d like to acknowledge the passage of a Boulder natural products icon – Wild Oats Markets, and also welcome our new neighbor, Whole Foods Market. At a recent “Irish Wake” held at Conor O’Neill’s many Wild Oats veterans gathered to share stories, and the spirit of camaraderie filled the room. Naturally Boulder wishes the best to these many individuals. We know that their energy, skills and ideas will continue to contribute to the growth of the natural and organic products market.

That being said, Whole Foods also has a long history of association with the Boulder community. Three of its board members are long-time Boulder residents, its CEO maintains a home here, and in past years, Whole Foods and Alfalfa’s markets were close business friends. In fact, Whole Foods plans to change the name of the Broadway Wild Oats location to honor the Alfalfa’s legacy.

For what it’s worth, I’d also like to remind any naysayers out there that Wild Oats had been shopping itself around for sale since 2004, meaning that somebody was going to buy them. Change was inevitable. In this editor’s humble opinion, Whole Foods Market is the best company to carry on a commitment to the principles of natural, organic, sustainable and socially responsible business. They are a welcome addition to the Naturally Boulder community.

Have You Registered for Naturally Boulder Days Yet?

This year’s Naturally Boulder Days conference on Oct. 25-26 is going to be awesome! With Chipotle Mexican Grill founder Steve Ells and New Belgium Brewing Co. CEO Kim Jordan kicking off the event on Thursday evening, Oct. 25, with an interactive café salon-style seminar at Naropa’s Marpa Center for Business and Economics, this year’s conference will deliver on its theme of Building Sales, Brands and Authenticity.

The slate for Friday, Oct. 26, at the St. Julien Hotel will feature keynote speakers Mo Siegel, founder of Celestial Seasonings, and Dr. Alan Greene, M.D., Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine. Other speakers include Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Inc., WhiteWave founder Steve Demos and its current CEO Joe Scalzo, the ever-popular Entrepreneur’s 60-second Pitch Slam, a tabletop exhibition, company tours, and networking receptions on Thursday and Friday evening.

The full conference fee is an affordable $225, but if you’d like to register for the “Starving Entrepreneur” rate of $150, write a 100-word essay as to why you merit the discount and send it to networking@naturallyboulderproducts.com. Visit www.naturallyboulderproducts.com and click on the big banner ad to visit the web pages about the conference. While at the site, you can register by clicking on “Register Now” icons. We hope to see you there!

Yours in health,

Steve Hoffman

Editor and Board Member, Naturally Boulder

news@naturallyboulderproducts.com

P.S. An annual report released in September on obesity conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks Colorado as the fittest state in the nation. The state ranked 51st in obesity (the rankings included the District of Columbia.) That’s the good news. The bad news is the obesity epidemic in America is getting worse. Obesity rates rose in 31 states, and no state reported a decline. The message that the natural products industry needs to keep repeating to the public is that there is a direct relationship between diet and health.

FEATURES

Whole Foods Moves Regional HQ to Boulder

Whole Foods Market relocated its Rocky Mountain regional headquarters from Thornton, CO, to Boulder in early October. The Austin, TX-based natural and organic foods grocer completed its acquisition of Wild Oats Markets in late August and moved its 40-person regional staff into Wild Oats’ former headquarters at the Twenty Ninth Street shopping complex. According to the Daily Camera, Whole Foods intends to hire 40 more people over the next six months and will occupy only the top floor of the 82,500-square-foot building and sublease the bottom floor. Of the 300 people who worked in Wild Oats’ headquarters prior to February when the merger was announced, 248 remained when the acquisition was completed on Aug. 28. According to the Daily Camera, some of these individuals have since departed or are facing layoffs that will occur within the coming weeks. Whole Foods regional president Will Paradise told the Camera he is saddened to have “so many talented people” in a tough position. In related news, Whole Foods plans to close nine Wild Oats locations, yet it will keep all existing Wild Oats stores in Boulder, but it will not open the planned Twenty Ninth Street Wild Oats flagship store. Whole Foods intends to rent the space to a non-food retailer. However, Twenty Ninth Street property manager Lain Adams told the Camera that having a grocery anchor “is very important to us.” Whole Foods will maintain Ideal Market as it is and rename the Broadway Wild Oats as Alfalfa’s Market, to honor its roots. The Baseline Wild Oats will be turned into a new experimental “grab-and-go” store, Whole Foods Express. In late September, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) indicated that it most likely will not pursue its case against the Whole Foods – Wild Oats merger.

