Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., rolls out a signature, Alpine-style cheese named Lionza. Inspired by the town in Switzerland's Italian sector where owner John Fiscalini's family has been dairying and making cheese for more than 300 years, this semi-hard, savory and fragrant cheese is rich and nutty with a touch of fruitiness.



Fiscalini Cheese Co., Modesto, Calif., rolls out a signature, Alpine-style cheese named Lionza. Inspired by the town in Switzerland's Italian sector where owner John Fiscalini's family has been dairying and making cheese for more than 300 years, this semi-hard, savory and fragrant cheese is rich and nutty with a touch of fruitiness. Delicious for nibbling at room temperature or slightly warmer, it also offers a wide range of recipe uses-from salads and pastas to egg dishes, sauces and gratins.

John and Heather Fiscalini are proud of their new "baby." "It's a special pleasure to build on the traditions of one's ancestors and launch this unique ‘ancient' cheese with a contemporary twist," says John Fiscalini. "As we expand facilities and plan to purchase new equipment, there will most likely be other new products."

Flemington, N.Y.-based Johanna Foods Inc., the number-one U.S. manufacturer of Hispanic yogurt-Sabor Latino™-introduces two flavors to it flagship yogurt brand, La Yogurt®. Dulce De Leche has a delectable, rich caramel flavor that satisfies everyone's craving for something sweet. The Horchata variety is a creamy blend of cinnamon-flavored yogurt. It is derived from a traditional Mexican drink made with a blend of rice, cinnamon and almonds. Johanna Foods is focused on expanding the Sabor Latino line, as the Hispanic market is the fastest growing ethnic market in the United States.

The makers of Borden® Cheese are shaking up the shredded cheese category with the introduction of Shred Medleys™. This new product line combines the high quality and wholesome freshness of shredded Borden Cheese blends with unique Season Sensations™ spice packs to give mealtime favorites a quick and easy new spin. The Season Sensations spice pack lets consumers control how much seasoning to add in cheese dishes while eliminating the need to measure individual spices.

"Our consumers tell us that Shred Medleys meets these needs," says Mark Korsmeyer, president of American Dairy Brands, Kansas City, Mo. "What sets this product apart from our competitors is the specially blended Season Sensations pack that complements the mix of cheeses. We have removed the guesswork for consumers trying to figure out proper ratios of spices to cheese. Yet, the consumer still has control over how much seasoning to use, a little or a lot depending on taste preferences."

Shred Medleys is available in 7-oz packages in four flavor combinations: Garden Blend, Pesto Parmesan, Southwestern Style and Tuscan Herb. Suggested retail price is $1.98. Marketing efforts to support the product launch include consumer promotions, public relations, point-of-sale materials, online and product sampling.

Y.U.M., the acronym for "Your Ultimate Milk," is fat-free milk enriched with natural plant sterols, which are associated with heart health. Y.U.M comes packaged in glass quart bottles and in three varieties: Chocolate, White and White Chocolate.

Y.U.M. rolled out at the end of September throughout the Southern half of the United States, from Southern California across to Florida and up the East Coast into Virginia. "We first presented Y.U.M. in our home state of Texas and it is rapidly achieving broad distribution throughout the state with increasingly health-conscious retailers anxious to get it into their markets," says Gordon Kuenemann, executive v.p., Promised Land Dairy, San Antonio, Texas.

Harold Lees, president, adds, "Most adults today are concerned about the risk of heart disease and Y.U.M. is the first milk to address this issue with a natural plant extract in Jersey Cow milk that is Kosher and free from artificial growth hormones." He emphasizes that Y.U.M. is made with only Jersey Cow milk because Jersey Cow milk naturally delivers more calcium and protein and has more non-fat solids for a creamier, richer taste than milk from Holstein cows.

Plant sterols have been clinically shown to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and products containing them are eligible for the FDA health claim: foods containing at least 0.4g per serving of plant sterols, consumed twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 0.8g, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.