Boston, Mass.; April 2, 2012 – America’s first quick-service grilled cheese franchise concept, Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese To Go, will mark National Grilled Cheese Month with its highly anticipated second annual Free Grilled Cheese Day on April 22nd.

What: Free Grilled Cheese Day at Cheeseboy

When: Sunday, April 22, 2012 from 1:00pm to 6:00pm

Where: All Cheeseboy locations

Details: Cheeseboy will give away The Cheeseboy Classic – creamy white American cheese served on all-natural Italian bread (No purchase necessary. Limit one per customer.) For more information, please visit www.cheeseboy.com.

About Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese to Go

Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese To Go, America’s first quick-service grilled cheese restaurant concept, has been delivering comfort to its customers since its founding in 2009. Cheeseboy prides itself on serving wholesome grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, snacks and other items in a welcoming environment. Committed to excellence in food quality, Cheeseboy uses all-natural breads, high-quality cheeses and fresh meat and vegetable toppings. Since opening its first location, Cheeseboy has been rooted in philanthropic efforts through grand opening fundraisers and managing donation boxes at all stores to benefit The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps.

Currently, Cheeseboy operates six locations: Boston’s South Station and Prudential Center, South Shore Plaza in Braintree, Mass., Natick Mall in Natick, Mass., Palisades Center in West Nyack, NY, and Providence Place Mall in Providence, RI. Two more Cheeseboy locations are in development in Milford, CT and Jersey City, NJ, respectively.

For more information, please visit www.cheeseboy.com. To learn more about the Cheeseboy journey, you can visit www.youtube.com/gocheeseboy. You can also find them on Facebook www.cheeseboy.com/gocheeseboy or Twitter @gocheeseboy.

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Keep Local Farms is proud to be the main event sponsor of “The Great Cookie Dunk.” The event is scheduled during Burlington’s 27^th annual Kids Day on Saturday, May 12 in Battery Park, and will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont and give participants a chance to make world history. The goal is to register 1,500 participants on site who will be given a “Dunking Kit” that includes a carton of donated Hood milk and a cookie made special for the occasion by Tipped Cow Cookies. The Great Cookie Dunk was organized with an eye on capturing a world’s record for the greatest number of cookies dunked in milk. Mark your calendars!

Every four years, Leap Year grants us an extra day to enjoy.   This gift of extra time to enjoy family, friends and fun activities is precious, so why wait around another four years before adding more time to your life. By incorporating some simple, healthy habits into your daily routine, you can not only add extra days to your life but also increase the quality of that time.

Treat yourself to some extra living by following these four simple strategies that can help you live longer and feel better.

1. Eat breakfast – Whether you’re heading to school, the boardroom, or staying home, breakfast is an important way to give you the energy you need. Consistently eating a healthy breakfast has been linked to improved concentration and performance, lower cholesterol, decreased weight and increased energy levels.

Plan breakfast around at least three of the five food groups, especially low-fat or fat-free dairy foods, fruits and whole grains.  Including three food groups – for example, a yogurt, orange, and whole-wheat toast – offers the right nutrition for energy that will last until lunch.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.  Grab ‘n’ go breakfasts for those rushed mornings might include portable items like yogurt, granola bars, fruit and single-serve milk in a plastic, re-sealable container.

2. Keep your heart healthy – Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the U.S.?  Eating the right foods can help decrease your risk for heart disease now and extend your life longer into the future.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease.  Experts suggest following a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan to help control your risk of hypertension.  The DASH eating plan is a low-fat eating plan rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium and includes two to three servings of dairy foods and eight to ten servings of fruits and vegetables each day.  For more information, visit the “Heart Health” section at www.NationalDairyCouncil.org.

3. Get out and play – Research shows many important benefits of physical activity including decreased medication dependence, decreased weight and increased bone health and quality of life. Try to achieve 30-60 minutes of physical activity at least five days each week.  That may seem like a lot, but remember, it doesn’t have to happen all at once.  Take a ten minute walk during your lunch break, always park the car in the furthest parking spot or take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Encourage the entire family to get more active by making small changes together that will add up to a big difference.

4. Focus on the food groups – Choosing nutrient-rich foods from each of the five food groups is a good way to guide your daily eating choices.  Each food group – dairy, fruits, vegetables, grains and protein – provides nutrients that are important for healthy living.  For example, dairy products provide a unique combination of nine essential nutrients that play a crucial role in helping to promote bone health, healthy blood pressure and a healthy weight.  Because of these benefits, experts recommend eating at least three servings of dairy foods each day.  Visit www.myplate.gov to learn about each food group, how much you should be eating and practical tips to help you incorporate more of these super foods into your life.

Make the extra days in your life count with better health.  For more information about healthy habits and the health benefits of different foods, visit www.NewEnglandDairyCouncil.org.