Aurora Organic Dairy Releases Stewardship Report; Settles with USDA; Counters Critics

Aurora Organic Dairy President Mark Retzloff told Fortune Magazine in late September that charges that the company's products violated organics standards are unfair, and the company has threatened to sue its critics. After signing a consent agreement with the USDA in late August, Aurora reduced the size of its herd from 2,200 cows to 1,250, and increased its pasture to 400 acres from 325 acres at its Platteville, CO, dairy. Yet, even after the settlement with USDA, the company continues to be subject to intense criticism by Wisconsin-based Cornucopia Institute, which alleges that Aurora’s large-scale operation does not provide its dairy cows with adequate access to pasture. According to an Aurora press release, "Aurora Organic also has sent a letter to Cornucopia Institute, the Organic Consumers Association and the Center for Food Safety, demanding that they cease publication of false disparaging statements about the company and its products. Statements by these groups have mischaracterized USDA's findings and its agreement with Aurora Organic, and the company believes the false statements have been made deliberately to injure Aurora Organic and its customers." In related news, Aurora released its first Organic Stewardship Report, which is available at the company's website. The report, which will be updated at least annually, provides details about the number of cows and acres of pasture at each of the company's dairies, metrics of animal health, and various other measures of sustainability. Founded in 2003 by Retzloff and partner Marc Peperzak, Aurora specializes in supplying private-label organic milk products to companies such as Safeway, Wild Oats and Costco.

Next Foods is WhiteWave Founder Demos’ Next Enterprise

WhiteWave Foods founder Steve Demos unveiled his new business, Next Foods, at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore in late September. The company, dedicated to developing and marketing products with scientifically proven nutritional benefits, launched its first product, Verb: Good Belly, a fruit-juice-based “shooter” containing a proprietary probiotic digestive aid. Future product plans include functional foods for the heart, brain and bones. According to the Daily Camera, Next Foods in the future hopes to establish a manufacturing facility in Boulder.

Naturally Boulder Launches Annual Business Survey, Company Directory

Naturally Boulder is launching its first market research study of the size and scope of the natural, organic and sustainable products market in Boulder, and is asking all area natural and organic products businesses to complete a survey. A summary of aggregated survey results will be provided free to survey respondents. The survey can be accessed www.naturallyboulderproducts.com, and click on “Participate in the Naturally Boulder Community Audit.” Also, Naturally Boulder is launching a company directory on its website to help promote Boulder area businesses. Listings are free. Visit www.naturallyboulderproducts.com and click on “Companies.”

New Retailers Arrive in Boulder

Organic and outdoor clothing pioneer Patagonia and Yoga retailer Prana both announced in September the openings of new retail locations on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder. Privately held Patagonia, based in Ventura, CA, and founded in 1972 by Yvonne Chouinard, has annual sales of $275 million. The store at 1212 Pearl Street will be the company’s 24th retail outlet. Prana, majority owned by fashion giant Liz Claiborne, will open its first brick-and-mortar retail store at 1147 Pearl Street in Boulder. According to Prana co-founder and president Beaver Theodosakis, the Boulder store will be a flagship “satellite branding hub” for the company as it seeks to expand additional retail locations in Colorado and California.

Hain-Celestial Receives FDA Warning on Powdered Drink Mixes; Unveils New Package Design for Teas

In a warning letter posted on FDA’s website in September, the FDA cited the Hain-Celestial Group regarding some of its Zingers to Go drink mixes. According to FDA, the powdered tea products contain stevia, a South American herb traditionally used as a sweetener and allowed for use in dietary supplements. However, FDA has not approved stevia for use in foods. According to a Celestial Seasonings statement, the FDA requested that the Zingers to Go packaging more prominently display the word “supplement” and remove any verbiage that could lead a consumer to believe the product is a food. The company says these changes are already underway and says the matter was resolved with FDA as of September 7, 2007. In related news, the company’s teas are getting a new look. The tea boxes have been redesigned to enlarge the traditional artwork featured on the boxes. In addition to this change the company is rolling out a new organic pyramid tea line called Saphara, as well as moving into organic fair trade coffee.

