Steve Hoffman 4/18/23 Steve Hoffman 4/18/23

JAMBAR Partners With UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business MBA Program to Create a Long-Term Sustainability Plan

JAMBAR, the organic artisan energy bar that donates 50% of profits to communities, furthers its commitment to minimizing environmental impact

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (April 18, 2023) – Organic energy bar maker JAMBAR® today announced it is working with The Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Haas), to create an actionable, long-term sustainability plan. JAMBAR was selected by the Berkeley Haas Center for Responsible Business as a semester-long consulting project for a team of MBA students.

“I created JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good about what they eat, as well as the impact they can have on their local community, which includes being as Earth-friendly a company as possible,” said Jennifer Maxwell, founder and CEO of JAMBAR. “We’ve been hugely impressed by the innovation, professionalism and creativity our Haas MBA team brings and feel confident their work will result in a top-tier sustainability roadmap for us to follow.”

The Haas MBA team began its work by conducting an analysis of sustainability initiatives and best practices in the energy bar category. At the end of the partnership, the Haas students will present a comprehensive strategic plan with recommendations to help JAMBAR do business in environmentally responsible ways.

“It’s clear that since its inception, JAMBAR has kept sustainability top-of-mind when it comes to business practices, including sourcing, processing and shipping,” said Matt Rittenhouse, a project team member who will graduate from Berkeley Haas with an MBA in 2023. “Our objective is to provide recommendations and create a long-term plan with goals and success metrics, and to help JAMBAR communicate its initiatives to consumers and partners.”

This partnership marks the continuation of a long relationship between JAMBAR’s founder, Jennifer Maxwell, and UC Berkeley. Jennifer and her late husband, Brian, both ran track at Cal and together in 1985 created PowerBar®, the original energy bar. For many years, PowerBar’s headquarters were in downtown Berkeley, overlooking the Cal campus. After Brian’s death, Jennifer created the Brian Maxwell Fellows program at Berkeley Haas with the goal of helping entrepreneurs “to create opportunities, to innovate and bring real value and change to the world.”

About JAMBAR
In late 2021, Jennifer Maxwell founded JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good about the ingredients they put in their bodies and the positive impact they can have on their local communities. Made from only premium organic ingredients, JAMBARs feature ancient grains, authentic sweeteners from nature and high-quality proteins. The company donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support the transformative pursuits of music and sports. JAMBARs are available at JAMBAR.com, on Amazon.com and also at leading grocery stores, including Mollie Stone’s Markets, Earth Fare, Good Earth, Nugget Markets, United Markets, Berkeley Bowl, select Safeway stores and more. Learn more at www.jambar.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Media Contacts
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
Debbie Pfeifer, JAMBAR, debbie@jambar.com, tel 206.669.3580

Steve Hoffman 4/14/23 Steve Hoffman 4/14/23

NoCo9 Hemp Pitch and WAFBA Award Winners Exemplify Innovation, Dedication in the Hemp Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The ninth annual NoCo Hemp Expo, held March 29-31 in Colorado Springs, featured an awards ceremony and pitch slam.

LOVELAND, CO (April 11, 2023) – This year’s WAFBA Awards of Excellence were presented during a lively welcome reception to kick off the NoCo9 Hemp Expo at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. Winners were announced to cheers and applause as industry participants gathered to celebrate the growth of the industry and its dedicated pioneers.

“I’m so glad to see everyone gathered again in the spirit of optimism and growth,” said Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo9 Hemp Expo and president of WAFBA, who presented many of the awards. “It’s great to see so many advances in the industry since last year.”

WAFBA Awards 2023:

Elevation Award (Advancing the Industry Through Impeccable Leadership)
Melissa Nelson
Someone who drives the industry forward by breaking down barriers, thus paving the way for others. They are an advocate who focuses on developing others while being committed to their own personal development. Their impact goes beyond the industry. Their values led them to influence positive change for marginalized, medically challenged or under-resourced individuals, communities and nonprofits.
2022 recipient: Carla Boyd

Community Economic Impact Award
IND Hemp
Someone who has demonstrated extraordinary stewardship by positively impacting their community through job creation and opportunity, contributing to clean-up, strengthening financial stability, inclusivity and leading by example. Dedicated to educating their community and developing bonds that will further their social impact.
2022 recipient: Melissa Nelson

Mother Earth Award (Lady of Agriculture)
Anndrea Hermann
A woman whose entrepreneurial spirit has ushered a new era of business leaders through her skills and execution in agriculture. She is a visionary who has cultivated relationships through education, inclusivity and collaboration. Her determination and dedication support our farmers and contribute immensely to building the supply chain, making her a trailblazer and an inspiration to others.
2022 recipient: Winona LaDuke

Best New Tech Award/Tech Innovation
Global Fiber Processing -- Structural Hemp Block
Bast Fibre Tech -- Sero Natural Hemp Fibre
A person or group whose work is at the forefront of the industry with their game-changing technical tools for improvement and impact to further the hemp industry. Their brand has grown exponentially over the last year, whose product or services filled a gap in the market or both.
2022 recipient: Corbett Hefner and Formation Ag

Carbon Solution Award
Patrick Brown -- Hempfinity/Brown Family Farms
Acting as a change agent through their processes and efforts by creating ways to reduce carbon emissions with their own practices and/or through the products they produce. They lead the way in lowering their carbon footprint while providing direction for others to do the same in the joint effort against the carbon crisis.
2022 recipient: Sergiy “Doctor Hemphouse” Kovalenkov

Legacy Award
Chris Boucher
This award is to honor a remarkable person whose legacy has and will continue to embolden others. They are well-respected and their efforts have not gone unrecognized. Their passion for hemp has not wavered. Their perseverance remained steady through challenges they may have faced over time.
2022 recipient: Tim Shaughnessy

The Das Award/aka The Service Award
Alex White Plume
Service is what life is all about. Service doesn’t have to be big and grandiose to be meaningful and make a difference. Goodness is the only investment that never fails. As we serve others, we are working on ourselves; every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts as well. Our rewards in life will always be in direct ratio to our service. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.
2022 recipient: Agua Das Ellis

Hemp Pitch Winners 2023
This year’s NoCo Hemp Expo also featured the second annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, where six finalist companies vied for prizes, including legal fees and other services.

