The Caviar of Maine - Gladstone's Under The Sun

The Caviar of Maine

Blueberries. Yum! One may imagine the fun of summer picking or ‘super food’ full of antioxidants or better yet, blueberry pie. How about economic development? Hmmm? Well, maybe not so much. However, Rosemary and Craig Gladstone believe wild Maine blueberries are a much more valuable commodity – especially in the form of caviar.

Caviar of Maine® is the signature product of the fruit processing company Gladstone’s Under The Sun located in Hancock, Maine. Rosemary and Craig are committed to producing healthy foods that maintain and enhance the health benefits of wild blueberries while working with local growers.

Double Up On The Innovation – It's Not Just A Summer Thing –

True to Maine culture, the Gladstones operate their business with a commitment to social responsibility. After starting their berry adventure in 2001, they desired a greener, more sustainable fruit drying method that could operate year round. Their proprietary production reduces an industry standard of a 4-day process to only 90 minutes and produces no waste. Yes, really! Plus their tasty treats have less than half the sugar content of similar products ~ use only fruit ingredients with no additives or preservatives ~ and have and extended shelf life of the dried fruit over similar products. Adding to their novelty, Gladstone's Under The Sun built a custom dryer in Brewer (the only commercial fruit dryer in Maine) that significantly decreases energy consumption while increasing production output by 8 to 10 times in a 40-hour week. Wow, that seems pretty amazing even in the simplest form of green – I mean blue.

And don’t forget, blueberries equal jobs, right? This specialty food company promises a wide variety of employment opportunities in the Downeast region of Maine. If you’re feeling truly “blue” you may want to consider a diverse marketing opportunity working with retail customers on the web, wholesale customers in high-end gourmet stores, natural food stores and mainstream grocery stores.

Innovation Recognized –

Super food, yes. Super innovation, also yes. Gladstone’s Under The Sun received the Maine Technology Development Award for their high-tech blueberry dryer. The U.S. Aid Farmer to Farmer program recognized Caviar of Maine® for its proprietary, healthy processing method. The Hancock County Extension Association awarded Rosemary and Craig the Business Leadership in Action Award for their commitment to building community, promoting healthy living, raising environmental awareness and promoting a lifetime of learning.

Maine NewsSimply is pleased to feature Gladstone’s Under the Sun and their Caviar of Maine® in our Memic Spotlight on Business. Take a minute to check them out at www.mainemunchies.com.