Nana's Cookie Co., San Diego, participated in the launch of Generation Rescue, an international movement of scientists, physicians and parent-volunteers researching the causes and treatments for autism and helping more than 20,000 children begin biomedical treatment. Nana's line of no-gluten cookies is popular with the autistic, celiac and ADD/ADHD communities and those on a casein- and dairy-free diet, and will thus serve as a Jenny McCarthy preferred product. Nana's cookies are all natural, vegan and kosher, and are created without trans fat or refined sugar.

SunOpta Inc., Toronto, expanded its healthful oils platform with an agreement to distribute Daabon Organic USA Inc.'s organic palm oil products. The company's Grains and Foods Group will distribute Daabon's line of organic shortenings, stearins and olein, produced under the FreshPress brand. These products, sold primarily to the baking industry, are expected to add about $2 million in revenues in 2009.

In addition, the company's joint venture with Colorado Mills, Lamar, Colo., to develop a 35 million-lb. oilseed refinery focused on expeller-pressed, trans fat-free sunflower oil and soy oil products, is on target for a spring 2009 startup. The additional capacity is expected to generate annual revenues of about $10 million and further position the company as a key player in the organic vegetable oils sector.

MGP Ingredients Inc. (MGPI), Atchison, Kan., entered into an agreement with ConAgra Mills. ConAgra will supply MGPI's wheat flour to produce its protein and starch ingredients. MGPI has supplied its own flour since acquiring Pillsbury's Atchison mill in 1987; however, “wheat milling as a component of our overall ingredient solutions value chain is not a step in which MGPI can uniquely create value,” said Tim Newkirk, president and C.E.O.

“From a personnel standpoint, the discontinuation of our milling operations at this time is a difficult and painful decision,” Newkirk added. “However, it is one that we find necessary for the good of the business and our overall workforce, as well as in the best interest of our stockholders. This potential change will also enable us to more effectively serve our customers.”

Caravan Ingredients, Lenexa, Kan., increased prices on its vitamin premixes. The increases ranged from 20 percent to 100 percent and were because of the increased cost of raw materials. “Global shortages have pushed prices to unprecedented levels,” said Bill Gambel, director of specialty ingredients.