Nutiva^® Named a Fastest-Growing Company
by Inc. Magazine for Third Consecutive Year

(Oxnard, Calif.) September 21, 2011 – Nutiva^®, the world’s leading brand of organic hemp, coconut, and chia foods, has once again been named one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States on Inc. magazine’s 2011 500/5000 list. Nutiva^® was previously accorded this honor in 2009 and 2010.

Sales of Nutiva’s organic Hemp Oil, Hempseed, Protein, Hemp Bars, HempShakes^®, Chia Seed https://store.nutiva.com/chia-seed/, and Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil have been growing rapidly, with total sales growth at 44 percent annually since 2005. Nutiva^® founder and CEO John W. Roulac comments, “Nutiva’s accelerating growth demonstrates the strong demand for healthful, organic superfoods. We are also proud of hiring twenty-five additional people in the past year.” With its recent surge in sales, Nutiva has become one of the fastest-growing food companies in not only the United States but also the world.

Chia the Next Hot Ancient Food Crop

In the past year, Nutiva introduced its third superfood, Chia: a non-gluten traditional seed crop grown in Mexico and South America and often described as the ancient superfood of the Aztecs. Chia seed is very small, and a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, antioxidants, and fiber. It also contains two times more potassium than bananas, six times more calcium than milk, and 30 percent more antioxidants than blueberries. John Roulac adds, “We observed that most chia sold was non-organic and costly. The SRP for Nutiva’s certified-organic 14-oz bag of chia is $9.99, making it more affordable for more people. Nutiva offers three types of chia seed, in bags and larger bulk sizes: black, white, and milled.” To learn more about this sought-after wonder food, watch CEO Roulac on YouTube:

http://tinyurl.com/4x9j9lt

The Nutiva Kitchen

The Nutiva team understands that, while many people want to eat more healthily, they need tips on how to prepare hemp, coconut, or chia foods. So Nutiva chose to “crowd source,” turning to its loyal fans and customers for fun and delicious recipes. More than seventy original recipes, including desserts, smoothies, salads, and main dishes, are offered at http://nutiva.com/the-nutiva-kitchen/.

Nutiva^® is continuing to boost its brand reputation by focusing on social media and user-generated content to increase public awareness on health and green-lifestyle topics.

Leading a Food Revolution

The company has a long track record in championing the renaissance of such ancient foods as hemp, coconut, and chia seed. According to CEO Roulac, “The current industrial food model is broken. People everywhere are realizing that we need to make better food choices so we can lead more healthy and productive lives.”

Roulac adds, “Nutrient-dense foods are ideal to add to one’s diet.” As Nutiva grows, so does its donation of 1 percent of sales to sustainable-ag groups. In 2011 Nutiva is giving away $200,000 to worthy projects that include planting coconut seedlings in the Philippines, planting fruit trees in urban California schools, sponsoring education efforts for agricultural and industrial hemp via VoteHemp.com, and funding films on bees and organic farming. Nutiva’s customers can see firsthand that their brand is investing in positive solutions that contribute to a better world.

About Nutiva^®

Nutiva^® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva^® is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods, extra-virgin coconut oil, and chia seeds. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as abroad, by more than 10,000 retailers. Follow the company at nutiva.com or facebook.com/Nutiva.

(Oxnard, Calif. ~ March 8, 2011) New York’s leading financial publication, Bloomberg, recently covered the rise of the values-driven organic food brand, Nutiva, in the article, “Nutiva Challenges DEA, Embraces Hemp” at Bloomberg.com. An excerpt from the article: “In August 1999, the U.S. Customs Service… seized a Canadian hemp-food exporter’s truck with 20 tons of hemp seeds entering Detroit from Ontario. Confident the seizure was bogus, Roulac, a buoyant serial entrepreneur and bestselling author of ‘Backyard Composting,’ refused to capitulate. Instead of handing his hemp to the DEA, he helped launch a public relations campaign with all 200 members of the trade group Hemp Industries Assn. to turn popular opinion against the DEA’s move.”

The Oxnard, California-based firm has been on a growth spurt, with sales set to triple in three years. Last month Nutiva hired five people in one week, and with sales on track to break $24M in 2011 (double the company’s sales for 2010), the firm is rapidly evolving into one of the top-tier organic brands. As healthy eating becomes a national priority, Nutiva is becoming a household name for organic superfoods of hemp, coconut, and chia.

