The Well Exhibited at Newtopia Now and Co-Hosted a Private Reception with RodeoCPG and Entrepreneur Ventures in Denver

September 10, 2024 – The Well professional network, a membership-based organization committed to empowering the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and wellness community, exhibited at the inaugural Newtopia Now trade show in Denver, and also hosted a private reception with RodeoCPG and Entrepreneur Ventures presented by VENDO and Morrison Foerster, which drew a strong turnout and benefitted Wellfare, a nonprofit that helps support food-insecure communities.

The Well exhibited at Newtopia Now August 26-27 in Denver, held for the first time by the organizers of the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim, California. To coincide with Newtopia, The Well co-hosted a private reception with RodeoCPG and Entrepreneur Ventures on August 26 at the Clayton Club, which was attended by over 200 brand founders, advisors, investors and members of the Denver Angels network.

We had a solid turnout of industry guests at a superb venue in Denver,” said Zach DeAngelo, CEO of RodeoCPG, a tech platform based in Colorado that empowers CPG brands through data-driven insights, operations excellence and sales growth. He added, “It was awesome to welcome founders and friends to Colorado, which has a robust ecosystem that has launched so many successful natural brands. We look forward to the return of Newtopia next year and hosting this special event again.”

“We were happy to continue our partnership with The Well, which began soon after the launch of Entrepreneur Ventures this Spring and took place during NY TechWeek in June, as we are both aligned in connecting promising founders and engaged investors in the consumer and other industries,” said Jonathan Hung, General Partner of Entrepreneur Ventures. Entrepreneur Ventures also hosted other events in Denver with its investor partners and companies in its investment portfolio, including Chubby Cattle, and met with potential new partners at Newtopia. He added, “We enjoyed getting to know the Denver investment ecosystem and look forward to partnering with The Well next month for LA TechWeek with a ‘Pitch & Panel’ event on October 15 in Los Angeles.”

“Events like these are a huge boost for Wellfare and help bring more partners, donors and supporters into our mission,” said Cole Riley, CEO of Wellfare. “Every day, we’re delivering the best of better-for-you to communities in need and that’s only made possible by this incredible CPG ecosystem and mission-driven groups like The Well.”

Presenting sponsors VENDO and Morrison Foerster and other reception supporters shared remarks about their platforms and engagement with the CPG industry. Guests also heard from representatives of the Denver Angels investors network and TikTok Shop.

“We participated in Newtopia since we had several clients including TRIP Drinks exhibit at the trade show, and really wanted to have a strong showing this year by becoming one of the presenting sponsors of the reception,” said Yoji Cole, Senior Director of Business Development at VENDO, a 360° digital growth agency specializing in online marketplaces Amazon and Walmart.com, among others

“Our firm and our clients showed up in force to this reception, given our significant presence of attorneys in the Denver market and clientele among local and national CPG brands,” said Chuck Cotter, partner with Morrison Foerster and one of the presenting sponsors of the reception.

Other sponsors included Governess a leading brand messaging and design agency supporting the CPG industry and Harrison Co., a consumer-focused investment bank and M&A advisory working exclusively with business owners and operators.

“It has been an absolute privilege to be part of The Well’s mission to elevate the CPG ecosystem nationwide,” said Melissa Blaser, founder of Governess. “From the innovative programs we support in SoCal, where our agency is based, to exciting industry gatherings like the reception at Newtopia in Denver, we are proud to help foster collaboration and drive growth amongst brands and like-minded partners across the country.”

Reception partners included Assembled Brands, Konnect Agency, MFD and SecureCPG.  In addition, reception supporters included The TeaBook, which also exhibited at Newtopia Now, in addition to Capital One, Oishii and Glimpse.

“Newtopia was an ideal show for our debut since it’s also the first year for the show,” said Nira Paliwoda, Co-Founder of The Well and Founder of US Veg Corp.  “We can grow together and look forward to future trade shows.  In fact, we’re planning for a special event focused on women leaders and female-focused innovation in the CPG industry, to take place during the Natural Products Expo West show in March 2025 coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the launch of The Well. Stay tuned!”

For more information about the press release, please contact: mark@followthewell.com.



