As food corporations expand globally, decision-making often becomes more centralized, creating a natural distance from the fields where crops are cultivated. This distance can make it harder to maintain direct connections with the growers who sustain the land, and with them, the on-the-ground insight essential to long-term stewardship. Bridging this gap through closer collaboration with local communities and those who directly tend the crops can align operational efficiency with enduring social and environmental responsibility. Knouse Foods puts this philosophy into practice, reinstating ownership and stewardship with those who have the most intimate knowledge of the orchards. A leader in the production of branded and private-label fruit products, the company operates as a grower-owned cooperative representing more than 100 family farms across the Appalachian Valley. The livelihoods of these farmers’ depend on the long-term health of their land, creating a level of care and commitment that industrial suppliers struggle to match. “Our ownership model shapes everything we do from how the fruit is grown to how it reaches kitchens nationwide,” says Todd H. Michael, senior director of sales, food service division. “The direct connection provides our partners with consistent quality and a reliable supply of ingredients year after year.” That dedication is reflected in the company’s broad product lineup, delivering high-quality fruit products to consumers across the country. It includes applesauce, sliced apples, juice, cider, apple butter, and fruit fillings or toppings, all produced under the trusted Musselman’s and Lucky Leaf brands. The products align with modern menu expectations, offering clean-label options free from synthetic colors, artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or genetically engineered ingredients. The clean-label approach is more than just a selling point. It’s a philosophy that threads through every product and partnership. This commitment supports a diverse range of foodservice needs, from schools and healthcare facilities to restaurants.

Splendor Water delivers premium naturally pure sparkling water from the Cotopaxi Volcano and bottled at the source in La Mana, Ecuador. Its standards align with the craftsmanship associated with longstanding European brands. Unlike mainstream sparkling water brands in the U.S. that often feel overwhelmingly carbonated or even ‘spicy’, Splendor Water offers light carbonation that enhances the water’s natural taste without overpowering it. Its balanced minerals and low total dissolved solids deliver a clean, refreshing taste. This careful balance makes it enjoyable on its own and versatile as a mixer for cocktails, mocktails and creative water combinations. “Our goal has always been to offer water that truly tastes like Splendor’s unmatched clean, crisp taste, with just a touch of bubbles,” says Sara Couch, General Manager of Splendor Water U.S. Splendor started with a vision to bottle clean-tasting volcanic mineral water from Ecuador, prized for its rare mineral balance of electrolytes and colloidal gold and silver—one of the only sources in the world to contain this unique combination. Over time, the brand expanded, introducing a sparkling version which has since won accolades such as the Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Institute and a Gold Medal from the Fine Water Society. Today, every bottle delivers consistent quality, appealing to restaurants, cafés and hotels.