Food Connects was thrilled to onboard Short Creek Farm as a new vendor in 2022. Based out of Northwood, NH, Short Creek Farm crafts unique and delicious sausage, salami, and bacon, as well as fresh cuts of meat from their own pasture-raised meats and heritage-breed pork from other family farms in the U.S. We had a chance to ask Co-Founder Jeff Backer more about the farm and its delicious products.
August is New Hampshire Eats Local month, and who better to talk to about local food than New Hampshire Magazine’s Best of New Hampshire Editor’s Choice awardee, Jack’s Crackers! We reached out to Kevin Dremmel, creator of these superb crackers, to learn more about what makes these crackers so special and why the local food movement is so important.
Frisky Cow Gelato has been certified as a B Corporation joining 12 other NH B Corp businesses, committed to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.
Keene-based gelato producer, Frisky Cow Gelato has announced today its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
Frisky Cow Gelato has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, as having met the highest social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit. To receive this certification, Frisky Cow Gelato underwent a rigorous assessment that measures and verifies the entirety of a business's operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Customers, Community, Environment, and Workers.
“We wanted to focus on more than just the bottom line with Frisky Cow Gelato, which is why we incorporated as a NH Benefit Corporation in 2018,” says owner, Linda Rubin. “This means we were legally committed right from the start to doing environmental and social good.”
According to Ms. Rubin, the B Corp certification process took nearly two years requiring the business to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy, supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity, and corporate transparency. In addition, every company must legally embed their commitment to a purpose beyond profit in their company articles which Frisky Cow Gelato did when it incorporated in 2018.
Frisky Cow Gelato is now part of a community of 4,600 businesses globally (13 in New Hampshire) who have been certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the US, representing a broad cross-section of industries and sizes, comprises over 900 companies and includes well-known brands such as Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., Cabot Creamery, King Arthur Baking Co., Tom’s of Maine, and Pete & Gerry’s Organics. In New Hampshire, Frisky Cow Gelato joins well-known local corporations including Badger and Mascoma Bank.
Frisky Cow Gelato has a history of social responsibility. Since its inception the company has donated a portion of its revenue to nonprofit organizations building the local food system including Food Connects, the Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition and the Cheshire County Conservation District. In 2021, the company launched a Keene State College signature flavor – Mint Owl Crunch – and donates a portion of the sale of every pint to address food insecurity among KSC students.
“As a NH Benefit Corporation sourcing ingredients, services, and other goods from local companies was extremely important to us, says Rubin. “Donating a portion of our revenue to area non-profits was also high on the list.”
Jorge Fontanez, CEO of B Lab US and Canada, says “We are delighted to welcome Frisky Cow Gelato to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how the business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased to support Frisky Cow Gelato in paving the way for a new way of doing things in the food sector”.
“When businesses are intentional about meeting social and environmental standards—and focus on more than just the bottom line—we can all affect change while making ourselves more competitive along the way,” says Ms. Rubin. “That’s what the B Corp movement is all about, using business as a force for good.”
About Frisky Cow Gelato Founded in 2018, Frisky Cow Gelato specializes in creating premium artisan gelatos that are dastardly delicious. Their products are sold in more than 50 retail stores in NH, VT, and MA. They also operate a gelato scoop shop in Keene and provide a gelato bar for weddings, parties, and community events. Frisky Cow Gelato creates all its gelatos from scratch at its licensed NH dairy processing facility on Krif Rd in Keene.
Frisky Cow Gelato is a NH Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp and donates 2% of its annual revenue to local organizations working to build the local food system, fight food insecurity, and address environmental issues.
About B Corporations Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement of people using business as a force for good. They meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. There are more than 2,000 Certified B Corporations in over 130 industries and 50 countries with 1 unifying goal – to redefine success in business.
About B Lab B Lab is a nonprofit organization that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good. Its vision is that one day all companies compete not only to be the best in the world, but the Best for the World®, and as a result society will enjoy a more shared and durable prosperity. For more information, visit www.bcorporation.net and www.benefitcorp.net.
If you wander slightly off of Main Street in Keene, NH, you will find a a small Roastery and Espresso Bar attached to an antique store. This hip little space, a hidden gem for many locals, is home to Terra Nova Coffee. Now owned by Jeff and Eliza Murphy, Terra Nova Coffee is a staple of many residents frequenting the Brewbakers Cafe on Main Street.
Terra Nova Coffee is unique in that it is one of the few 100% USDA Organic and ethically-sourced coffee roasters in New England. “We are able to track every bean all the way back to the origin, which includes USDA certification in our facility, but also to international organic certifications at the source,” says Jeff Murphy. “What makes us unique though, is the people behind the product. This includes every hand along the supply chain, and most directly—our passionate team of roasters and baristas. We roast in small batches in our beautiful manual roaster in our tasting room where we customers are able to sample any of our coffees via pour over or our custom La Marzocco espresso machine.”