Amid its success, Nutiva is working to maintain the core values that helped guide the company in its early years. As a strong advocate of organic foods, Nutiva has introduced a new initiative, “How Organic is Your Hemp Brand?” Nutiva founder and CEO, John W. Roulac, commented, “Nutiva celebrates the goodness of organics, and we want this message spread far and wide.”

Natural food retailers have welcomed the campaign. Maria Arcara of the Sacramento, CA Natural Foods Co-op said, “Nutiva’s  ’How organic is your hemp brand?’ campaign really drives home the benefits to our planet when we buy organic hemp. It’s important to support companies that are conscientious about their impact on the earth.”

The plan consists of direct mail targeted to natural food buyers, print media in trade and consumer publications, and promoting it on the social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Nutiva will be taking the campaign directly to thousands of food buyers at Booth #2223, at the upcoming Natural Products Expo West 2011, to be held in Anaheim, California.

The goal of the campaign is threefold: to educate people on the benefits of choosing organic foods vs. non-organic, to explain the differences between organic and non-organic fertilizers; and to highlight Nutiva’s ranking in organic sales. Today many shoppers at natural-food stores choose non-organic hemp foods—perhaps because they are not aware of the upsides to organic farming and foods. As the organic brand leader, Nutiva is out to change this.

How Organic Is Your Brand?
Based on SPINS industry data ending 9-4-2010, Nutiva is ranked as the number-one organic hemp food brand, with the sector’s highest percent of certified-organic sales at 98 percent. Nutiva offers certified-organic hemp protein, hemp seed, hemp oil, hemp bars, and flavored hemp protein powders called HempShakes®.

Organic Farmers Rely on the Sun, Nature, and Green Plants
Organic hemp farmers rotate their fields with green, nitrogen-fixing crops. This sound land-management protects soil and water from the chemical runoff that occurs when non-organic hemp farmers use harsh chemical fertilizers. As Peter Melchett of the Soil Association (the UK’s leading organic certifier) has stated, “Using artificial nitrogen fertilizer to turn oil or gas into food is fundamentally unsustainable.”  “The ‘How organic is your hemp brand?’ campaign is great! I want to be informed about hemp farming practices and educate my customers,” added Jenny, a buyer at the Bellingham, WA Food Co-op.

Transforming the Natural Foods Industry
John Roulac adds, “Let’s create an organic world. Nutiva is committed to increasing the percentage of organic-food sales. Our vision is that one day people will no longer refer to the natural-products industry, but to an organic-products industry.” This aim goes hand-in-hand with Nutiva’s core mission: “Nourishing people and planet.” Choosing organic is a powerful measure for personal health with the added benefit of protecting our environment.

(Oxnard, Calif. ~ February 14, 2011)

Last month the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the deregulation of Monsanto’s genetically engineered, Roundup Ready Alfalfa. This allows unlimited, nationwide commercial planting of the crop, a decision profoundly disappointing to the organic community and one that promises an epic battle to determine the future of organic foods in North America. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is bringing suit to oppose this decision. CFS, a nonprofit organization, representing 180,000 members across the nation, is focused on curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and promoting organic agriculture. CFS Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell said, “CFS’s legal team is the organic community’s last line of defense against this GMO threat to farmers and consumer choice.”  Nutiva has pledged $25,000 to CFS in support of this litigation.

With Organic Foods Endangered, Who Will Take a Stand Against Monsanto?

Nutiva® founder and CEO, John W. Roulac, comments on the deregulation, “Nutiva is concerned about the impact that genetically modified organisms are having on our natural world and human health.  Since its inception in 1999, Nutiva has exclusively sourced non-GMO ingredients.” According to Roulac, the impending massive spring 2011 planting of Monsanto GMO alfalfa seed could contaminate vast acres of organic food production. “Now is the time for every corporation that has profited from the organic movement to unite and stop Monsanto. Who else will step forward to protect the sacred natural order for future generations?” If Nutiva, a modest company in a land of large organic firms, can contribute $25,000, what will the largest organic dairy brands, international retailers and distributors do to join in the fight? Nutiva is encouraging all organic advocates to add their financial support to these legal efforts. Roulac is no stranger to taking on specials interests. In 2002, Nutiva, in cooperation with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, the Hemp Industries Association and Nature’s Path, successfully sued the DEA to establish the rights of Americans to consume hemp foods.