U.S. Natural Products Sales Reach $56.7 Billion, Post 9.7 Percent Growth

U.S. natural products sales grew 9.7 percent in 2006 across all channels of distribution, reaching $56.76 billion in total sales, according to the Natural Foods Merchandiser, published by Boulder-based New Hope Natural Media. According to editor in chief Marty Traynor Spencer, total sales for the natural and organic industry increased 56 percent between 2002 and 2006. Leading growth categories included natural personal care (18.4 percent growth), natural pet products (15.1 percent growth), coffee and tea (23.3 percent growth), and nutrition bars (22 percent growth).

Renaissance of Local Debuts at Planet Bluegrass

A three-day festival held Sept. 28 – 30 at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons highlighted local producers and a “slow-food” dinner for 500. The Renaissance of Local Festival was produced by Boulder Going Local, the for-profit arm of Boulder Valley Relocalization, a council working to create stronger local-based economies. According to executive director Michael Brownlee, the event featured seminars, exhibits, food from local producers and a Slow Food Feast. For information visit www.bouldercountygoinglocal.com.

COMPANY NEWS

An affiliate of Booth Creek Management Corp. of Vail, CO, in August purchased Draper Valley Farms, a producer of natural poultry products in Mount Vernon, WA. Booth Creek also is the owner of Coleman Natural Foods, a pioneer in natural meats based in Golden, CO.

Boulder’s Mix1, maker of all-natural protein and antioxidant drinks, in October announced that it raised $6 million in equity financing from a group of investors including Libby Cook, co-founder of Wild Oats Markets and Sunflower Markets. Mix1, founded by Izze founder Greg Stroh, Wes Brasher, formerly of 7-Eleven, and James Rouse, N.D., host of Optimum Wellness on Denver’s Channel 9 News, will use the proceeds to accelerate its planned national expansion.

Eldorado Artesian Springs (OTCBB: ELDO), Louisville, CO, announced in late July that its board of directors approved a 100% stock dividend on its outstanding shares of common stock. The company’s shareholders at close of business on Aug. 8 received one additional share for every share of common stock held on that date. Following the dividend, the company has approximately 6,033,066 shares of common stock outstanding.

Boulder company Hep Helper Inc., makers of a daily regime of vitamins, minerals, and organic supplements designed to suppress the symptoms of Hepatitis C called Hep Helper, is now available at Vitamin Cottage. Visit www.hephelper.com.

Smart Balance Inc., a Boulder-based company acquired by Boulder Specialty Brands Inc., lost $13 million on sales of $ 18.7 million during the second quarter according to the Daily Camera. In related news, New York City banned the use of trans-fats in New York City restaurants. According to the New York Sun several other cities are going to follow. This could mean big profit for Smart Balance Inc. a company that focuses on trans-fat free alternatives. Revenue for the company in the last 12 months was $164 million.

Broomfield-based WhiteWave Foods Co.’s brand Horizon Organic has recently expanded adding seven dairy farm partners to its 350 farms. Horizon has organic milk producers in 22 states and is working on converting another 167 to organic. In other news, WhiteWave launched a new dairy brand, Rachel’s “Wickedly Delicious” all-natural low-fat yogurts. In related news, Dallas, TX-based Dean Foods Co., parent company of WhiteWave Foods, suffered profit decline in the second quarter due to the increase in raw milk prices. According to Dean’s chief financial officer, Dean Foods has cut prices and expanded advertising of its Horizon Organic products to retain market share as competitors increase output to meet demand.

Hain-Celestial Group Inc., based in Melville, NY, plans to buy TenderCare International Inc., a natural baby products company for $3.4 million according to the Daily Camera. This acquisition is expected to slightly boost Hain-Celestial’s earnings in 2008. TenderCare is a Wisconsin-based marketer and distributor of chlorine-free and gel-free natural diapers and wipes under the Tushies and TenderCare brand names. In other news, Hain-Celestial Group recently purchased WhiteWave Food’s tofu production facility in Boulder for $2 million. Celestial Seasonings has hired TDA Advertising & Design to head a new ad campaign for the tea maker. TDA will create national print, outdoor, in-store and online advertising.

