Rockland, Md.-based U.S. Pharmacopeia received the 2003 Bronze Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America, for the launch of its Dietary Supplement Verification Program certification mark.

The American Overseas Dietetics Association recognized Chicago-based Enjoy Life Foods for excellence in taste, packaging, overall quality and flavor. AODA gave Enjoy Life Foods its "Most Likely to Recommend to Client" award for its chocolate chip cookies.

Asheville, N.C.-based Earth Fare plans to double its size and revenue in the next two years. Two sites are in development, a third has been proposed and several others are under investigation.

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region has granted a patent for dietary supplements containing glyconutrients to Mannatech Inc., a Coppell, Texas-based wellness solutions provider.

Peabodys Coffee Inc., based in Rocklin, Calif., signed an agreement with Sacramento, Calif.-based THOMAS/ferrous, a marketing and communications firm, to develop a branding strategy, product positioning, merchandising and promotional campaign for its certified organic Black Rhino Coffee.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. of Waterbury, Vt., and the National Wildlife Federation launched a joint effort to promote the benefits of shade-grown certified organic fair-trade coffee to U.S. consumers. The partnership coincided with International Migratory Bird Day to draw attention to the link between coffee habitat and the health and welfare of migratory birds in the Americas.

King of Prussia, Pa.-based Eggland's Best presented its excellence award in product quality for the first quarter of 2003 to Valley Fresh Foods Inc.'s Briarwood Farms division, of Rochester, Wash. Honorable mentions went to Kreher's Poultry Farms of Clarence, N.Y.; Braswell Foods of Nashville, N.C.; and Norco Ranch's McAnally Enterprise division, of Lakeview, Calif. The award was based on laboratory results, in-store observations, retail audits, independent lab findings and consumer input.

Albion Advanced Nutrition of Clearfield, Utah, has designated Bluebonnet Nutrition of Sugar Land, Texas, as its newest gold medallion company for the quality of nutritional balance and ingredients in its product formulations.

Twinlab, the Hauppauge, N.Y.-based supplement company, announced the launch of its retailer newsletter program, "Retailer Healthlink." The bimonthly newsletter will provide information to health and natural foods retailers.

Tishcon Corp. has become the first donor in an industry-wide campaign to collect vitamins for post-war relief efforts in Iraq. The Westbury, N.Y. nutraceutical company will work with the Vitamin Angel Alliance.

The United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association announced it will hold the United Produce Show in conjunction with next year's Food Marketing Institute show in Chicago.

Boulder, Colo.-based New Hope Natural Media hired natural and organic products public relations agency The Fresh Ideas Group, also of Boulder, to promote Natural Products Expo East in Washington, D.C.

Norway, Iowa-based Frontier Natural Products Co-op donated the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs to the nonprofit group Rural Action of Trimble, Ohio.

Montréal, Canada, and Waitsfield, Vt.-based Canus Import/Export's Goat's Milk Body Butter was named best new product at Britain's Natural Products Europe show in the non-foods category. The award was based on retailer voting.

Diversified Business Communications of Portland, Maine signed an agreement with IMC Events and Exhibitions of New York City to promote IMC's Kosherfest 2003, the International Kosher Food and Foodservice Trade Show.

Champaign, Ill.-based Degussa BioActives, the nutritional ingredient division of Germany-based Degussa, launched a Web site devoted to the scientific validation and advancement of phosphatidylserine.

Spirit of Women, a national organization promoting women's wellness and health-care advocacy, and Adinfinitum, a natural product marketing group, hosted the Spirit of Women Summit 2003 in April. The event brought together hospitals and the natural products community.

The Dietary Supplement Education Alliance said it reached nearly 5 million people during the first quarter of 2003 with news about the benefits of nutritional supplements through its national education campaign, including the article "Herbal Therapies, Vitamins and Minerals Offer Practical Approach to Battling Colds and Flu."

People News
Elephant Pharmacy Inc., a Berkeley, Calif.-based pharmacy and wellness center, announced the appointment of Sandy Gooch and Riki Tokuno to its board of directors.

Nature's Path Foods Inc., a Blaine, Wash.-based organic cereal company, appointed Dag Falck as organic program manager and Christine Negm as technical services director. Falck has worked as an independent organic inspector for numerous certification agencies. Negm was the director of technical services for the Richville, Calif.-based Lundberg Family Farms.

Los Angeles-based Jarrow Formulas Inc. hired Konrad "Andy" Anderson as its San Diego sales representative.

A Kid's Best Friend, a children's book co-written by Alex Fisher, the chief creative officer and co-founder of Portland, Maine-based Planet Dog, has been awarded the 2002 Henry Bergh Children's Book Award by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Torrance, Calif.-based Van's International Foods appointed Alan Witcher vice president of sales and marketing and Charles Kujawa vice president of operations. Witcher was formerly national natural sales manager for Horizon Organic. Kujawa was previously with Chef Solutions Inc. and The Dannon Co.

The American Frozen Food Institute of McLean, Va., promoted Jenny Mitchell and Kainoa Trotter to the positions of meetings and conventions managers.

Sharon Szukis, owner of Duluth, Minn.-based The Essence of Health, was the winner of The Natural Foods Merchandiser market overview survey drawing. Szukis received $500 in American Express gift certificates, which she used to purchase new cribs and nursery items for her new, twin granddaughters.

Irving, Texas-based Carrington Laboratories Inc. announced that former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III has been elected to the company's board of directors.

Roberto Crea, Ph.D., president of CreAgri Inc., will discuss the Mediterranean diet during the speaker seminar at Natural Products Expo East.

Denver-based Petaluma Holdings Inc., parent company of Coleman Natural Meats, appointed Mel Coleman Jr. chairman. Coleman has been with the company for 17 years, most recently as vice president of sales and business development.

Pita Products LLC of Farmington, Mich., hired Barbara Frauenhofer as Southeast/ Midwest regions sales manager and Lori Hulslander as Northeast regional sales manager. Frauenhofer was previously with nSpired Natural Foods/Cool Fruits Inc. Hulslander has worked for Philip F. Tozzi and Associates and Stow Mills/United Natural Foods Inc.

Country Choice Naturals named Bethany B. Hawkins as Western sales manager. Hawkins brings 13 years of experience as vice president and regional sales manager for Advantage Sales and Marketing, Horizon Organic, Imagine Foods and The Hain Celestial Group.

Organic Valley promoted John Morrissey to Eastern division sales manager, from his previous position as Northeast regional sales manager. Douglas Hanson was promoted to Western division sales manager. He was formerly Northwest regional sales manager.

Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXIV/number 8/p. 54, 56