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AAAP: Novel APEC serogroup pathogenicity

Novel APEC serogroups O152 and O145 caused the highest embryonic mortality


11 September 2024


2 minute read

[Excerpts of a poster presentation by Klao Runcharoon and colleagues, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, during the 2024 annual conference of the American Association of Avian Pathologists]

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes colibacillosis resulting in systemic or localized infections in poultry including airsacculitis, septicemia, pericarditis, perihepatitis, salpingitis, and cellulitis. Serogrouping based on the detection of somatic O-antigens is a useful tool to classify APEC and relate to disease pathogenicity. There are approximately 188 E. coli serogroups and the most common types associated with colibacillosis include O1, O2, and O78.

However, our APEC collection from avians diagnosed with colibacillosis in Georgia poultry populations has identified emerging serogroups with limited information on their pathogenicity. Therefore, the pathogenicity features of these emerging serogroups were evaluated using multiple approaches including the serum resistance assay, embryo lethality assay, and chick challenge assay.

We selected 10 novel APEC strains from our collection which included serogroups O25, O15, O91, O152, O161, O86, O88, O115, O62/O68 and O45. We tested their ability to grow in chicken serum in 96 well-plates. A bacterial suspension was added to the chicken serum and adjusted to a concentration of 106 colony-forming units (CFU/mL). Serum was removed from each well at 0 and after 4 hours incubation at 40◦C. The suspensions were diluted and plated and the CFU was determined after 24 hours of incubation. All selected APEC serogroups except O25 were resistant to serum.

For the assay, 12 day of age embryonic eggs were injected with 300-500 CFU/0.1 mL of each strain via the allantoic fluid. Embryos were candled daily for five consecutive days, and deaths were recorded. The results showed that the highest mortality (100%) was found for APEC serogroups O152 and O145, while O88 caused only 50% mortality. Further assessment of the pathogenicity in chicks was also performed using a chick challenge assay. Twelve one-day-old chicks per group were inoculated subcutaneously with 108 CFU/0.1 mL of the bacterial strain. Times of death and clinical scores were combined to give pathogenicity scores.

E. coli isolates that killed >50%, 10%-50%, and 0-10% of chicks were considered as virulent, moderately virulent, and avirulent, respectively. Analysis found that O15, O91, and O88 had significantly lower (p< 0.05) pathogenicity scores than the positive control group APEC O18. Serogroups O25, O152, O115, and O45 had numerically higher pathogenicity scores than the positive control group.

Overall, the novel APEC strains exhibited different degrees of pathogenicity in both in vivo and in vitro assays. Some strains showed high virulence in all assays while some were less virulent warranting further investigation of their pathogenicity in older birds to establish new protection plans against these emerging serogroups.





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Little Bites introduces Biggie Muffins

Little Bites Snacks is going big. Introducing Little Bites Biggie Muffins, available in two flavors: Bring on the Party Cake, and Feelin’ Chocolate Chippy.

The muffins are more than twice the size of classic Little Bites muffins. Bring on The Party Cake features a vanilla base and colorful sprinkles, and Feelin’ Chocolate Chippy is made with real chocolate. Both varieties are free from high fructose corn syrup.

Little Bites Biggie Muffins come in two new pack sizes: 8 muffins that are individually wrapped in 4 twin packs and a single-serve 4-pack designed for convenience. They will be available for purchase at Kroger starting September 9 and most major retailers beginning in October. The 4-ct. will retail for $1.99 and the 8-pack will retail for $5.79.

Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. is on the current Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery “Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Top 50” rankings.



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How is the US animal-free dairy protein market shaping up?

Danish company 21st.BIO has become the latest company to have achieved a self-affirmed GRAS status for its beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) ingredient, bringing another precision fermentation-derived, animal-free whey protein ingredient to the US market.

The company – which part-licenses its fermentation technology from Novonesis – says the ingredient is ‘highly nutritious’ and can be used in the food industry as well as the medical, adult and sports nutrition space.

In the US, it will be available under license to manufacturers who wish to scale-up its production. It’s the first food protein that the Denmark and California-based firm is making available through its development program, which includes supporting protein producers in taking their products to market, from upscaling production to achieving regulatory approval.