Boulder’s Best Organics, makers of Gift Collections of organic products exclusively from Boulder companies, has been contracted to produce customized packaging and gift baskets for Boulder Community Hospital and Wright Kingdom real estate. According to Boulder’s Best Organics, the company has also added products to its organic menu. Visit www.BouldersBestOrganics.com.

Boulder’s Caffe Sanora, an organic coffee company specializing in natural antioxidant coffee has released two new video blogs giving consumers entertainment and education about the sustainable and healthy coffee. Caffe Sanora’s parent company, Applied Food Sciences, Inc. teams with many research initiatives including cancer research. A portion of Caffe Sanora’s proceeds go to this research. Visit www.caffesanora.com.

Boulder’s Organic Vintners has announced that in June three of its imported organic wines received silver medal awards in California wine competitions. Visit www.organicvintners.com.

New Hope Natural Media, a Boulder-based publishing company of Penton Media Inc., recently launched “Functional Ingredients”, a magazine for the global health and nutrition industry. In other news, the Organic Summit, a conference produced by New Hope Natural Media this June in Boulder attracted over 200 organic industry leaders. New Hope Natural Media announced that the Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America trade show will be moved from Baltimore to Boston in 2008 to accommodate the growth of attendance. For more information: www.expoeast.com or www.newhope.com.

Twist, a Boulder-based cleaning products company, will have its 100% biodegradable sponges and cleaning cloth products sold at some Whole Foods Markets. The products will be available in nine states, including Colorado according to the Daily Camera. Visit www.twistclean.com.

Henderson, Colorado-based Lily Organics is the only Colorado skin care company to receive Certification as Organic Grower by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Lily Organics makes a green statement by using only organic ingredients in its facial creams, masks and cleansers. The company is using only 100% recycled glass bottles and shipping in recycled cardboard boxes. Visit www.lilyorganics.com.

InnoVision Health Media Inc., a Boulder-based medical media company that focuses on the growing field of integrative medicine, will resume publication of its peer-reviewed quarterly medical journal Advances in Mind-Body Medicine. For more information visit www.innovisionhealthmedia.com.

Boulder-based Bountea makes a natural composting tea from Alaskan Hummus, bacteria and fungi that helps to nourish soil in a way that promotes organic gardening, according to the Boulder County Business Report. Bountea is a concentrated and consistent method of adding biological creatures to supplement the soil, re-establishing the soil ecology. Visit www.bountea.com.

Eldorado Artesian Springs, Inc., will introduce a line of Vitamin Enhanced Organic Flavored Spring Water beverages. The beverages will be sweetened with organic evaporated cane sugar and will come in four flavors. Eldorado believes their spring water component will set them apart from other vitamin enhanced waters.

Chocolove, Boulder’s only chocolate factory, has grown from a 5,000 sq.-ft facility in 1999 to 35,000 sq.-ft facility today. According to the Boulder County Business Report, the company employs 18 people and makes up to 40,000 bars of chocolate a day. Chocolove makes its premium chocolate bars in small batches with all natural ingredients. Chocolove can be found in all 50 states at numerous retailers.

According to the Boulder County Business Report, Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy Inc. acquired a 32-acre Boulder County property and leased an additional 48 acres of new pasture land. Haystack plans on building a new nursery and creamery. It also plans on implementing sustainable farming practices. Jim Schott, founder of Haystack, projects that it will do about $8 million in business in the next five years. Visit www.haystackgoatcheese.com.

Boulder-based Naked Candle Company prides itself in its eco-friendly nature. The candles are made from soy, packaging is made from all recycled materials, and the printing is done in soy-based inks. NKD Candles are bare of all “bad stuff” says founder David Cruz. NKD Candles come in 29 scents. Visit www.nkdpure.com.

The Boulder County Business Report is publishing the Green Book, an annual publication featuring local news on the benefits of sustainable business. The Green Book will highlight companies’ green business practices. Visit. www.bcbr.com.

