Honey, molasses and raisin juice. Three simple and recognizable ingredients proven by the test of time.
Who are we to mess with a sure thing? Our breads get their unique flavor and touch of sweetness from honey, molasses and raisin juice.
a wise choice
Honey dates back to 2100 B.C. where it was mentioned in Sumerian and Babylonian writings.
that's a lot!
Honeybees have to tap over 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey, flying a distance over three times around the world.
back to basics
Molasses was used as the primary sweetener until the 1880s when refined white sugar became more prominent.
There's a limit to our planet's resources.
And at Country Hearth, we're trying to do our part to be as efficient as possible by doing things like installing solar panels and reusing heat from our ovens.
solar panels
Solar panels, installed on our roofs, power our offices throughout the Upper Midwest.
reused heat
Catalytic oxidizers recycle heat that would otherwise be lost from ovens. That recycled energy supplies heat in winter and, in summer, supplies hot water.
Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?
We definitely think so, so we made sure that our packaging is as earth-friendly as possible and that we recycle nearly all of our waste. Every year, 100% of our leftover product is fed to humans or made into animal feed, and 96.7% of all other waste is recycled.
twist
ties
Throwing away one twist tie may not seem like a lot. But it is when you consider that most aren't biodegradable. We take comfort knowing that ours are.
the
bags
Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. We hope by going the extra mile that we — and not our plastic — will be around in the years to come.
all the rest
Nearly 100% of our waste is recycled. This includes metal, plastic, paper, and cardboard.
Sure, we spend our time baking, but when we're not making our next batch of bread the best it can be, we're focusing on bettering the lives of our employees and our communities.
no
waste
None of our bread is wasted. Every year, 100 percent of our bread has been donated to area food shelves, with the remainder recycled into animal feed.
for schools
Our Loaves 4 Learning program donates thousands of dollars to schools in your community.
our people
A number of our employees have been a part of the Country Hearth family for 25+ years.
Our philosophy is simple. You put good in, you get good out. That's why we take extra steps like using allergen-free, natural ingredients in our breads, and capturing the sun's energy with our own rooftop solar panels. Simple actions that all add up to being good for our bodies and for the earth.
There's nothing wrong with being a little nutty, unless you're allergic.
And if you or your child is, you know contact or ingestion could be fatal.
a wise choice
A particle as small as 1/1,000th of a peanut can trigger an allergic reaction. To avoid cross-contamination, all our bakeries are free of tree nuts and peanuts.
on the
rise
Peanut allergies are growing. One study showed that the number of cases tripled between 1997 and 2008.
Having a dairy intolerance or allergy can be uncomfortable or even deadly. Cutting dairy out of your diet could alleviate health issues you may not have associated with dairy.
At Country Hearth, we've taken care to eliminate any dairy in our recipes, including the butter from our Split Top varieties.
allergic reaction
People with a milk or dairy protein allergy experience a range of symptoms, from wheezing to joint pain.
tummy trouble?
Some people lack the enzyme that breaks down the sugars in milk.
Soy allergens are hidden in all kinds of products. Allergic reactions range from asthma to a potentially deadly allergic attack, so be sure to read the teeny tiny print.
But when it comes to natural, delicious bread, Country Hearth has nothing to hide. We're soy-allergen free!
top allergen
Soy is among the top nine most common food allergens for both children and adults. Reactions range from mild asthma to a full anaphylaxis attack, which could be deadly.
hide & seek
Soy allergens are hidden in all kinds of products, including baked goods, canned tuna and meat, cereals, cookies, crackers, energy bars, processed meats, sauces, and canned broths and soups.
Often because it's cheaper and extends the shelf life of foods, many commercial breads contain high fructose corn syrup.
At Country Hearth, we use natural sweeteners like honey, molasses and raisin juice. Although they cost more, we believe quality ingredients make better bread.
fat & fructose
Princeton researchers found that high fructose corn syrup promotes weight gain.
not natural
High fructose corn syrup isn't natural; it's modified corn.
corn
crack
Scientists say high fructose corn syrup is as addictive as cocaine!