Sponsored by Michael Best, a leading law firm serving the hemp and cannabis markets, the NoCo Hemp Pitch competition gave the finalists six minutes each to pitch their brand or idea to a live audience and to judges, who included hemp industry start-up consultants, attorneys and investors.

This year’s winners:
1st place: Bee Delightful, led by Skyler Johnstone and master beekeeper Daniel Weaver, produces wildflower honey from rescue bees in Central Texas and infuses the raw honey with a carefully extracted, naturally occurring cannabidiol (CBD) from organic hemp farms in Colorado, Oregon and Kentucky.

2nd place: Pure BioPlastics, led by Ed Lehrburger out of Colorado, creates hemp fiber produced by PureHemp, which has been manufactured and sold into various markets to make first-generation hemp plastics. During the past five years, the company has developed a new technology to convert hemp stalks into 100% bioplastics (second-generation hemp plastics).

Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge
The team from Sawyer Labs/Trusted Harvest won the first annual Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, to benefit the Realm of Caring Foundation.

2024 Hemp Expo Announced
The 10th NoCo Hemp Expo will take place next year at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, from March 20-22, 2024. To exhibit or sponsor, click here.

First Citizens Bank, EarthX, Patagonia Led Distinguished Group of Sponsors
NoCo Hemp Expo is pleased to recognize our Sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor First Citizens Bank. “Having a leading, agriculture-focused financial institution such as First Citizens Bank, with its 100-plus-year history of serving farmers and ag-related businesses, step up and serve as Presenting Sponsor of this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo is a huge statement, providing vital credibility and legitimization for the industry at a time when it’s needed most,” said Beegle. “We’re also thrilled to welcome EarthX as our Environmental NGO partner and Patagonia as Sustainable Apparel Sponsor. Additional lead sponsors include Global Fiber Processing, Michael Best, CannaConsortium, Advanced Bio-Materials Technologies, Divita Hemp Block & Weaving Vibes. We are very excited about these categories that bring focus to areas where hemp can make a difference in sustainability and improving the environment.”

About NoCo Hemp Expo
For a decade, NoCo Hemp Expo — the world’s most comprehensive industrial hemp exposition and conference — has brought together international business and government leaders, academics, nonprofits, media and the public to collaborate on important initiatives, opportunities and solutions for the future of a crop and an industry that can have significant positive impact on human, animal and planetary health.

NoCo is produced by We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA), a leading organization dedicated to the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education and legalization. WAFBA also is the publisher of Let’s Talk Hemp, the industry’s leading news source. Learn more about the hemp and cannabis industry and subscribe to the latest news at www.letstalkhemp.com.

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 4/4/23 Steve Hoffman 4/4/23

NoCo9 Speakers Urge Industry Unity Moving Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The ninth annual NoCo Hemp Expo featured numerous speakers who emphasized the importance of the hemp industry heading into the future with shared goals and values.

LOVELAND, CO (April 4, 2023) – The 9th annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s most comprehensive hemp business conference and trade show, featured speakers from all over the hemp business world, who came together to move the industry forward with examinations of policy, processing, supply chain and opportunity. Over three days of programming, speakers and workshops focused on the need for a united voice if the industry is to achieve its potential.

In his opening remarks, show producer Morris Beegle noted that industry leaders agree on 95% of what needs to be done to advance the hemp supply chain. “We need to leave the 5% behind and join hands to march with one voice to make this hemp industry what we know it can be,” he said.

Longtime industry leader and cannabis legal expert Bob Hoban echoed the message, urging hemp industry participants to look at their competition as “co-opetition” and reminding the audience that the hemp supply chain is complex. “Everyone is under the misconception that they can do things on their own,” he said.

Unprecedented Partnership and Collaboration
Jared Stanley, chief operating officer of CBD company Charlotte’s Web, said partnerships like the one his firm has with Major League Baseball will propel the hemp industry’s success. “Education is the foundation of our partnership,” he said. Stanley also noted that the company’s mission and vision “aligned” with the MLB’s, with both organizations dedicated to player wellness. It is the first such partnership for a CBD brand and a national athletic league.

In an unprecedented meeting, over 50 participants from more than 10 hemp advocacy and policy organizations gathered to emphasize the points where they agree on moving federal policy ahead. U.S. Hemp Roundtable General Counsel Jonathan Miller opened the meeting by saying that he hoped participants would stay positive and work together to gain more policy advantages for the industry.

Expo producer Morris Beegle was upbeat.

“I have always focused on optimism, positivity and bringing industry stakeholders together,” Beegle said. “I’m pleased with the energy and outcome of this year's three-day show.”

NoCo Hemp Expo will take place again next year at The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, from March 20-22, 2024.

2024 NoCo10 Announced
The 10th NoCo event will be held at The Broadmoor from March 20-22, 2024. To exhibit or sponsor, click here.

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 3/28/23 Steve Hoffman 3/28/23

Restorative Botanicals Launches New Functional Mushroom Product Line

BOULDER, CO (March 28, 2023) – Restorative Botanicals, a leading manufacturer of USDA Organic hemp extract health and wellness products, is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest product line of Functional Mushroom supplements. This new line features a range of high-quality mushroom supplements designed to support the body’s immune systems, brain function and gut health and to promote better sleep!

