The World’s most Socially Responsible Cookie

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Vermont cookie maker releases new and improved socially responsible product line.

Liz Lovely Inc, a Vermont-based, nationally distributed cookie maker has re-released their entire line of cookies as Certified Organic, Certified Fair Trade and Certified Vegan. This is the first nationally distributed product in this segment to acquire all three certifications. The suggested retail price of the cookies has not changed: $3.99 to $4.39 for "2 big ones".

"The wizards at Liz Lovely made my favorite cookies even better! They’re now Certified Organic and Fair Trade Certified. And at the same price…wow!" remarked Clem Nilan, Director of Purchasing for City Market, a downtown cooperative grocer in Burlington, Vermont.

I still remember the first time I tasted a Liz Lovely cookie. I am not a vegan. I can’t even say I eat very healthy—except now that chocolate and coffee are considered healthy my healthy eating rating may have soared.

After one bite, I could not believe they were Vegan. They tasted as good or better than anything vegan I had ever tasted.

They were so good, I was afraid I would eat them all up quickly (and I KNEW that was not healthy)

I called my favorite vegan and asked him to come try the cookies. Cliff eagerly came over and pronounced them the best he had ever tasted. (Just for background, you should know that Cliff’s Vegan and Cookie credentials are based on the fact that he got me started on Trader Joe’s unsalted peanut butter)

Cliff has good taste—but is really picky about what he eats. I know he would pick Liz Lovely cookies.

Liz Lovely Releases First Certified Organic, Fair Trade, Vegan Cookies

According to Dan Holtz, Liz Lovely’s vice president of sales, "Customer demand for Organic and Fair Trade products is huge, and still growing. We’re first-to-market with these certifications, and it was not easy to achieve all three certifications. Our new recipe uses only sustainably harvested organic palm fruit oil in place of the processed egg and butter substitutes we were using previously. It’s also important to note that, unlike palm kernel oil, palm fruit oil is heart-healthy and 100% free of trans-fat."

While many natural foods companies look outside their business for recipe formulation and manufacturing resources, Liz Holtz, president and founder of Liz Lovely, does not subscribe to this philosophy. According to Liz, "We have an artisan philosophy. Everything is made from scratch in our own bakery, not in some giant contracted food factory." She added, "We’re extremely excited about the new organic recipes. They’re uncompromising in flavor and in their commitment to social responsibility."

Liz Lovely partnered with the Vermont chapter of the Northeast Organic Farmers Association and TransFair USA to identify available ingredients, setup audit trail systems, and prepare the business for Organic and Fair Trade certification with the respective organizations. Liz Lovely has been Certified Vegan by Vegan Action since their inception in 2003.

AND SO THE LOVE STORY ENDS HAPPILY AND HEALTHY EVER AFTER

Liz Lovely was founded in 2003 by high school sweethearts Liz and Dan Holtz and is located in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Liz Lovely, Inc. bakes and distributes Certified Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Certified Vegan cookies to leading natural foods retailers throughout the country. Cookies include Cowboy, Cowgirl, Peanut Butter, Ginger Snapdragon and Macadamia Mountain. Liz Lovely also sells eco-friendly baked goods and gift baskets for consumers, corporate giving, and events directly from their website. The company’s socially responsible mission is summed up in their tagline, Baking a DifferenceTM

For more about Liz Lovely, visit www.lizlovely.com