But is there enough new product development activity to justify the level of supply that the US market is seeing from protein producers?

Animal-free dairy protein: busted flush or nutritional powerhouse?

The US is the largest global market where regulators deem fermentation-derived proteins safe for human consumption, paving the whey for food innovations such as cow-free ice cream and other dairy alternatives with improved functionality compared to plant-based products. In the nutrition sector, manufacturers are also betting on cow-free ingredients, including for innovations such as hybrid protein powder.

Besides 21st​.BIO, Perfect Day, Vivici, Remilk, and ImaginDairy are the other players that have obtained a self-affirmed GRAS status for BLG derived through precision fermentation, making the US fermentation-derived protein market a relatively crowded space given its niche status in the overall dairy alternatives industry.

Elsewhere, New Culture’s cow-free casein has been used to create vegan mozzarella, which has in turn featured on the menu of chef Nancy Silverton’s Pizzeria Mozza. And TurtleTree, which makes GRAS-certified animal-free lactoferrin, recently partnered with nutrition company Strive to launch an immunity-boosting beverage aimed at the adult nutrition and ready-to-mix protein powder market.

In the consumer food space, however, a mixed picture.

In 2023, Perfect Day told AgFunderNews​ it would sell its consumer products arm The Urgent Company in order to focus on B2B; the company has since made leadership changes and partnered with ice cream maker Breyers​, a Unilever company, to manufacture cow-free dairy ice cream. But Unilever has since announced it would spin-off its entire ice cream division as part of a cost-cutting productivity plan, leaving the fate of its brands hanging in the balance. 

General Mills also chose to shut down its animal-free cream cheese brand Bold Cultr​ – weeks before a planned expansion into retail. Nestlé too briefly explored cow-free dairy​ in a partnership with Perfect Day.

At the same time, the likes of Strive’s FreeMilk and Bored Cow’s animal-free milk alternatives form part of the success stories within the category in US food retail.

R&D rumblings signal future NPD potential

Dairy heavyweights such as Danone, Leprino Foods Company and the Bel Group are working behind the scenes to leverage animal-free proteins and come up with superior dairy alternatives in their respective portfolios. Leprino’s partnership with Fooditive has made the mozzarella major the exclusive rightsholder for its fermentation-derived casein​; and Danone wants to bring precision fermentation to the masses through a France-based project​. The Bel Group​ is also working with numerous foodtech companies to develop functionally and nutritionally-superior cheeses.

All this suggests there’s more to come from the animal-free dairy alternatives space.



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Ideal conditions prompt early start to sorghum plant

Sorghum planted in late August starting to show growth in the Moree region. Photo: Ben Boughton

SORGHUM planting has started early on southern Queensland’s Darling Downs and in northern New South Wales as growers take advantage of ideal soil moisture and warmer-than-usual temperatures.

Several areas west and south of Dalby have made significant progress following 40-50mm of mid-August rain in a usually dry month.

AgForce grains president and Warra grower Brendan Taylor said it was rare to have much sorghum planted so early in the season, and that he has finished planting all his intended sorghum area.

“This hasn’t happened in September for a long time, let alone August,” Mr Taylor said.

“Most of the sorghum in my part of the world is in and some of it would be already out of the ground.”

He said growers took advantage of the uncommon combination of warm temperatures and pre-sowing rainfall.

“Usually when we try and sow as early as we can, late August if it is wet enough, it’s usually too cold and we don’t have the soil temperatures to get good germination.

“If it’s warm enough, it’s usually not wet enough.

“This time we have had both line up; we’ve had warm temperatures and moisture, which doesn’t happen very often.”

Nutrien Dalby senior agronomist Ross Pomeroy said the area of early plantings would decrease east of Dalby and in the suthern Downs.

“Where we get into the central and southern Downs, there is substantially less planting because it’s not wet enough,” Mr Pomeroy said.

He said the week of temperatures about 5-6 degrees above average has boosted the crops’ early development.

“Most of the sorghum was out in seven days, which is not what I expected.

“I still expected it to be 10-15 days but because of those warmer conditions, it bolted out of the ground.”