Restorative Botanicals has harnessed the power of mushrooms to create a line of supplements that are both effective and easy to use. The Functional Mushroom products are available in capsules and gummies (that are vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free), each containing a unique blend of 100% Certified Organic mushroom extracts, nootropics, and adaptogens. Made with fruit-derived organic flavors, these delicious gummy supplements are available in flavors including mandarin, elderberry, guava, and passionfruit.

My IMMUNE Shrooms™ are a functional mushroom blend that delivers a powerful variety of specifically selected mushroom extracts to help support the immune system. Featuring Agaricus Blazei, Reishi, Maitake, and Shiitake, these are a great way to get your daily serving of antioxidants, iron, selenium, and zinc. Cordyceps is used to promote energy and stamina, while Turkey Tail supports improved digestion and healthy aging.

My BRAIN Shrooms™ offer cognitive support with Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Rhodiola, and Black Pepper. This powerful blend of mushrooms and nootropic herbs was carefully curated to help the body work more efficiently and effectively. Whether you’re looking to improve memory, enhance mental clarity, or counter the ravages of the aging process, this product will help you reach your goals.

My GUT Shrooms™ support healthy digestion with Turkey Tail, Postbiotics, and Black Pepper. Designed to help you maintain a healthy gut, the unique formula includes postbiotics, combining the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics in a shelf-stable super bioactive compound. These supplements provide your body with a supply of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids to support and promote a healthier digestive system.

My SLEEP Shrooms™ combine functional mushrooms and adaptogenic herbs that promote a sense of calm and support deep, restful sleep with a blend of Reishi mushrooms, Passionflower, and Valerian root. These ingredients promote natural sleep patterns and ease the body into deeper stages of slumber. Chamomile and Coriander help to induce sleepiness, and Tryptophan supports the natural production of Melatonin and Serotonin to encourage drowsiness.

“At Restorative, our mission has always been to help people ‘feel better, naturally’ with supplements made from the remarkable cannabis plant. We have now expanded our offering with functional mushrooms, herbal adaptogens, and nootropics,” said Bernard Perry, CEO of Restorative Botanicals. “These new life-changing products provide alternatives to conventional pharmaceuticals and improve the lives of our customers with Mother Nature-provided natural solutions.”

Restorative Botanicals’ functional mushroom line is now available for purchase on its website and will soon be available in natural grocery and health and wellness stores across the country. For Retail inquiries, contact David Sorley at davids@restorativebotanicals.com, or by phone at 720.684.6100.

Media and Wholesale Inquiries Contact: Rachael Carlevale, Email: rachaelc@restorativebotanicals.com, Phone: 720.684.6100

Click here to read the news release on the Restorative Botanicals website.

Steve Hoffman 3/27/23 Steve Hoffman 3/27/23

NoCo9 Kicks Off at the Broadmoor Resort Newly Renovated to Include Green Initiatives

The ninth annual NoCo Hemp Expo begins Tuesday with a charity golf tournament followed by three robust days of programming in Colorado Springs

LOVELAND, CO (March 27, 2023) – The 9th annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s most comprehensive hemp business conference and trade show, will kick off with the Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, a 10-hole golf tournament, from noon-4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28. Players will follow a special format as they enjoy the outing at the newly renovated Broadmoor Resort.

The golf courses are just one part of the historic Broadmoor that has been completely overhauled with green initiatives in mind. The courses have been redesigned to be certified Audubon Sanctuaries, a stringent process that requires restoration of native bird and wildlife habitats. Over 50 acres of highly maintained turf grass have been replaced with native varieties of grasses and wildflowers. Irrigation and water reduction measures have been updated.

“NoCo is excited to partner with the Broadmoor to produce this year’s event. The environmental measures they have taken mirror the commitment of many in the hemp community to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, who noted that the 2024 and 2025 NoCo Expos will also be held at the Broadmoor.

The resort has also been improved with a state-of-the-art energy management system, updated insulation and thermal windows, water conservation systems, venue-wide recycling of all possible materials and an electricity reduction program, among other environmental measures in the resort’s Green Initiatives program.

About NoCo9:

Schedule at a Glance
- Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, Tuesday, March 28
- Advocacy & Policy Conference, Wednesday, March 29
- Lake Terrace Welcome Party & WAFBA Awards of Excellence, Wednesday, March 29
- Business & Investment Conference, Thursday, March 30
- 2nd Annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, Thursday, March 30
- Agriculture & Academia Conference, Friday, March 31
- Experience Hemp Expo Hall, Thursday and Friday, March 30-31
- ”Garden of the Hemp Gods” NoCo9 After Party, Friday, March 31

Social and Networking Events at NoCo9:
Attendees can also expect a robust set of business networking and social opportunities, beginning with the WAFBA Awards of Excellence Celebration and Welcome Party on the evening of Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-9 p.m., the first day of NoCo Hemp Expo. Outstanding individuals and/or groups in the hemp industry will be recognized at the ceremony to be held during the event and will feature the music of Dave Beegle and Justin Boot and the G**Damn Ranchhand Band.

Closing the conference will be The Garden of the Hemp Gods Celebration -- The Official 2023 NoCo Hemp Expo After Party -- on Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m., where attendees can wind down, let loose and finish their visit with the high-energy rhythm and blues of Erica Brown and The Lionel Young Band. Festivities will continue until midnight in the beautiful Broadmoor Ballroom.