Jeff particularly loves their single origin Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, with its complex floral, tea, and blueberry notes. But he finds that he has different "favorites" throughout the year. “Coffee origins can change from lot to lot based on growing conditions each season. It's always exciting to cup new lots and experience these variances and adjust our processes to best suit their profiles.” And if you want to try something a little different, Jeff recommends the delicious espresso blend in their Vanilla Cardamom Latte with local Manning Hill Farm milk.
Choosing to be part of the downtown Keene community and selling locally is important to Jeff. “Downtown Keene is a special place. I am amazed every year how many visitors we see coming from around the country, and around the world to experience our quintessential downtown. It is beautiful and unique, and we have a culture in Keene of support for existing and new businesses that operate in our growing footprint of downtown. It is the partnership between our citizens, businesses, and city officials that has really fortified downtown Keene as a key point in our local economy. We are excited for the growth and development that is slated in the coming years in Keene!”
Jeff not only sells locally, but buys locally as well. As a downtown business, he knows how important it is to support his friends and neighbors. “The local food movement and economy is important to me because it is what makes our region unique and special. By supporting local businesses; you are supporting your neighbors, helping to create jobs, reducing our carbon footprint, and supporting a strong network that can not be replaced by giant corporations or Amazon. The local food movement is important to me because fresh and direct is always best! I love interacting with our local farms and producers; learning about their processes and seeing behind the scenes of their work, knowing that our support goes directly to local families and individuals.”
“Being a small business owner wearing many hats every day,” says Jeff. “I have found Food Connects to be a valuable partner. They have helped us reach out to dozens of new customers by identifying potential sales channels, distributing samples, and marketing assets. Our wholesale customer base has grown throughout our time with Food Connects, and with two weekly deliveries we are able to get product to our customers quickly and maintain the freshness that we can stand behind.”
We are excited to continue to grow with Terra Nova. Be sure to stop in to one of their locations next time your are in Keene to meet the unique people behind the coffee. And keep an eye out for their seasonal Fireside Blend to hit the shelves this holiday season!
Frisky Cow Gelato is one our new products at Food Connects (and something seems to get quickly consumed from our staff freezer). This locally-made, creamy, and delicious product will be sure to satisfy your sweet-tooth.
Owner and founder, Linda Rubin, spent nine years working at Stonewall Farm in Keene, NH (the last working dairy farm in Keene) and several more years serving on their board of Directors (1995-2011). She dreamed about ways to make the farm's dairy more profitable, therefore contributing to the long term sustainability of the educational non-profit. When her son, Zach got married at Stonewall Farm in September 2017 she began thinking about the dairy operation again.
"It's not easy to be a small non-profit with a dairy farm on it—dairy farms are closing all over the country. I was really inspired to do my small part," said Linda Rubin. “The farm had a creamery that was not being used so I pitched the idea of starting Frisky Cow Gelato—leasing the creamery, purchasing organic milk, and donating a portion of the revenue from the business to Stonewall Farm.”
Linda had her first taste of gelato in Florence, Italy when as a high school chemistry teacher she chaperoned 60 students on a summer trip throughout Europe. “I remember people waiting at gelaterias (shops that serve gelato) for an hour or more each night to be served. I never forgot that taste!” Not only did she gain a love for gelato while in Italy, but she also studied the art of gelato-making at the Italian Carpigiani University in Chicago.
Frisky Cow Gelato is great tasting, high quality, artisan gelato made right in our own back yard. Made with 100% organic milk, it is also gluten-free, and made in small batches from scratch with no artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. It is a low overrun frozen treat that is full of rich, fresh flavor, and made with local ingredients whenever possible. She also purchases maple cream from Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple, NH, coffee from Prime Roast in Keene, NH, blueberries from Monadnock Berries in Troy, NH, and strawberries from Stonewall Farm.
“I think its important, especially in a rural part of the country, for people to invest in their communities, to support the farms, restaurants, shops, and salons that bring color to our neighborhoods and strengthen our local economy,” said Linda. “I see being a part of the local food movement as a way to provide local jobs, work with local farmers and specialty food producers, and contribute to the state's tax base. The local food movement is also important because it begins to address critical issues relating to food insecurity, open space, climate change, energy consumption, and our agricultural heritage.”
And what about that name? “I gave my gelato the name, Frisky Cow, because I wanted it to be a very accessible and fun treat—not something you would only eat in Italy.” And boy, are we glad we can get this tasty treat right here!
Want a taste of this great gelato? Frisky Cow Gelato will be at the Keene Farmers’ Market beginning in May, the Food Truck Roundup Thursday nights in June and July at the Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, the Strolling of the Heifers event in Brattleboro on Saturday, June 8th, and a celebration of National Ice Cream Day at Stonewall Farm on July 20th .