Jon Hay, Celestial Seasonings veteran, is continuing success with Boulder’s WhiteDove Herbals. The company has a number of herbal products such as chewing gum, and Single-Serve Elixers, and plans to develop more. According to the Daily Camera, Wild Oats/Whole Foods and King Soopers have picked up WhiteDove products. Visit www.whitedoveherbals.com.

Louisville’s LittleSPOON Baby Food makes all-natural and organic baby foods, which are prepared, frozen, and delivered by founder and mother Susan Gerber. For more information: www.littlespoonbabyfood.com.

Boulder’s Justin Gold of Justin’s Nut Butter recently received a micro loan for $25,000 from Whole Foods Market to expand the company. According to Gold, a bulk of the loan will be used for material and equipment costs associated with a new line of nut butter squeeze packs. Justin’s will pay off the loan in five years. Visit www.justinsnutbutter.com.

Two Boulder-based firms, LaunchPad Sales and Marketing and Canvas Interactive, merged to create LaunchPad Interactive LLC. The new firm has a team of six designers and developers. Visit www.launchpadinteract.com.

PEOPLE

Josh McClellan has been named partner by Boulder’s Pixie Maté. McClellan will oversee Finance and Operations as well as Sales. Prior to Pixie Matte’ McClellan founded and operated McClellan Health Systems, a retirement community business.

Tim Bour has been named the new executive director for The Boulder Innovation Center. Bour will be responsible for establishing a three-year operating plan, including securing funding. Bour replaces Doug Collier who stepped down after two years.

Sweet Leaf Tea of Austin, TX, in September hired Lindsay Kelly to oversee sales in Colorado. As the iced-tea maker expands into the region, Kelly will manage sales at the wholesale and retail levels

Smart Balance Inc. announced the hiring of a new senior management team comprised of nine members according to the Daily Camera. Rick Werner has been named vice president and general manager of Earth Balance. Formerly, Werner was the director of dry grocery for Wild Oats Market. Chris Appel has been named vice president of quality control and quality assurance and new product commercialization. Appel was formerly the vice president of quality control at WhiteWave Foods. Jeff Scroggins is vice president/general manager, mass-club channel. Previously Scroggins was a vice president at WhiteWave.

Other executives include Peter Dray, Terry Schulke, Greg Venner, Al Gever, Austin Jacobus, and Jack Konzelmann.

START-UP NEWS

Tea Medic of Denver is a new company started by Jacob Young that sells yerba maté tea. Yerba Maté Tea is made from a gourd and is claimed to have a number of health benefits. The company offers a variety of flavors and expects to expand to food kiosks in downtown Denver. Visit www.tea-medic.com.

University of Colorado graduates have developed a hangover remedy called The Cure. The cure is a powder packet, which contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. According to the Rocky Mountain News, The Cure is available at select liquor stores in Boulder, Vail, and Fort Collins and is expected to grow to 800 liquor stores throughout Colorado. Visit www.thecuredrink.com.

Boulder’s Green Endeavors, a non-profit founded in February, has started selling reusable grocery sacks to decrease the environmental impact of disposal bags. The founders hope to get the word out that the bags give consumers another option besides paper and plastic. The bags cost $2.50 each and can be purchased on www.greenendeavors.googlepages.com.

DeYarus & Associates, an IT and business process firm, announced its relocation from Amsterdam to Boulder/Denver. The firm specializes in detailed business architecture designs translated into databases, financial analysis packages, and interactive websites/e-commerce. The company has worked with top manufacturing and financial interests in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, China and Malaysia. The company is offering competitive pricing to move into the natural, organic, sustainable and socially responsible products and services marketplace. To learn more contact matthuedeyarus@yahoo.com.

Two Moms in the Raw is a start-up raw snack food company founded by Shari Leidich of Lafayette. According to the Daily Camera, Leidich came up with the idea by experimenting with raw foods after Multiple Sclerosis turned her to a raw foods diet. Two Moms in the Raw is expanding to a wind-powered, Boulder facility and will be sold at Whole Foods Market. Visit www.2momsintheraw.com.

Boulder-based The Chief Good is a consulting company designed to help companies gain profit as well as taking social and environmental responsibility considering the quadruple bottom line – people, planet, profit and purpose. Founder, Steve Frazee, says the company aims to help businesses achieve goals without wasting resources. Visit www.thechiefgood.com.