Experience Hemp Expo Hall – The World of Hemp Under One Roof
In addition to three days of comprehensive education, keynote presentations, workshops and seminars, NoCo9 will feature the Experience Hemp Expo Hall in The Broadmoor’s new, state-of-the-art exhibition facilities. Featuring a world of hemp and business opportunities, the Expo Hall will allow NoCo9 attendees to sample wares, learn about products and businesses, hold meetings and visit exhibitors. Hundreds of various hemp products and services will be available, including apparel, food, beverages, CBD supplements, body care, equipment, seeds and genetics, processing, manufacturing and white label services, raw materials and more. The Experience Hemp Expo Hall also will feature specialized zones, including:

Divita Hemp Block Demo Zone & Solution Circle – Visit this special educational zone on the trade show floor for solo presentations, panels, demos and workshops from experts and specialists innovating with hemp across all industries, from hemp textiles to medicinal applications of cannabinoids, to using hemp in artisan craft production, as well as in building and construction.

The Broadmoor Offers Special NoCo Hemp Expo Rates
NoCo Hemp Expo will take place March 29-31, 2023, at one of Colorado’s most historic resorts, The Broadmoor. With roots dating back to the late 1800s and located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs features a world-class setting, state-of-the-art meeting and convention space, a lake, walking paths, 36-hole golf course, spa, restaurants and lodging at a special rate for NoCo Hemp Expo attendees. Recently remodeled, The Broadmoor is committed to sustainability and has been awarded a Forbes Five-Star resort rating every year since 1960.

First Citizens Bank, EarthX, Patagonia Lead Distinguished Group of Sponsors
NoCo Hemp Expo is pleased to recognize our Sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor First Citizens Bank. “Having a leading, agriculture-focused financial institution such as First Citizens Bank, with its 100-plus-year history of serving farmers and ag-related businesses, step up and serve as Presenting Sponsor of this year’s NoCo Hemp Expo is a huge statement, providing vital credibility and legitimization for the industry at a time when it’s needed most,” said Beegle. “We’re also thrilled to welcome EarthX as our Environmental NGO partner and Patagonia as Sustainable Apparel Sponsor. Additional lead sponsors include Global Fiber Processing, Michael Best, CannaConsortium, Advanced Bio-Materials Technologies, Divita Hemp Block & Weaving Vibes. We are very excited about these categories to bring focus to areas where hemp can make a difference in sustainability and improving the environment.”

Exhibit and Sponsor
For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting, please visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/sponsors-and-exhibitors-request/

Register Here for NoCo9
Visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/

About NoCo Hemp Expo
For nearly a decade, NoCo Hemp Expo — the world’s most comprehensive industrial hemp exposition and conference — has brought together international business and government leaders, academics, nonprofits, media and the public to collaborate on important initiatives, opportunities and solutions for the future of a crop and an industry that can have significant positive impact on human, animal and planetary health.

The 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo is produced by We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA), a leading organization dedicated to the advancement and advocacy of hemp farming, processing, production, innovation, education and legalization. WAFBA also is the publisher of Let’s Talk Hemp, the industry’s leading news source. Learn more about the hemp and cannabis industry and subscribe to the latest news at www.letstalkhemp.com.

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 3/27/23 Steve Hoffman 3/27/23

Outdoor Channel’s WildFed Season 3 Emphasizes Modern-Day Hunting and Gathering, Ecology, Wild Foods and Culinary Adventure

WildFed host and Surthrival co-founder Daniel Vitalis helps people deepen their connection with the natural world.

BIDDEFORD, Maine (March 27, 2023) – WildFed, the wild-food culinary adventure series that offers a fresh take on outdoor television, is currently airing its third season on the Outdoor Channel and the Frndly TV app. In its biggest and best season ever, WildFed 2023 includes 10 shows highlighting adventures like prairie dog hunting in the Dakotas, the iconic alewife run in Maine, feasting with the world-renowned foraging expert Sam Thayer, hunting invasive species on the rugged island of Molokai and more.

WildFed, which airs on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. ET as part of the Outdoor Channel’s “Taste of the Wild” block, takes a thoughtful, artistic approach to modern-day hunting and gathering, with a strong emphasis on ecology. Every episode ends with a beautiful and delicious meal made with hunted, fished or foraged ingredients.

“We’ve been working hard to create a new niche in the hunting and outdoor media space, with a focus more on wild foods than hunting specifically,” says WildFed founder and host Daniel Vitalis. “We emphasize culinary adventure, ecological literacy, relationship with the landscape and great storytelling about species, people and food.”

After learning to hunt, fish and forage as an adult, Vitalis created WildFed to inspire others to start their own wild-food journeys. Along with his work with WildFed, Vitalis is a Registered Maine Guide, writer, public speaker, interviewer and lifestyle pioneer who co-founded the supplements and superfood company Surthrival in 2008.

Surthrival’s products, which include sustainably foraged black walnut protein powder, elk antler concentrate, bovine colostrum powder, reishi mushroom extract, vitamin D3/K2, and CBD for pets and people, are designed to help ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.

“I think of it as ‘empowerment fuel’ for performance, health, recovery and peace of mind,” Vitalis says.

Both Surthrival and WildFed are key parts of Vitalis’ mission to help people reconnect with wildness, both inside and outside themselves. For instance, in WildFed Season 3 Episode 10, “Snowshoe Hare and Black Walnuts,” Vitalis and Chef Tony Seichrist chase snowshoe hares with beagles across the frozen landscape, and then prepare a feast made with the snowshoe hares and black walnuts Vitalis harvested in Missouri alongside members of a family company devoted to wild food.

