➊
➋
➌
NEW ENGLAND HERBAL FOODS Danielle Roasted Coconut Chips
➍
TRUE INNOVATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE SIMPLEST PRODUCTS, as New England Herbal Foods' Danielle Roasted Coconut Chips shows. And its inspiration comes from the most natural source: the founders' childhoods in Thailand. "When you grow up in Southeast Asia, you end up eating a lot of fruits," says Ed Notosoehardjo, managing partner of the Boston-based company. Developing Danielle Coconut Chips was a way of introducing that fond memory to a modern audience,
"creating an old product in the newest kind of way." The brand name pays homage to the source of the star ingredients. The aunt of managing partner Harry
Tantongsirisak, Danielle, owned the farm (she's since retired), located two hours south of Bangkok, from which the business cultivates its produce. "We dedicated this to her, because she was growing natural and completely pesticide-free," explains Notosoehardjo. "It's our definition of what organic should be, and she was doing this almost 25 years ago, when nobody cared about the terms organic or natural." The Danielle line includes such fruit snacks as pineapple and mango, as well as veggie options like pumpkin and spicy carrot. The Outstanding Snack Winner is just oven-baked shavings of real coconut fruit with a satisfying crunch. It's free of trans fat, cholesterol, color additives, preservatives and GMOs. Notosoehardjo credits both the simplicity of the recipe and the current coconut trend seen throughout specialty foods for its recognition. Suggested retail price: $3.45/2 ounces. Contact: Ed Notosoehardjo, New England Herbal Foods LLC; 617.306.7706; ed.noto@nehfllc.com; daniellechips.com.—E.M.
FINALISTS
➊ BLUE CRAB BAY CO./ BAY BEYOND INC. Surf DoggiesTM
➋ GARY WEST ARTISAN SMOKED MEATS
–Gourmet
Virginia Peanuts with Spicy Honey Mustard Seasoning
Contact: Pamela Barefoot barefoot@baybeyond.net 757.787.3602 baybeyond.net
Original Steak Strips Contact: Michael Davis mdavis@garywest.com 541.899.1829 garywest.com
➌ ROUTE 11 POTATO CHIPS Mama Zuma's Revenge Potato Chips
Contact: Sarah Cohen sarah@rt11.com 540.477.9664 rt11.com
➍ SIMPLIFIED FOODS Simple Squares Cinnamon-Clove Contact: Kimberly Crupi Dobbins
joinus@simplesquares.com 312.343.9986 simplesquares.com
SEPTEMBER 2012 S15
SNACK FOOD