CB’s Nuts Ramps Up Peanut Butter Jarring Operation With Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan

April 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Kingston, WA  – Craft roaster CB’s Nuts announced today that its new jarring operation for CB’s PB, an organic, all natural peanut butter line, is up and running thanks to a loan from Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program. CB’s Nuts used the $55,000 loan to purchase and install new peanut butter processing equipment in its Kingston, Washington roasting facility, enabling a twenty-fold increase in production capacity and quicker response to consumer demand.

CB’s PB offers consumers an alternative to both “no stir” peanut butters that contain palm oil and "all natural" peanut butters that contain up to an inch of oil, caused by the months or even years that may pass between production and consumption. By combining super fresh peanuts with a long roasting process, CB’s Nuts eliminates the need to add palm oil to their peanut butter while also preventing significant oil separation and the need to stir before use.

“More and more consumers are seeking an organic, truly all natural peanut butter that is fresh and easy to use and store,” stated Tami Bowen, president of CB’s Nuts. “CB’s PB is uniquely positioned to fill that market gap. We are grateful to Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program for helping us bring our organic, all natural peanut butter to the shelf more quickly and efficiently.”

Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program provides low interest loans ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 to help small, local producers expand their business and bring more local products to market.  Since the program was established in 2007, Whole Foods has granted $4 million in loans to 80 producers across the country.

“CB’s Nuts exemplifies the qualities we look for in our Local Producer Loan recipients–the ability to deliver a consistent, high quality product, to achieve targeted sales figures on a regional level, and to scale to other Whole Foods Market regions,” said Denise Breyley, Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Northwest local forager. “We are thrilled to be working with them to roll out CB’s PB in Pacific Northwest Whole Foods Markets…and beyond.”

CB's PB is delivered fresh to stores within 2-4 days of roasting and jarring. The Local Producer Loan will enable CB’s Nuts to maintain this high standard of freshness as it expands availability of CB’s PB to other Whole Foods Market regions, including Northern California later this year.

To learn more about CB’s PB, visit http://cbsnuts.com. To learn more about Whole Foods Market’s commitment to local producers, farmers and suppliers, visit Denise Breyley's blog at http://www.thelocalforager.com or http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

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CB’s Nuts is a craft producer of CB’s PB organic peanut butter and roaster of peanuts, pistachios, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds. CB’s Nuts’ unique brining process and custom made barrel roasters bring out the flavor potential of every nut. CB’s Nuts products are available at over 450 retail outlets across Washington and Oregon, online at http://cbsnuts.com, or at the company’s retail store and roasting facility in Kingston, Washington. Connect with CB’s Nuts at http://twitter.com/CBsNuts and http://www.facebook.com/pages/CBs-Nuts/36149578526.