WildFed’s Season 3 lineup includes:

Episode 1 - Turkey and Brackenfern
Episode 2 - Alewives and Birch Syrup
Episode 3 - Black Buck and Wild Salad
Episode 4 - Prairie Dog and Prairie Turnip
Episode 5 - Wisconsin Crayfish, Berries and Cattails with Sam Thayer
Episode 6 - Axis Deer and Tropical Fruit Foraging
Episode 7 - Swordfish and Maryland Fish and Crabs
Episode 8 - Archery Deer, Mackerel and Mushroom
Episode 9 - Sea Duck and Autumn Olive
Episode 10 - Snowshoe Hare and Black Walnuts

Previews for each episode are available on the Outdoor Channel website, and all episodes are streamed on the Frndly TV app.

You can also deepen your connection with the natural world through hunting, fishing, foraging and, of course, food, via the WildFed podcast — which one user called “the most forward (yet backward) thinking hunting show out there, presenting the most well-rounded approach to being a human that is possible in the 21st century.”

About WildFed
WildFed is a show, podcast and lifestyle brand that integrates hunting, fishing, foraging and ecology with nutrition, cooking, community and outdoor adventure. Hosted by lifestyle pioneer Daniel Vitalis, co-founder of supplements and superfood company Surthrival, WildFed is designed to reconnect people with wildness through food. WildFed is dedicated to modern-day hunting and gathering methods that support healthy lifestyles for both people and the planet and that help sustain our wild future.

Follow WildFed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Surthrival
Based in Biddeford, Maine, Surthrival was founded in 2008 by LeighLon Anderson and Daniel Vitalis, star of the Outdoor Channel’s WildFed, to provide powerful, regenerative nutrients to support peak nutrition and optimal wellness. In addition to its best-selling bovine colostrum powder, Surthrival’s products include sustainably foraged black walnut protein powder, elk antler concentrate, reishi mushroom extract, vitamin D3/K2, and CBD for pets and people.

Follow Surthrival on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

For wholesale inquiries, contact wholesale@surthrival.com.

Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com

Steve Hoffman 3/21/23 Steve Hoffman 3/21/23

Golf Challenge Among Many Special Events at Hemp Expo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The ninth annual NoCo Hemp Expo will feature a 10-hole charity golf tournament as well as parties, music and networking opportunities.

What: 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo
When: March 29-31, 2023
Where: The Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO
Agenda: https://letstalkhemp.swoogo.com/nocohempexpo/agenda
Info: https://www.nocohempexpo.com/
Register for NoCo9 tickets: https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/

LOVELAND, CO (March 21, 2023) – The 9th annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s most comprehensive hemp business conference and trade show, will kick off with the Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, a 10-hole golf tournament, from noon-4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28. Players will follow a special format as they enjoy the outing at the world-class Broadmoor Resort. Proceeds will be donated to the Realm of Caring Foundation.

Founded in 2013, Realm of Caring (RoC) serves anyone in need of more information about cannabinoid therapies. Through revolutionary research, innovative education, and life-changing grants, RoC seeks to facilitate and encourage the mainstream acceptance of transformative, plant-powered therapies to benefit individuals and families and serve health care providers as well as the hemp and cannabis industries.

“NoCo is happy to be able to support Realm of Caring with an event that will allow conference attendees to get out, do good and have some fun together,” said Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo and president and founder of We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA). His company Tree Free Hemp, a hemp paper company, is sponsoring the golf tournament.

Social and Networking Events at NoCo9:
Attendees can also expect a robust set of business networking and social opportunities, beginning with the WAFBA Awards of Excellence Celebration and Welcome Party on the evening of Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-9 p.m., the first day of NoCo Hemp Expo. Outstanding individuals and/or groups in the hemp industry will be recognized at a ceremony to be held during the event and will feature the music of Dave Beegle and Justin Boot and the G**Damn Ranchhand Band.

Closing the conference will be The Garden of the Hemp Gods Celebration -- the Official 2023 NoCo Hemp Expo After Party -- on Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m., when attendees can relax and finish their visit with the smooth sound of Erica Brown and The Lionel Young Band. Festivities will continue until midnight in the beautiful Broadmoor Ballroom.

About NoCo9:

Schedule at a Glance
– Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, Tuesday, March 28
– Advocacy & Policy Conference, Wednesday, March 29
– Lake Terrace Welcome Party & WAFBA Awards of Excellence, Wednesday, March 29
– Business & Investment Conference, Thursday, March 30
– 2nd Annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, Thursday, March 30
– Agriculture & Academia Conference, Friday, March 31
– Experience Hemp Expo Hall, Thursday and Friday, March 30-31
– “Garden of the Hemp Gods” NoCo9 After Party, Friday, March 31

Exhibit and Sponsor
For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting, please visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/sponsors-and-exhibitors-request/

Register Here for NoCo9
Visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 3/14/23 Steve Hoffman 3/14/23

Finalists Announced for NoCo Hemp Pitch Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The second annual NoCo Hemp Pitch will feature six companies selected to vie for over $10,000 in legal fees and other services.

LOVELAND, CO (March 14, 2023) – As hemp industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, policymakers and advocates prepare to convene at the 9th annual NoCo Hemp Expo, the world’s most comprehensive hemp business conference and trade show, on March 29-31, 2023, at the historic Broadmoor Resort & Convention Center in Colorado Springs, finalists have been announced for the annual Hemp Pitch Competition.

“We are excited to see what these innovators bring to this year’s competition and how they are making a difference in the hemp industry,” said Morris Beegle, producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, and president and founder of We Are For Better Alternatives (WAFBA).

Sponsored by Michael Best, a leading law firm serving the hemp and cannabis markets, along with BuildMySOP and AVL, the NoCo Hemp Pitch competition features six companies looking to elevate their business and receive the exposure and resources they need to take their brand or idea to the next level. Prizes include more than $10,000 in value in legal fees and other services, including a complimentary 10x10 booth and seed sponsorship for next year’s NoCo Expo.