Can Organics Coexist with GMO Alfalfa?

In the view of CFS, if the biotech industry achieves market dominance in numerous crops, the majority of organic foods will be genetically contaminated with foreign genetic material through pollen drift and accidental comingling. Said David Lively, a board member of the Organic Seed Alliance, “The reality is simple: When farmers lose the genetic purity of their seed, they lose their freedom to operate free of GE contamination.” A genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified organism (GMO) is created in a laboratory process whereby DNA genes of one species, which may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, or animals, are artificially inserted into genes of an unrelated plant or animal. In 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated, “. . . studies indicate serious health risks associated with GMO food.“  These risks include the chance of infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.

The Success of Past CFS Lawsuits

The Center for Food Safety has stopped GMO alfalfa and prevailed against Monsanto and the USDA before. For the past four years, as the result of a lawsuit brought against the USDA by CFS on behalf of farmers and some of the organizations that represent them, there has been a ban on the planting of GE alfalfa. In 2007 a federal court ruled that the USDA’s approval of GE alfalfa violated environmental laws by failing to analyze risks such as the contamination of organic alfalfa and the evolution of glyphosate-resistant weeds. The court banned new plantings of GE alfalfa until the USDA completed a comprehensive environmental impact statement. In June 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban on Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Alfalfa. CFS will be going back to court in the coming weeks with the intent of prevailing in this new case.

About Nutiva®

Nutiva is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1% of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp, coconut and chia superfoods. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, at more than 10,000 natural-food retailers. The company can be followed at http://nutiva.com or at http://www.facebook.com/Nutiva.

Nutiva is now raising prices on select Coconut Oil SKU’s.  This price increase will effect our larger sized: 54 oz, 1 gallon and 5 gallon products.
For now we intend to hold the line on the 15 0z and 29 oz sizes.

The world price of coconut oil has more than doubled in the past 18 months.

We suggest people consider buying in larger bulk sizes, to help offset some of the price increases.

The rising prices are due to many trends including Drought, Climate Change, Surging Demand for Coconut Products, Fed Policy and “Hot Money”, and Food Inflation.

1. Weather-The major coconut-growing regions of the Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, have experienced dry weather, resulting in about a 30% decline in tree-nut production. This might improve in the latter half of 2011, but it’s still uncertain. Additionally, poor weather conditions in Australia and South America, has affected other crops–driving up many commodities. Expect to see many more    weather-related issues impact food production. For example western Canada has seen record snow levels this winter. Canadian farmers are concerned the ground will be so wet in late spring due to flooding conditions from snow that many crops won’t get planted. One aspect of climate change to note: extreme weather may well become more common as CO-2 levels rise–and our rain forests are “clear cut”.

2. Demand –There’s a world-wide rising demand for cooking oils, including soy, palm, and coconut oils. Plus the huge surge in sales of coconut water and coconut milk is creating more demand for all coconut products.

3. “Hot Money”- The US Federal Reserve Bank is undertaking the unprecedented act of printing trillions of US Dollars–for loans to large banks and hedge funds. These    funds are not for building US factories or infrastructure. Instead they are being invested in the “speculation” of commodities and other investments. With the historic collapse of the real-estate boom continuing to gain speed, the Fed hopes inflation will stem the red ink of price declines. We have created a true “casino economy”. As Rep. Ron Paul has reminded Americans many times, our founding fathers–George Washington and Thomas Jefferson–warned us never to hand over the keys to the money-printing presses to foreign bankers. With the formation in 1913 of the Federal Reserve, we lost control of our economy and have paid dearly since.

4. Food Inflation- In general, food inflation is rising.  Most supermarkets have postponed raising prices in order to maintain market share. But many people feel that this will change, and 2011 may well see strong increases. Interestingly, the US government considers food and fuel “non-essential”, so these numbers are not included in total inflation reports. Is it any wonder the price of gold keeps going up, while US printing presses flood the world with more paper money?

We live in interesting times. Please be assured, Nutiva® is working hard to supply quality organic foods at reasonable prices. We specialize in bulk sizes, and we’re doing everything we can to streamline our operations to be as efficient as possible.

