Company Profiles

Jody’s of Virginia Beach is Now OU KOSHER Certified

Jody’s, a Virginia Beach confectionary specializing in popcorn, fudge and caramel apples, started 2010 off right. On January 4, 2010, Jody’s became Orthodox Union, OU Kosher certified.

Down in Old Kentucky, OU Certified Bluegrass Dairy Hits the Finish Line First at the Kentucky State Fair

In what may be considered the Kentucky Derby of cheese competitions, OU kosher-certified cheese manufactured by Bluegrass Dairy & Food/Glasgow Division of Glasgow and Springfield, KY recently won first place gold in all three classes at the Kentucky State Fair for its Natural Cheddar (Wilderness Trails brand) and its Natural Gouda (Bluegrass Dairy & Food […]

At Kingsburg Orchards, Kosher Coatings Make Their Fruits Peachy Keen

An OU employee, let’s call him Chaim, recently called me during his recent trip out west. “Rabbi,” he asked, “I’m standing here in the produce section of a Walmart in Nevada. And I see peaches that have a sticker with an OU on it. Is this for real?” “Yes,” I replied, knowing that we had […]

OU and Fortitech: A Mutually Fortifying Relationship

The Talmud teaches us that the more contact a person has with another individual, the knowledge of that individual increases substantially. This certainly applies to an OU rabbinic coordinator’s relationship with a company. As a seasoned RC, I’ve had the privilege of cultivating close relationships with more than 200 companies; Fortitech Inc. is one for […]

On the Beam

On the Beam: In Largest Liquor Kosher Certification in U.S., DeKuyper® 60-Flavor Line of Cordials and Liqueurs Receives OU Symbol

The close relationship between OU Kosher and Cincinnati-based Beam Global Spirits and Wine, which goes back to 1992, became even closer in March, 2007 when Beam’s 60-flavor array of DeKuyper® cordials and liqueurs, the best-selling line of those products in the United States, was certified OU Kosher. The 60-product certification was the largest liquor kosher certification ever in the United States.

For Goodness Sakes: Takara Sake USA Bridges Cultural Divide by Becoming OU Kosher

Anytime you take on the task of persuading one culture that has its own treasured traditions to embrace the tradition of another distinctly different culture, you had better buckle in for the ride, as it is bound to be a long and bumpy road. The people at Takara Sake USA know this in a way that only first-hand experience can teach, as it is exactly what they have been doing since their main brand of sake, Sho Chiku Bai, was introduced into the American market.
Established in 1982 in Berkeley, California, Takara Sake USA is now the top selling producer of sake (Japanese “rice wine”) in the United States. The superior water obtained from pure Sierra Nevada Mountains snow melt and premium rice grown in the fertile Sacramento Valley combine perfectly with the San Francisco Bay Area’s moderate climate to create ideal conditions for sake production. It is a recipe for successful sake-making that leaves no wonder as to why Takara Sake USA has captured the heart, and discerning palate, of America.

At Takara, the Traditional and the Modern Combine to Produce High Quality Sake

Although the production facility at Takara Sake is modern, the process for making sake is traditional. Sake is rice wine, and to develop the delicate flavor profile that reflects high quality sake, considerable care must be given to maintaining the long-perfected methods that Takara Sake brought over from Japan.
The process starts out with steamed rice, which is fermented using a Japanese method that induces the rice grains to yield desired flavor notes. Traditional sake does not have any additional flavors other than those native to rice. The finished product is crisp, clean, and powerful. Takara Sake has added to its traditional sake product line apple, lychee, and other flavors.

Keeping it Kosher in Sunnyside

SUNNYSIDE — The way Rabbi Yitzchok Gallor walks through Sunnyside’s Valley Processing plant, he easily could be mistaken for a manager. He checks temperatures, checks the plant’s equipment and points out any inconsistencies to the company’s owners. While Gallor is not an employee of Valley Processing, he could be called its most important customer. He […]

It’s Cott to be Good if the Beverage is OU Kosher

Today’s consumer is flooded with beverage choices. Is it that standard refreshing cola, tart lemon-lime or that sweet orange-flavored soda you are looking for? Perhaps it’s the New-Age fortified, vitamin-enriched waters or a sports drink. The choices are endless. However, the one word most consumers recognize about a beverage is if it’s “kosher.” Kosher is also used as a term indicating “its high quality!”

Cabot Quality Gets Stronger with OU Kosher Cheese

Kosher has its roots in Judaism, but its future has a much broader audience, as the term has come to be synonymous with quality. And in today’s America, with food safety recalls occurring on what seems to be a regular basis, many Americans are turning to well-recognized kosher certifiers such as the Orthodox Union for the reassurance they need to once again have faith in their food supply.