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BE THE FIRST TO CARRY OUR VOR! OATMEAL RAISIN 310.380.6778 • wholesale@hannahmax.com THE BAR COOKIE CATEGORY relatively early stages. Time delays, evolving standards, high-risk ingredients, and costs all play a role. Supply and Demand. Delays due to a limited selection of certified ingredient sup- pliers have been worsened by sheer demand. Pellegrini says the process that once took 60 days can now take upwards of six months. (The Non-GMO Project's website states the process takes 4 to 6 months.) Though, a benefit of increasing demand is a growing supply of usable ingredients. "We wanted to start with ingredient suppliers that were already verified," recalls Stanton of certifying Dancing Deer's cookies. "At that time, a year ago ... there was only one [verified] butter supplier in the country." Evolving Standards. The Non-GMO Project Standard is somewhat of a living thing. The organization opens its official document to public comment twice a year, and updates can be major or minor. Recent changes under consideration include the particulars of honey verification and wheth- er immersion packaging, such as tea bags, should be part of the process. Keeping up with the changing standards can be challeng- ing, Pellegrini notes. High Risk, Low Risk. All ingredients are not treated equally. The Non-GMO Project categorizes foods based on the likelihood of GMOs being present. "Products with many GMO-risk ingredients require a more thor- ough review, including testing, traceability, and segregation requirements," says Non- GMO Project's Pineau. Corn, canola, and soy are listed among high-risk crops (since a majority of those U.S.-grown crops are genetically modified), as are animal-derived products, including meat, milk, and honey, which the organiza- tion traces back to the source of animal feed—from the grain fed to cows to the sweeteners bees may forage. Simple Squares' certification process took two years, says Crupi Dobbins, purely to verify its honey supplier. Saffron Road took to verifying its vegetable entrees first, knowing the meat varieties would take longer. Its lamb entree will likely be next, says Pellegrini, since the company sources lamb from New Zealand, which grows no GMO crops. Importing meats is a viable solution for some; more than 60 countries currently have regulations— some even a total ban—on GMO food and feed. Sickles Market recently introduced a line of grass-fed, free-range Angus beef from Silver Fern Farms in New Zealand to add to its GMO-free offerings. Summer Fancy Food Show Booth 3149 (continued on p. 163) 44 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com lede_GMO.indd 44 6/5/14 11:46 AM