Tees for Change was started in April by Boulder’s Andreea Ayers. Ayers sells yoga inspired positive message t- shirts for women. Cotton shirts are made from a non-sweatshop source and there are also organic cotton and bamboo options available. Shirts aim to remind women of positive thinking. Visit www.teesforchange.com.

RETAIL & RESTAURANT

Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocer, is releasing a new line of organic foods according to the Daily Camera. The company is responding to consumer demand for healthy food. Safeway and Wal-Mart have been increasing their lines of organic foods. The Kroger organic products will be sold at King Soopers across Colorado.

Boulder-based Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy has opened a new location in La Jolla, CA. Pharmaca offers a staff of nutritionists, aestheticians, herbalists, and homeopaths who take an integrative approach and make recommendations upon customer request, reports the San Diego Business Journal.

Boulder’s five-year-old Co-op Market filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors due to debt and declining sales. According to the Boulder County Business Report, the Co-op is more than $1 million in debt.

Robert Redford’s Sundance Company opened a Sundance store in the Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, CO, south of Denver, reports the Rocky Mountain News. The Sundance store hopes to engage in “socially responsible retailing” by using recycled and sometimes organic products. The store also features reclaimed wood flooring.

Boulder’s Rush Naturally Enlightened is a specialized café located on 4593 N. Broadway. The shop offers 40 different types of smoothies, frozen yogurt fruit bowls, as well as side items like muffins and bagels. Rush uses only 100% juice, non-fat frozen yogurt, organic soymilk and organic granola. No corn syrups are used and any smoothie or bowl can be made vegan.

Boulder’s The TeaSpot, a shop that specializes in loose-leaf tea, rolled out a patent in July for a new tea seeping product, TeaMaestro. The product is part of its Steepware line that allows consumers to steep leaves for exactly the right amount of time. According to the Daily Camera, owners hope this will make tea brewing more convenient for the American consumer.

Momentum is a new boutique at 1625 Pearl Street in Boulder. Everything in the store, owned by Kevin and Jenny Natapow, is fair-trade and the products must be made by workers paid a living wage. The products sold are made in 45 different countries.

Boulder-based Cheba Hut now is a zero-waste restaurant. The sub shop on The Hill recycles and composts all of its waste through Eco-Cycle’s zero-waste program.

Whole Foods Market is hosting local farmer showcases throughout the west called the Farmer’s and Food Artisans 2007 Road Tour. 100% of proceeds from lunches sold will be donated to non-profit, agricultural based organizations.

A 3,099 sq-ft Vitamin Shoppe is scheduled to open next summer in Boulder’s 29th Street Mall. According to the Daily Camera, Vitamin Shoppe has over 300 stores in 32 states.

Boulder-based Only Natural Pet Store, the largest on-line retailer of natural pet products, celebrated its three years in June. The company has seen triple-digit growth each year. The Company is powered 100% by wind and conserves packing materials. Visit www.onlynaturalpet.com.

Boulder’s Laudisio Restaurant is suing Twenty Ninth Street Mall owner, The Macerich Partnership LP, claiming economic losses of over $1 million due to the loss of promised foot traffic and other incurred costs, according to the Boulder County Business Report. Laudisio’s blames the late opening of the movie theater and Wild Oats Market.

The new Niwot restaurant, Colterra, received a good critic review in the Daily Camera. Chef Bradford Heap uses local organic produce whenever possible as well as produce from the restaurant’s garden.

Omni Hotels is taking a step forward with its breakfast menu. Omni now serves cage free eggs in their breakfasts, organic, shade grown coffee, and local, family owned Colorado ranch pork.

Sunflower natural food store plans on opening six to eight stores a year according to the Daily Camera. Many stores will be in the Denver metro area. Sunflower sells natural and organic foods at lower prices and “without the hoopla” says founder Mike Gilliland.

AROUND THE STATE

Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing Co.’s www.followyourfolly.com advertising campaign has attracted over 20,000 visitors per month. The interactive site features videos of people who live a sustainable and fun lifestyle. New Belgium recently released their first organic beer, Mothership Wit Wheat Beer to all their existing markets, according to Drinks Media Wire. Making organic beer continues New Belgium’s commitment to produce beer in an environmentally friendly fashion. Visit www.newbelgium.com.