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Nutiva^®Hires Organic-Food Veteran Dale Holden
As Its New National Sales Manager

(Santa Paula, Calif. ~ October 7, 2010)  With organic hemp and coconut superfoods showing strong demand and sales growing at a 41% annual clip, Nutiva^® is pleased to announce the hire of Dale Holden as its National Sales Manager.

“Dale brings a wealth of skill and industry knowledge to Nutiva^®,” says CEO and founder John W. Roulac. “Nutiva^® is committed to bringing aboard the best talent to help grow its corporate ‘tribe,’ and as a strong advocate for plant-based nutrition, Dale is a perfect fit to help take the company to the next level.”

Dale Holden has more than 30 years of experience in the natural-foods industry. For the last 4½ years, he was National Sales Manager for Follow Your Heart, a leading manufacturer of vegetarian foods. “I’ve had the opportunity to also work with Mountain People’s Warehouse (UNFI), Wild Oats, and White Wave — and to be part of their explosive growth with all its challenges and successes,” says Holden. “I look forward to joining the Nutiva^® team and contributing to the exciting expansion of the Nutiva^® brand.”

Based on SPINS industry data, Nutiva^® is the number-one-selling brand of coconut oil, hemp oil, hempseed, and hemp protein.

New Products Keep It Exciting

Nutiva^® has built its brand reputation by offering innovative healthy foods. When founder John W. Roulac was pondering what new superfood he should next introduce and champion, he chose the mighty chia seed, an ancient staple of the Aztecs. Chia is gaining much interest due to its ideal omega-3, protein, fiber, and antioxidant levels. It can enhance smoothies, cereals, baked goods, and many other everyday dishes.

This fall, the company is rolling out Coconut Manna™, a whole-food spread made of dried, whole coconut flesh. The creamy coconut product contains 9% protein, 12% fiber, and 63% nourishing fats, and will serve as a delicious ingredient in smoothies, sauces, and desserts.

Education Is Key

Nutiva^® keeps growing the market for these traditional foods, using web tools to teach the importance of organic farming, solar energy,  hemp buildings, and the nutritional benefits of its hemp, coconut, and chia foods. Viewers of the company’s YouTube video have exceeded 50,000, and the Nutiva^® Facebook and Twitter platforms are rapidly growing. The firm aims to make it easy for consumers to discover fun ways to use its organic Coconut Oil, Coconut Manna™, Hemp Oil, Hempseed, Hemp Protein, HempShakes^®, and Chia Seeds.

For Roulac, the author of four books on hemp and composting, education is nothing new. “I’m passionate,” he declares, “about doing my part to create a more healthy and sustainable world.” Roulac adds that Nutiva^® is proud to be part of the industry’s Non-GMO Project, which helps to insure the integrity of organic foods by banning genetically modified organisms from organic certification.

(Santa Paula, Calif. ~ October 14, 2010)  As Nutiva^®, America’s leading organic hemp, coconut, and chia superfoods brand, celebrates its 11-year anniversary, it has again been named one of the fastest-growing companies in America on Inc. magazine’s 2010 500/5000 list. Nutiva^® was previously accorded this honor in 2009.

Sales of Nutiva’s organic Hemp Oil, Hempseed, Protein, Hemp Bars, HempShakes^TM,Chia Seed, and Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil have been growing by leaps and bounds, with total sales growth  at 41 percent  annually  since 2006. Given its rapidly expanding customer base, Nutiva has this month moved into a much larger headquarters in Oxnard, California. Total pallet capacity in the 18,500-square-foot facility has increased by a factor of more than 20 from the previous warehouse, to handle the firm’s continuing growth. Nutiva CEO and founder John W. Roulac comments, “Nutiva’s fast growth during these hard economic times is a testament to the strength of organic superfoods. We thank our loyal customers.”

Increasing Sales Across All Channels

Based on SPINS industry data, Nutiva^® is the number-one-selling brand of coconut oil, hemp oil, hempseed, and hemp protein, and the company’s Organic Coconut Oil continues to be the most-requested natural and organic food gift at Amazon.com.