Parts of NSW progress

Also taking advantage of the August rainfall are northern NSW growers.

AMPS Moree agronomist Tony Lockrey said there was “lots of sorghum go in over the last 10 days, mainly north and west of Moree”.

He said, like the Darling Downs, planting had begun weeks earlier than in a traditional season.

“We planted in August once before when the conditions were right,” Mr Lockrey said.

Mr Lockrey said he expected area to be “down a bit from last season”.

In the Liverpool Plains, growers are waiting for conditions to improve before opting to start planting.

Hunt Ag Solutions principal Jim Hunt said small patches between Narrabri and Boggabri may have been planted.

“We’re probably not going to start for a couple of weeks,” Mr Hunt said.

“For the Liverpool Plains, we’re a bit cold and we need a sowing rain before getting started.”

He said this start date would be more in line with the region’s “best window”, commencing late September to early October.

Mr Hunt said he anticipates growers to plant a “traditional” area to sorghum this season.

He said cotton was also an attractive option for growers this season.

“We have cotton destined to go in.

“It will certainly be a contest between cotton and sorghum.”

Area to increase: ABARES

ABARES September Crop Report released last week forecast the area planted to sorghum to increase by 5 percent to 622,000ha in 2024-25.

Production is also expected to rise by 9pc to 2.4 million tonnes (Mt).

In its report, ABARES points to “higher expected margins for sorghum relative to cotton” as the driver of increased production.

“High levels of stored soil moisture and the favourable climatic outlook is expected to boost grower confidence and planting intentions, leading to an increase in the area allocated to sorghum,” the report said.

Queensland and NSW both look set to increase production on 2023-24 levels.

Sorghum production is expected to increase 10pc to 1.7Mt in Queensland from 440,000ha.

NSW is forecast to produce 750,000t, an increase of 6pc on last season and 45pc above the 10-year average to 2023-24.

The report indicated that a “favourable spring rainfall outlook” would likely boost average yields across both states.

“The increased chance of above average spring rainfall and above average soil moisture levels are expected to support the production potential of sorghum crops,” the report said.

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Posted on Author Categories Crops

Connie and Bill Gillen encourage pick-your-own at Sunset Farm in Amherst

At Sunset Farm in Amherst, owners Connie and Bill Gillen have integrated the social fabric of community into the core of their farming operations. Located conveniently within walking and biking distance from the University of Massachusetts campus, this 10-acre farm specializes in vegetables and flowers, fostering a unique pick-your-own model that invites neighbors, students, and visitors to engage directly with the land.

The Gillens, who ventured into farming over five decades ago alongside their respective careers in psychology and architecture, draw upon a rich family history of farming dating back to the 1860s in Brooklyn, New York. Today, Sunset Farm is not only a testament to agricultural resilience but also a living museum showcasing functional farming history through its vintage tractor collection, including a Ford 9N from 1937 and a blue 8N from 1948.

Sunset Farm’s unconventional approach extends to its crop management and visitor experience. With 100 labeled rows of crops and a golf cart for easy navigation, the farm encourages self-harvesting, supported by daily email updates from “The Gillen Collaborative” that blend agricultural education with social commentary. This communication strategy not only informs but also builds a sense of community among the farm’s followers.

While the farm’s produce range is extensive, with 800-1,000 tomato plants among other vegetables, it notably excludes common pick-your-own fruits like blueberries, focusing instead on watermelons and cantaloupes. This choice reflects the Gillens’ commitment to offering crops that resonate with the diverse backgrounds of their visitors, including unique varieties that appeal to international communities in Amherst.

The social interactions fostered by Sunset Farm extend beyond the picking seasons, with events like the annual chestnut harvest becoming community traditions. Bill Gillen’s philosophy that “nature has a schedule” underscores the farm’s alignment with the natural rhythms of the land, inviting the community to partake in the bounty at its peak.

Aside from the pick-your-own experience, Sunset Farm maintains a presence at the Amherst Farmers Market, where it has been a staple for over 50 years, and operates a 24/7 farm stand known for its vibrant yellow hue and historic significance to Amherst’s town common.