Finalists Selected for NoCo Pitch Competition:

Airetage is a sustainable fashion brand based in Chicago. Founded by Miles Lazar, the company produces high-quality hemp clothing for the conscientious consumer. Airetage’s products are made with a textile-grade hemp fabric blend that includes cannabis agri-waste.

Bee Delightful, led by Skyler Johnstone and master beekeeper Daniel Weaver, produces wildflower honey from their rescue bees in Central Texas and infuses the raw honey with a carefully extracted, naturally occurring cannabidiol (CBD) from organic hemp farms in Colorado, Oregon and Kentucky.

JuiceTiva, founded by Chris Boucher and his wife, Jen Hutchinson, is a family owned business based in San Diego that delivers bioavailable, raw, live juice powder, with a high amount of CBDa per serving.

Pure BioPlastics, led by Ed Lehrburger out of Colorado, creates hemp fiber produced by PureHemp, which has been manufactured and sold into various markets to make first-generation hemp plastics. During the past five years, the company has developed a new technology to convert hemp stalks into 100% bioplastics (second-generation hemp plastics).

Regennabis, co-founded by Patrick McCartan and Geoff Trotter, delivers advisory, membership, events and investment services to the global cannabis and hemp industries, as well as to “canna-curious” Fortune 500 companies seeking insights into these nascent sectors.

Trusted Harvest Exchange, based in Colorado, is a proprietary contract platform led by William "Kyle" Guy that helps farmers, processors and end-use manufacturers get deals done faster, more reliably and with less risk. The platform performs contract execution, hemp regulatory compliance and carbon data management.

The finalists will have six minutes to pitch in front of a live audience and will be judged by hemp industry start-up consultants, attorneys and investors.

About NoCo9:

Schedule at a Glance
- Tree Free Hemp Charity Golf Challenge, Tuesday, March 28
- Advocacy & Policy Conference, Wednesday, March 29
- Lake Terrace Welcome Party & WAFBA Awards of Excellence, Wednesday, March 29
- Business & Investment Conference, Thursday, March 30
- 2nd Annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, Thursday, March 30
- Agriculture & Academia Conference, Friday, March 31
- Experience Hemp Expo Hall, Thursday and Friday, March 30-31
- “Garden of the Hemp Gods” NoCo9 After Party, Friday, March 31

Exhibit and Sponsor
For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting, please visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/sponsors-and-exhibitors-request/

Register Here for NoCo9
Visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 3/7/23 Steve Hoffman 3/7/23

Full Program for NoCo Hemp Expo 2023 Now Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Interactive site provides attendees with time, day and speaker information for the NoCo9 Hemp Expo, set for March 29-31 in Colorado Springs

LOVELAND, CO (March 7, 2023) – The 9th Annual NoCo Hemp Expo has released an interactive agenda feature listing all sessions for the upcoming conference in Colorado Springs. Attendees can peruse the listings and click on the sessions for speaker details. The feature will be updated with session descriptions and other information in the weeks leading up to the March 29-31 conference.

The agenda features three full days of programming. Tickets can be purchased in an array of combinations and a la carte purchase options for the show floor, all inclusive, or separate entrance for the Advocacy and Policy, Business and Investment, and Agriculture and Academia segments offered on each of the three show days. Tickets are available here.

Attendees can also expect a robust set of business networking and social opportunities, beginning with the WAFBA Awards of Excellence Celebration and Welcome Party on the evening of Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-9 p.m., the first day of NoCo Hemp Expo. Outstanding individuals and/or groups in the hemp industry will be recognized at the ceremony to be held during the event and will feature the music of Dave Beegle and Justin Boots. Closing the conference will be an afterparty on Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m., when attendees can relax and finish their visit with the smooth sound of Erica Brown and DJ JazzyTones.

About NoCo9:

*The Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs.*

Schedule at a Glance
- Advocacy & Policy Conference, Wednesday, March 29
- Lake Terrace Welcome Party & WAFBA Awards of Excellence, Wednesday, March 29
- Business & Investment Conference, Thursday, March 30
- 2nd Annual NoCo Hemp Pitch, Thursday, March 30
- Agriculture & Academia Conference, Friday, March 31
- Experience Hemp Expo Hall, Thursday and Friday, March 30-31
- “Garden of the Hemp Gods” NoCo9 After Party, Friday, March 31

Exhibit and Sponsor
For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting, please visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/sponsors-and-exhibitors-request/

Register Here for NoCo9
Visit https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ticket-sales/

Contact
Morris Beegle, WAFBA, info@nocohempexpo.com
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com, tel 303.807.1042

Steve Hoffman 3/4/23 Steve Hoffman 3/4/23

Creating the Silicon Valley of Natural Food: Q&A With Entrepreneur Steve Hughes

In 1997, Steve Hughes was named CEO of Boulder, Colo.-based Celestial Seasonings tea company. Although he came from a conventional food background, Hughes quickly saw the potential of the natural foods movement—and he realized that Boulder was one of its epicenters. Along with local first-generation natural products company founders like Steve Demos and Mark Retzloff, Hughes was instrumental in turning Boulder into what he calls “the Silicon Valley of natural and organic food.”

For more than 25 years, Hughes has helped build some of the natural products industry’s iconic brands. After leaving Celestial Seasonings, Hughes moved on to serve as CEO of Frontier Natural Products. He then built Boulder Brands, which launched EVOL Foods, Udi’s, Smart Balance, Earth Balance and other brands. Seven years ago, Hughes founded Sunrise Strategic Partners, which is now one of the leading investment firms in the natural channel.