Nutiva^® boosts sales by focusing on key markets, including bulk sales, web resellers, natural food stores, supermarket chains, and international markets including Canada, Mexico, Russia, Asia, and the European Union. The company recently upgraded its Internet presence with a much faster site. International sales at Nutiva.com are growing so rapidly that Nutiva^® plans to ship its hemp, chia, and coconut foods to more 80 countries in 2011. The use of  social media helps increase public awareness on the various health/green/lifestyle issues associated with the Nutiva^® brand. New YouTube videos are released every month, and the Facebook fan base keeps growing.

Leading a Food Revolution

The firm has a positive track record in shaking up the food industry by championing the renaissance of such ancient foods as hemp, coconut, and more recently chia seed. According to CEO Roulac, “The current industrial food model is broken. People are waking up to the fact that food choices matter,  and no healthcare plan is going to solve the issue of eating industrial goop sold as food.” While Nutiva^® has several hundred thousand loyal customers today, it plans to help nourish more than ten million people in the coming decade. As a trusted supplier of organic superfoods, Nutiva^® is building a worldwide “tribe.”

Roulac adds that corn- and soy-based foods are “sunset” and hemp, coconut, and chia foods are “sunrise” when it comes to future demand for nutritious foods. What is a minor niche today will become the next billion-dollar market, and Nutiva is leading this nutritional revolution. He says that one element driving Nutiva’s solid growth is  the company’s core promise to nourish people and planet by using healthful organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes.

About Nutiva^®

Nutiva^® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva^® is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods and extra-virgin coconut oil. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as abroad, at more than 6,000 natural-food retailers. Follow the company at nutiva.com or at facebook.com/Nutiva.

As Nutiva rounds its tenth year as a pioneering organic food brand, the firm is focused to meet its goals in the new year and new decade.

According to Nutiva founder and CEO John W. Roulac, “2010 is the perfect year for people to switch to delicious organic hemp and coconut foods. Choosing Nutiva also supports the many beneficiaries of 1 percent of our company’s sales.”

Looking back to 2009, Roulac said that Nutiva thanks its customers for helping the brand achieve many milestones, including being named an Inc. 500/5000 fastest-growing brand, having Nutiva Coconut Oil rated by Amazon.com as their #1 most-requested organic and natural gift, and having Whoopie Goldberg taste Nutiva Hemp Oil on the NBC show The View.

Since 1999, said Roulac, the company’s core vision and tagline has been “Nourishing People and Planet”—in sharp contrast to mainstream food corporations that “abuse the land, exploit farmers, sell industrial goop as food, and receive huge subsidies from the federal government.”

Seeking to be part of the solution, Nutiva expresses its corporate citizenship by sourcing from fair-trade suppliers, supporting sustainable agriculture, planting 100,000 coconut palms, offering healthful organic hemp and coconut superfoods, and continuing to donate 1 percent of its sales to sustainable programs.

Healthy People
According to Roulac, the old adage “You are what you eat” holds true. Eating nutrient-dense certified-organic foods is key to vitality, he asserted. “The mighty hempseed is packed with 33 percent protein, and hemp oil has an ideal ratio of healthy Omega-3, GLA, and SDA fats. Most Americans are mineral-deficient, and hempseed is rich in the important mineral magnesium, used in over 300 biochemical processes. Just three tablespoons of Nutiva Shelled Hempseed or Hemp Protein supply half the daily need for magnesium. Hempseed is also rich in iron and zinc. Shelled hempseed looks like sesame seeds, tastes like sunflower seeds, and is ideal in smoothies or as a topping for salads, soups, oatmeal, or vegetables. Hemp oil makes a fine salad oil or can be drizzled on pasta or bread.”

And those looking for the worlds best cooking oil, said Roulac, need look no farther than Nutiva’s organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil. Nutritionists are starting to recognize the benefits of replacing Omega-6-laden corn and soy oils (which cause an Omega 3/6 imbalance) with coconut oil, which contains the beneficial medium-chain triglyceride lauric acid and is tasty in stir-fries or on toast, oatmeal, or yams.

“How many more trillions of dollars must we spend on “fixing health care” before our society wakes up from its slumber and chooses organic foods for a healthy lifestyle?” Roulac asked.