Read the full article on Amherst Bulletin.



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Posted on Author Categories Produce

Yelp highlights ‘summerween’ as a top current trend

Spooky season is haunting the summer months. As we slowly transition from the heat of the current season to the cooling of the next one, people are showing their readiness for Halloween. This early preparation is known as ‘summerween’.

Yelp finds that consumers are already planning for Halloween festivities, with searches for popular costume chain Spirit Halloween up 83 percent, and searches for Halloween events up 130 percent, corn mazes up 30 percent and pumpkin patch up 24 percent.

Last month, we saw the pumpkin spice latte debut earlier than ever, and now people are planning their costumes months in advance and filling their calendars with Halloween activities like watching the newly-release Beetlejuice Beetlejuice in theaters.

This unofficial holiday season has inevitably led to an increase in spending. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF)’s research, last year’s total Halloween spending was expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding 2022’s record of $10.6 billion.

In 2024, the trend has really taken off in popularity thanks to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Retailers can look to take advantage by introducing limited time offers (LTOs) earlier than ever.

Another trend in the food and beverage world this month is multi-colored matcha. From orange matcha to blueberry matcha, vibrant hues are the latest craze for tea lovers. Yelp data shows combinations such as orange matcha (595 percent), strawberry matcha (240 percent) and blueberry matcha (176 percent) are heavily on the rise.



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Alistair Carmichael elected as new EFRA chair

Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael has been elected as the new chair of the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which scrutinises Defra’s work in parliament. 

The MP for Orkney and Shetland, who held the role of Scottish Secretary between 2013 and 2015 under David Cameron’s coalition government, was the sole nomination for the role. Succeeding Conservative MP Sir Robert Godwill, he will take up his position as chair of the committee when the remaining members of the committee have been appointed by the House.

He said: “I am very pleased to take on the role of Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

“This Parliament will see the new Government make major decisions on the environment, farming, food security and rural communities that will affect us all.

“I will work collaboratively with Members from across the House of Commons to scrutinise and inform these important decisions.

“I will ensure that the Committee gives a voice to rural, coastal and island communities, and fully considers the interests of our fishers, farmers, food producers, processors and exporters, while holding corporate interests such as water companies to account.”



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Posted on Author Categories Meat

Porta Launches Restaurant-Quality Roman-Style Pizza In Whole Foods, Sprouts And Select Natural Retailers

PORTA, a national producer of restaurant-quality Italian meals expanded into over 1,000 stores across the United States. This month, pizza lovers will be able to find PORTA Roman-Style pizzas Nationally at Whole Foods, Sprouts and select natural retailers.

Founded by renowned Italian chef and restaurateur Cosimo Mammoliti, PORTA prides itself on using the highest quality ingredients sourced from trusted Italian artisans. The hand-stretched dough contains 80% water and doesn’t require extreme heat, resulting in a pizza that’s light and airy with a crispy finish when baked in a traditional oven. The pizzas feature premium tomatoes from Campania, Italy, flour from a fourth-generation family-run mill in Le Marche, Italy, and 100% Coratina Extra-Virgin Olive Oil from a close family friend in Puglia, Italy made exclusively for PORTA. The meats, cheeses, and seasonings are carefully selected from various regions of Italy, ensuring every bite embodies the authenticity and simplicity of traditional Italian cuisine.

“Launching our Roman-style pizzas allows us to share the true taste of Italy across America,” said Cosimo Mammoliti, restaurateur and founder of PORTA. “We are passionate about bringing the best tasting, highest-quality pizza to homes across the country. Our pizzas reflect the culinary heritage of Italy and are crafted with the same quality and recipes found in tucked-away Italian restaurants.”

PORTA pizzas are meticulously handmade by chefs. The pizzas are flash frozen to lock in their rich flavors. The pizzas will be available in four varieties: Margherita, Pepperoni, Sausage & Caramelized Onion, and Mushroom & Fontina. Each variety is crafted to capture the essence of Italian culinary traditions.

With the launch of PORTA in Whole Foods, Sprouts and other select natural retailers, more consumers will have the opportunity to indulge in these restaurant-quality, traditional Italian pizzas at home. 



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