The two week “Hit the Dairy Aisle and Head to the Slopes” promotion runs from January 14-29^th and a portion of the proceeds from all Co-op Food Stores brand milk sold during this time will be contributed to the Keep Local Farms program.  Stores will host Cabot Cheese taste-testing events and display in-store signage educating people about locally produced dairy products.  In addition, customers who purchase qualifying dairy products from participating brands are eligible to win ski-related prizes contributed by Ski Vermont.

Tony White is the Co-op’s Director of Operations. His passion for local agriculture is common among the staff there. “If we are to successfully keep local farms, all retailers must move beyond the bottom line focus of merely selling products. We want others to follow our lead and direct more revenue from all dairy sales back to the local farm economy. It’s a simple equation; by contributing a portion of all milk sales at the Co-op—regardless of whether or not it is a local milk product—we are choosing the most sustainable way to stand behind local farms.”

Co-op Food Stores started partnering with Keep Local Farms in January 2010, and since that time they have contributed almost $40,000 to the program.  For more information about the promotion, visit www.coopfoodstore.coop.

Sampling Event Details:

White River Junction Co-op Food Stores
209 Maple Street, White River Junction, VT 05001
Saturday, Jan. 21^st - 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Hanover Co-op Food Stores
45 South Park Street, Hanover, NH 03755
Saturday, Jan. 21^st - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lebanon Co-op Food Stores
12 Centerra Parkway, Lebanon, NH 03766
Saturday, Jan. 21^{st  -} 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

Boston, MA –October 13, 2011- A unique dairy farmer-led program called “Keep Local Farms” (KLF) observed its 2nd anniversary of operations with the distribution of more than $140,000 to its 1400+ dairy farm members across New England. The funds were raised from New Englanders who wanted to show their support for local dairy farmers, fresh locally-sourced dairy products, and the green, open spaces those farms provide for the enjoyment of everyone.

Vermont dairy farmer Jane Clifford of Starksboro, who is the Chairperson of the New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative, called the check distribution historic, and thanked people for their support. “We could not be more thrilled, humbled and gratified that New Englanders voted with their wallets thousands of times to support the Keep Local Farms program, and its mission to support the family farms of our region.”

People contributed to the program through KeepLocalFarms.org and by participating in program partner promotions, where a portion of proceeds benefited the Keep Local Farms program. For a full list of partners, visit KeepLocalFarms.org/program-overview/program-partners/.

New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill, whose family operates a historic dairy farm in Stratham, echoed Clifford’s sentiments. Said Merrill, “We recognize that the first Keep Local Farms check being sent to dairy farmers is a modest one, but also highly symbolic. It symbolizes the deep and abiding link New Englanders have to their agricultural roots, the respect they have for dairy farmers and the high quality, nutritious products they produce, and their appreciation for the beauty of the New England landscape.”

Massachusetts dairy farmer Lucinda Williams of Hatfield agrees and adds, “It’s not easy being farmers in New England, and what the Keep Local Farms program is attempting to do is not simple, either. We are trying to fundamentally change and strengthen the relationship between local dairy farmers and our neighbors throughout New England. This program is still young, but it’s taken some significant steps in its first two years.”

Clifford also saluted the corporate partners who supported the program in its infancy. “Supermarkets big and small, colleges and universities, hospitals, dairy brands and more all took a chance on a fledgling program that started with a simple concept: New Englanders value having local dairy farms and would be willing to voluntarily support those family farms by paying a little extra to support them. We cannot thank those partners enough for what they have done.”

In addition to raising money for local dairy farms throughout the six states, the program has education at the heart of its mission. The Keep Local Farms website KeepLocalFarms.org features videos of dairy farmers talking about what they do, and why they love dairy farming. There are educational videos, such as one that illustrates how milk gets from the cow to the kitchen table. More such efforts are promised in the years ahead.

For more information about Keep Local Farms and to make a contribution, please visit www.KeepLocalFarms.org.

Download this press release here.

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About Keep Local Farms

Launched in September 2009, Keep Local Farms is part of a broad effort to educate consumers about the value of local dairy farms and also to raise funds to support New England dairy farmers. Keep Local Farms is partnering with retailers, universities and businesses to support local dairy farmers and the products they produce while increasing the demand for local milk. The program was developed by the Vermont Dairy Promotion Council, New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative and New England Dairy Promotion Board. For more information, visit www.KeepLocalFarms.org.

CONTACT:

Diane Bothfeld, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Vermont Agency of Agriculture
Diane.Bothfeld@state.vt.us, 802. 828.2430

Jane Clifford, Chairperson
New England Family Dairy Farms Cooperative
ejclifford@comcast.net, 802.233.9563

Jenny Karl, MS, RD, LDN
New England Dairy Promotion Board
JKarl@NewEnglandDairy.com, 617.997.9241

Great Brook Farm in Carlisle, Massachusetts is home to the state’s only robotic milking system, and it’s making headlines! Watch the Hidden Gems Segment on Chronicle as farm owners Mark and Tamma Duffy describe their “Smart Barn,” which includes an robotic scratcher, an automatic dung shovel, and a robotic milker!