Giving Back
Since its founding in 1999, Nutiva has followed in the footsteps of Patagonia and Working Assets, which donate 1 percent of sales to nonprofit groups. Nutiva’s goal in 2010 is to donate $125,000. Roulac said that the company is proud to support the following sustainable-agriculture projects:

Eco Farm’s 30th Annual Conference, held at Asilomar, California
Common Vision’s California School Fruit Tree Planting
The Cornucopia Institute (“watch dogs” to protect organic integrity)
Coconut Coops, supporting small Philippines-based coconut growers with organic farm training, small-scale bio-fertilizer plants, planting 100,000 coconut palms, and building a value-added coconut candy kitchen.
A Healthy Planet
Nutiva helps reduce packaging waste with bulk sizes of its Coconut Oil in 54-oz and 1-gallon pails, as well as 3-pound bags of Hempseed and Protein. The firm’s products are free of the hexane commonly used to process soy foods and fish oils. Over 98 percent of Nutiva foods are certified-organic—safer for consumers and the planet. Organic farming cuts the use of agro-chemicals, protects farm workers, eliminates water pollution, and maintains soil fertility naturally. Nutiva is preparing to plant 100,000 coconuts in its supplier regions: Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Mexico. Growing more coconut palms helps reduce carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and all coconut by-products (shells, husks, and seedcake) have beneficial uses. Hemp is an excellent sustainable rotation crop that improves the soil and out-competes weeds in the field. Its strong stalks are made into energy-efficient building materials known as “hempcrete,” and the use of hemp fiber in bio-composites is increasing.

About Nutiva
Nutiva is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using nourishing organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world’s best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods and extra-virgin coconut oil. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the U.K., at more than 6,000 natural food retailers. Follow the company at http://www.facebook.com/Nutiva.

(Santa Paula, Calif. ~ December 17, 2009) Americans creating holiday wish lists on Amazon.com are hoping that Santa leaves them a 54-ounce jar of Nutiva® Coconut Oil. The week before Christmas, the unrefined organic coconut oil was the most requested organic and natural food gift on Amazon–topping organic tea, soymilk, coffee, agave syrup, and lollipops–as well as other superfood categories including cacao nibs, maca powder, goji berries, and chia seeds. In fact, Nutiva® has a record seven top sellers in Amazon’s Top 100 Best Organic and Natural Items, including three sizes of Coconut Oil, two sizes of Hempseed, the three-pound Hemp Protein + Fiber, and the three-pound Hemp Protein 50%.

One Amazon customer described his experience of Nutiva’s virgin Coconut Oil: “I’ve tried two of the major coconut oil brands. I ordered Nutiva® just to see how it tasted, because the price was so good, if it didn’t taste right I’d just use it on my skin. It is the BEST tasting oil I’ve tried.”

In response to the rating, Nutiva® founder and CEO John W. Roulac said, “The strong showing on Amazon reveals the public’s increasing awareness of the many health benefits of organic coconut oil.”

How is so much coconut oil being used? This question was recently posed to Nutiva® fans on Facebook. Here are a few of the many ways respondents said that they use it for personal care: as a massage oil, a makeup remover, a suntan oil, a hair conditioner, a shoe polish, a face and body moisturizer, a toothpaste (mixed with baking soda), and to prevent stretch marks in pregnancy. Facebook fans said that, in the kitchen, they use Nutiva® Coconut Oil in smoothies, on popcorn, as a frying oil, in cakes and cookies, on hot cereal or breakfast toast, as a substitute for cream in vegan soups, and even as a nutritious dog food additive.

In the Indian medicinal system known as Ayurveda, coconut oil has traditionally been used extensively, and many athletes, dieters, and body builders choose the oil because it contains fewer calories than other oils and its fat content doesn’t accumulate in the heart and arteries.

Roulac is confident that Nutiva’s coconut oil will continue to boost the sales of his fast-growing company. “While going through one of the most economically challenging periods since the Great Depression, we’re riding the wave of a tsunami of interest in our products. We plan to continue researching and developing new products that nourish people and the planet.”

As provider of the world’s best-selling brand of organic coconut oil, Nutiva® has begun planting 100,000 new coconut palms in the Philippines, to improve the lives of coconut growers and help reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Nutiva® also supports the efforts to grow hemp in America by working with VoteHemp.com. Currently Nutiva® sources its organic hemp seed, hemp oil, hemp protein, and hemp bars from Canada because the US federal government does not allow the growing of hemp.