YoNaturals Inc. says it is changing the vending machine industry by vending only natural and organic snacks. The Yozone machine will be coming to the Denver area in a pilot program for schools, health clubs, and office environments. According to PNNnewswire, YoNaturals hope to shed the negative light on the vending machine business. The Yozone is a high-tech machine with specific temperature controls and a credit card paying option. Visit www.yonaturals.com.

Pueblo based, Solar Roast Coffee is making some of the most environmentally friendly coffee in the world, according to greenoptions.com. Solar Roast has been roasting their fair trade coffee with all solar power since 2004. The first Solar Roast Coffee shop opened in Pueblo this year and can also be purchased on-line. Visit www.solarroast.com.

Colorado farmers are concerned about a worker shortage due to the lack of illegal workers and the consequences of hiring them. Federal guest worker programs have proved to be expensive and farms including Grant Family Farms, one of the state’s largest an organic farms, are losing crops because of it. In other news, Grant Family Farms, based in Wellington, CO, is now offering community supported agriculture. Customers receive fresh and reasonably priced produce regularly. Visit www.grantfarms.com.

Jack Rabbit Hill, a vineyard in Redlands Mesa, near Hotchkiss, CO, says it is the only certified organic vineyard in Colorado and it also implements biodynamic farming, which involves crop rotation, composting and use of insects for pest control. Visit www.jackrabbithill.com.

The Bookworm bookstore in Edwards, CO, has expanded to a new location on 295 Main Street. In addition to greater space, the Bookworm has a full service café according to Vail Daily. The Bookworm Café uses natural, organic, Colorado grown ingredients, Boulder’s Third Street Chai, Denver’s Novo coffee, Boulder’s Pekoe tea, and organic milk.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Naropa’s Marpa Center for Business and Economics has announced the launch of a new program series for business sustainability. The series, Gearing Up for Business Sustainability: Building a Successful Socially Responsible Business, will include three sections with distinguished faculty and guest speakers. For more details visit www.naropa.edu/extend/marpa/offerings/cfm.

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is now offering elementary school students a healthier lunch by adding salad bars in the cafeterias. BVSD plans on adding “harvest bars” to two schools a month. BVSD also has banned candy bars, regular soda and other treats from vending machines this year, according to the Daily Camera.

SUSTAINABILITY

A new plant in Dove Creek will convert sunflowers into bio-diesel for human and vehicle use, reports the Daily Camera. The plant consists of an 8,000 sq-ft. oil crush facility and a 3,000 sq-ft bio-diesel production area. San Juan Bio-diesel currently has contracts with 41 sunflower growers to supply the plant.

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival could be the first ever carbon neutral music festival according to the Telluride Daily Planet. This year the festival not only went zero-waste, but it offset the CO2 produced not only at the festival, but considered the transportation costs of everyone at the festival. The festival purchased 4,111,699 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy credits through Renewable Choice Energy.

Boulder-based Solix Biofuels is working with Colorado State University and others to create a commercially viable bio-fuel based on algae production according to the Northern Colorado Business Report. Fort Collins-based One Tribe Creative will help Solix Biofuels market its brand.

The Boulder County Courthouse installed a 46-panel solar power system in August. This power will be used to charge four plug-in electric automobiles that will be purchased in 2008, according to the Daily Camera.

Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises is a Boulder-based company that collects and processes barrels of grease and cooking oil from all over the Front Range. The oil is sent to a plant where the solids are removed and purified for re-use as high-grade livestock feed. The company hopes to turn the oil in to bio-diesel in the future. For more information visit www.rmse.biz.

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: Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural LLC news@naturallyboulderproducts.com

Assistant Editor: Seleyn DeYarus, Compass Natural LLC networking@naturallyboulderproducts.com

Contributor: Jamie Kelly, sponsor2@naturallyboulderproducts.com

Design, Web: Heather Morgan, LaunchPad Interactive LLC, heather.morgan@launchpadinteract.com

Chair: Linnea Simons, Caplan and Earnest, lsimons@celaw.com

City: Frances Draper, Boulder Economic Council, frances.draper@boulderchamber.com