*Steve Hughes, CEO & co-founder of Sunrise Strategic Partners.*

At Sunrise, Hughes identifies and invests in brands in trending categories that are transforming the healthy, active and sustainable-living space. Sunrise recently merged two companies in its portfolio—Teton Waters Ranch and Sun Fed Ranch—to create the industry’s leading grass-fed/finished-beef platform dedicated to regenerative agriculture. Other Sunrise investments include Maple Hill Creamery, which produces 100% grass-fed, organic dairy products, and Kodiak Cakes, which produces whole-grain, high-protein pancake and waffle mixes.

Hughes recently reminisced about his experience in the natural products industry and shared his predictions about the future on the podcast Compass Coffee Talk, co-hosted by industry veterans Bill Capsalis and Steven Hoffman and sponsored by PRESENCE Marketing, Naturally Boulder, Naturally San Diego and Naturally New York.

Read on to learn more about Hughes’ perspectives on brand building, hot investments in the natural products space, regenerative agriculture, the top components of a good business model and more.

Q: Over the years, you’ve really kept your eye on how to build brands, how to consolidate and scale, and how investments and economics affect the natural products marketplace. How is all of that going so far in 2023?
For 25 years, there was nothing but capital, increasing almost every year. If you had a good idea, you could probably get some funding to get started. But what happened last spring was that the pendulum kind of swung back the other way. People were less prepared to invest in companies that maybe had a great idea but not a great business model.

There are a couple of reasons why this happened. First of all, the Fed started making money more expensive. And then there was a lineup of natural brands that went public, like Beyond Meat, Oatly, Tattooed Chef. They came out of the box trading well above their IPO price, but they were businesses that had great top lines without very good business models. They were losing money, and they’re now trading 95%, 90% below their IPO price. That has really cooled off investors looking to take the big swing at high-growth, not-great-business-model kind of companies.

Before, this capital was pretty patient. They’d invest in a company, and if that company was losing money but the business was growing, they’d keep funding the business. But that changed pretty dramatically pretty quickly. I think there’s a little bit of retrenchment now, and I think it’s going to be with us for a while because interest rates are not going down anytime soon. They’re probably going up.

Q: What does that mean for natural products companies looking for investors currently or in the near future?
I think when you look at the lineup of companies that went public in 2020 and 2021 and how they’ve performed in the public space, it’s given investors a real pause about, OK, what are the rules? What has to happen for a company to be successful today? I think the answer is a bit different than it was a year or two or three years ago.

If you’re a company that’s got some scale and making money, I would just be really prudent now and be patient and grow and protect your bottom line. But if you’re a smaller company that isn’t cash-flow positive, you’ve got to get cash-flow positive. You’re not going to get funded, or if you do get funded, you’re not going to like the terms of that funding.

I think what we did with Teton and SunFed Ranch is a good example. These are two pretty good-sized companies, at about $60 million each. They had just turned profitable, but we figured if we put the two of them together and created Grass Fed Foods, we’d end up with a $120 million business growing 30% plus, making good money.

That’s one model. The other model I call “safety in numbers.” If you're a smaller company that’s underfunded, is losing money and can’t get funding, think about other brands in your category that are complementary and are facing the exact same issue. Could they or should they be trying to merge? I think that’s going to be the theme over the next 18 months—call it the mini-merger, where you get two or three small companies in the same category that together are profitable.

Q: Grass Fed Foods just recently launched. Can you tell us more about how it came about?
We invested in Teton Waters Ranch, which was grass-fed hot dogs and dinner sausages, six years ago. They were sourcing most of their raw material out of Tasmania, which is the ideal place in the world to get grass-fed meat. We built that business, got it to $60 million. But there was nobody to scale in the grass-fed space.

One of the challenges for regenerative agriculture companies like Teton is for the company to get the scale, so the retailers and food-service operators can really have confidence they can lean into it and get the product supplied properly and professionally. My partner, Vince, kept knocking on doors, saying, “If we could get two of these companies together, we could clear the field and be the largest.”

Then, I met Chris and Matt from SunFed five years ago at Expo. They’re sixth-generation ranchers in Northern California that do fresh grass-fed meat—what goes in the butcher case, what goes on the table at the restaurant. They had gotten SunFed to $60, $70 million at that time.

So, we had these two beautifully complementary companies—one doing prepared meat with an international source, one doing fresh meat with a domestic source. The big challenge was this was going to require somebody who really knew what they were doing to put these two together. We brought in Jeff Tripician, who had spent 15 years in premium protein with Niman Ranch and Coleman Natural Foods and had successful exits on both. So now we’ve got a scaled business with a guy who’s been there, done that—a guy with a playbook.

We invested in Teton when it was a $3 million business and today, it’s part of a $120 million platform. This is the largest grass-fed beef platform in the space, and I think it’s going to ramp and grow very quickly. This is really going to be a rocket ship. This could be the biggest outcome in Sunrise history.

Q: Can you talk a little bit more about the regenerative agriculture you’re promoting with Grass Fed Foods and other companies?
At Sunrise, we really felt six years ago that regen agriculture is going to be perhaps the biggest fundamental mega trend of the next 20 years—because, basically, it’s back to the future. It’s how we did it 100 years ago before we industrialized our meat supply and dairy industry. It’s better for the earth. So, we’ve put about probably 40% of our capital into this space.

One of the companies we invested in is Maple Hill Creamery, which is America’s first and only 100% grass-fed organic dairy milkshed, with over 150 farms. There are so many great positives to their regen agriculture business model.