For more information on Nutiva®, visit Nutiva.com. Also watch raw food chef, Ani Phyo, prepare a Nutiva® Hemp and Coconut SuperFood Shake at http://tinyurl.com/yacjf8h.

About Nutiva: Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using nourishing organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes. Founded in 1999, Nutiva® is the world’s best selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods and extra-virgin coconut oil. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the U.K., at more than 6,000 natural food retailers. For product specials and Nutiva® news, you may follow us on Facebook.

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Nutiva, America’s leading organic hemp foods and coconut oil brand, celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, and the milestone was enhanced by its being named one of the fastest growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine in their 2009 500/5000 list. In the most challenging economic period since the Great Depression, sales of Nutiva’s organic Hemp Oil, Hempseed, Protein, Hemp Bars, HempShakes, and Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil grew in total by more than 30 percent in the first six months of 2009, as compared to the first half of 2008. Nutiva’s profits are a testament to its loyal and expanding customer base and their appreciation of the company’s core promise: to nourish people and planet by using healthful organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes.

Santa Paula, CA (PRWEB) August 12, 2009 — Nutiva, America’s leading organic hemp foods and coconut oil brand, celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, and the milestone was enhanced by its being named one of the fastest growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine in their 2009 500/5000 list.

In the most challenging economic period since the Great Depression, sales of Nutiva’s organic Hemp Oil, Hempseed, Protein, Hemp Bars, HempShakes, and Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil grew in total by more than 30 percent in the first six months of 2009, as compared to the first half of 2008. Nutiva’s profits are a testament to its loyal and expanding customer base and their appreciation of the company’s core promise: to nourish people and planet by using healthful organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes.

Nutiva began in 1999 when founder and CEO John W. Roulac, the author of three books on industrial hemp and a best-seller on home composting, made and sold his first hemp bars. “Nutiva’s vision is to replace our country’s overreliance on corn, soy, and dairy products with healthier hemp and coconut superfoods” explains Roulac. To that end, Nutiva recently secured a credit line from the San Francisco-based Rudolf Steiner Foundation, Inc. Hemp foods are gaining in demand due to the seed’s ideal ratio of protein, minerals, and omega-3 fats. And coconut oil, which contains medium-chain saturated fats, is now recognized as a healthy all-purpose cooking oil.

While Nutiva now enjoys surging demand for its product line, this hasn’t always been the case. Yet Roulac says the bumps along the way have helped strengthen the company, adding with a smile, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

In Nutiva’s first year in business, the DEA and U.S. Customs seized the company’s Canadian hempseed shipments in the mistaken belief that hemp is drug-related. Three weeks after 9/11, the full weight of the Federal government came down on Nutiva with a new law banning hemp foods.

Along with Dr. Bronner’s Soaps and other manufacturers, Nutiva launched a successful grassroots campaign, challenged the DEA in court, and was able to overturn the government rule. This unexpected victory cleared the way for hemp foods to become a $50M market, with a potential far exceeding that sum. Five years later, Roulac comments, “Now it’s time to allow American farmers to grow industrial hemp.”

Inc. Magazine is not the first publication to honor Nutiva. In March 2005, Fast Company recognized the company for its “David and Goliath” court victory over the DEA.

Nutiva’s High Standards
The company strives to use only the finest certified-organic ingredients, grown without pesticides and herbicides and not genetically modified. In fact, 98 percent of all Nutiva sales are USDA-certified-organic–the highest percentage among all hemp brands.

As a corporation, Nutiva expresses its citizenship by donating 1 percent of its sales to public benefit sustainable agriculture groups.

Based on SPINS industry data, Nutiva is America’s best-selling brand of hemp oil, hemp protein, hempseeds, hemp bars, and coconut oil. The young company strives to deliver the best customer service in the industry. Its goal is to “surprise customers and retailers” with its dedication to satisfaction, “settling for nothing less.” The company website, http://www.nutiva.com, is a resource for healthful organic hemp foods and coconut oil, and also provides recipes and nutritional tips.