First of all, they rotate the cows around the milkshed every three days. This makes the grass look like you haven’t cut it in three years—like how it used to be on dairy farms. The cows are also productive until they’re 14 years old, whereas an organic cow might be productive only until age 4.

A calf never gets an ounce of the mother’s milk on an organic farm. They get their own formula. But we incentivize Maple Hill farmers to wean, to have the calves on the mom for eight months. That makes the chemistry of the milk different, and better for the consumer. Cows are naturally wired to eat grass—they have four stomachs for that reason—and their grass-fed milk is a different chemistry than the milk from cows fed grain.

We launched Maple Hill Milk into Whole Foods. Our best item at Boulder Brands, Earth Balance margarine, sold $85 a week per store at Whole Foods. But after just 90 days, half gallons of whole milk from Maple Hill were going $600 a week per store. So, the consumer gets it. A challenge for us is to get the products there in an economical way that they can afford.

We were smaller, later-term investors in Vital Farms, which produces eggs, butter and ghee in the regen agriculture space, and it’s really exciting to see what’s happened with that business. It’s one of those that came out in the class of 2020 IPOs that traded way up, but is now normalized back to a pretty good place. It’s $15-a-share stock, and I think they've got nothing but white space in front of them.

Q: Speaking about brand development, we have a question from a listener: “What are the basic three to five general components of a great business model?”
Well, the first ideal is a highly differentiated, meaningful point of difference, ideally attaching an untapped consumer need. You’re looking for something the consumer’s ready for but isn’t on the market yet, like Maple Hill milk.

The second thing is margin. If you're a 50% gross-margin business, your ability to get the cash flow to break even quickly is there. But if you’re a 20% gross-margin business, you’ve got a long road to go and a lot of wood to chop.

The third is talent. To get to a business of $10, $15 million, you’ve got to almost be manic, right? You’re spending your own money. You’re spending nickels like manhole covers. You make every decision, because you’re on the line. But when your business starts to scale, you need to have the ability to bring in the “been-there, done-that” talent and be able to manage that talent. And that’s a challenge, because people that have been successful, that have been with bigger businesses and then come to smaller businesses, have a different business-management model.

Once we get the right CEO in place, the folks across our businesses see that, really, almost overnight, they start making the kind of progress and traction they need to get to scale the business.

Q: Can you give us an example, like how that applies to Kodiak Cakes? We know this is a story you’re really proud of personally, and there’s even a “How I Built This” podcast on NPR about Kodiak.
Kodiak is probably my favorite business experience. I got a call from my partner Jamie Manges at Trilantic Capital Partners, and he said he knew somebody who knew Kodiak co-founder Joel Clark, and Joel was getting ready to take in capital. So, I went on the internet, and they had the hokiest video of a trailer, which is their office, and a bear breaking into it, right? I thought, “This is something. OK, I’m just doing Jamie a favor. OK, I'm that kind of guy.”

Kodiak’s point of difference was a whole-wheat, high-protein alternative to white refined flour, which meant it could play in any category white refined flour is in. When Joel came to see me, Kodiak was at $15 million. It was at Costco and Target.

Joel showed me his deck, and when I got to the second page, I went, “Holy smokes, Joel, this is a billion-dollar brand.” He went, “What are you talking about?” I said, “Joel, you have got a 20 share of pancake-mix business at Target, and the category's up 20%. The category nationally is up 2%. You’re bringing millennial moms with money to Target to buy pancake mixes.”

So, we partnered up with Joel, and it was fascinating. It was just a great collaboration. Joel has got such great business and brand instincts. His business IQ is off the charts.

We came up with what we call the Kodiak Cabin. The foundation of the cabin is pancake mixes in 25,000 doors. The first floor is baking mixes in 25,000 doors. The second floor is all of that in a cup you can microwave in a minute. Then, the third floor is frozen waffles.

Kodiak went from $20 million to $200 million when we sold the majority of the control to Catterton 18 months ago. When I spoke to Joel recently, he was at $350 million.

Two years before he met us, Joel and Cam, his partner, were on “Shark Tank.” They were told all the reasons they weren’t going to be successful. I think they offered Joel $500,000 for half of the company. And, he said no, wisely.

I’m kind of a brand junkie and a trend junkie. I’ve been on some of the great rides in this industry. But working with Joel on this one was so special because it was so personal. All of his family had equity in the business, and he got to an extraordinary outcome. To have a small part in helping him do that is so great.

Q: Finally, what’s on the horizon for you personally? What kind of work is exciting for you right now?
I love looking for the next new thing. As I said earlier, I think products that revert us back to the basics are an untapped consumer need, whether it’s grass-fed meat and dairy or heirloom grains.

I’ve been talking with one company that’s doing stone-ground milling the old way. This company has just gotten started. They’re in the Northeast in Whole Foods, and they’re outselling Dave’s Killer Bagels by 50%, 75%. So, the consumer gets it, right? But one of the big challenges companies like this have is capital.

I also like resolving the disconnect between what a company founder says their unique point of difference is and what their product package says. One of the things we learned at Sunrise over the years is that you have your story, your concept statement. You want that to be 40%, 50% top-box resonating with your target consumer. But you want to make sure your package reflects that concept too. Because the reality is that for these small, emerging companies, 99.9% of their marketing budgets are package.

This industry is so dynamic, and while it’s going to go through different peaks and cycles, I think it’s just fascinating to see how many brilliant and caring people are in this industry. I think a young founder can reach out to anybody in this town and get a cup of coffee. I think that’s something we need to continue to nurture and build on, because there are tougher days ahead.

I've gotten a lot of great things out of this industry, a lot of great friends, a lot of great experiences. I’ve done well. It’s been great for my family, and I want to give back a little bit, and not necessarily with a price tag to it—just to help out where I can.

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