About Nutiva:
Nutiva is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using nourishing organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and supporting worthy causes. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is America’s number one brand of nutritious organic hemp foods and extra-virgin coconut oil. Its products are offered nationwide, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and the U.K., at more than 6,000 natural food retailers. For product specials and Nutiva news, you may follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nutiva_Markski

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SANTA PAULA, CA –John Roulac, the outspoken CEO and Founder of NUTIVA, (http://www.nutiva.com), the innovative hemp foods and coconut oil company that has pioneered the popularity of hemp foods and coconut oil, will be speaking at the Earth Day Celebration at Topanga Canyon on April 19th & 20th.

WHAT:
John Roulac the author, CEO and Founder of Nutiva will be speaking at the Earth Day Celebration at Topanga Canyon on April 19th and 20th. He will be talking about hemp as a super food rich in Omega-3, protein, fiber, and rare minerals including magnesium, zinc, and iron. John will cover hemp’s role as a sustainable rotation crop, which improves soil quality. Back in 1990, John helped produce the Arroyo Seco Festival, Southern California’s largest Earth Day event (40,000 attendance).

Media are invited to attend

For more information about Nutiva visit : www.nutiva.com

WHERE:
Topanga Canyon Earth Day
Topanga Community House Fair Grounds
1440 North Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga Canyon, CA 90290

For more information about the Topanga Canyon Earth Day visit
http://www.topangaearthday.org
Contact: Topanga Fest: 310-702-5683 Stephanie Lallouz–producer
Topanga Canyon Earth Day Celebration: 10 am – Sunset April 19th and 20th
www.topangearthday.org

WHEN:
Calendar of events SATURDAY – April 19th

* John Roulac speaking at Topanga Canyon Earth Day Celebration
* Time: 2:50 p.m.
* Location: Main Stage
* Topanga Community House Fair Grounds
1440 North Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga Canyon, CA 90290
* Topic Details: John will be talking about hemp as a super food rich in Omega-3, protein, fiber, and rare minerals including magnesium, zinc, and iron. John will cover hemp’s role as a sustainable rotation crop, which improves soil quality. Back in 1990, John helped produce the Arroyo Seco Festival, Southern California’s largest Earth Day event (40,000 attendance). Roulac will be on hand to answer questions at the Nutiva booth after the talk.

* Visit Nutiva’s Table for Free Hemp Food Products, Recipes, and Coconut Oil Sampling

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About Nutiva
Nutiva began in 1999 as an idea in the mind of John W. Roulac, the author of four books on home composting and industrial hemp. Nutiva is the third successful business Roulac has founded since jump starting the modern home-composting movement in the early 1990s with his best selling-book, Backyard Composting (one million copies sold).

Nutiva introduced America’s first hemp food bar at a time when the extraordinary nutritional value and ecological benefits of hemp foods were little known. Nutiva then introduced an entire line of organic hemp foods, while also adding (link to coc oil page) . Nutiva’s products are offered in 6000 US, UK and Canadian retailers—including Whole Foods Market, Wegmans and The Vitamin Shoppe.

Nutiva expresses its corporate citizenship by donating 1% of its sales to organizations promoting sustainable agriculture.

Nutiva was recognized by Fast Company magazine for their David-and-Goliath victory over the United States Drug Enforcement Agency in 2003, which had planned to classify hemp foods as schedule I drugs. Fighting a heroic legal battle, CEO John W. Roulac, and other industry leaders appealed the DEAs ruling and won their case.

About Founder and CEO John Roulac

John W. Roulac is an author and the CEO of Nutiva, the hemp food and coconut oil brand that has pioneered nutritious organic foods since 1999. A passionate advocate of holistic living for more than twenty-five years, Roulac founded three non-profit ecological groups in the 1990s.

Roulac founded Nutiva and it is his third successful business since jump starting the modern home-composting movement in the early 1990s with his best selling book, Backyard Composting (one million copies sold).

He is a recognized expert on hemp foods, coconut oil and composting and has been widely quoted in the media ranging from Wired Magazine to the Los Angeles Times to the Wall Street Journal.

Visit www.nutiva.com for more information.
Nutiva® P.O. Box 472 Santa Paula, CA 93060; Tel 800 993-4367 help1 [at] nutiva.com.

For more information about the Topanga Canyon Earth Day visit http://www.topangaearthday.org
Contact: Topanga Fest: 310-702-5683 Stephanie Lallouz–producer

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