Sweet Dreams Are Made of Plant Based Cheese | OATzarella (Virtual Organic Week 2021)

This is organic, plant-based, gluten-free, nut-free mozzarella, and, let me tell you, it was love at first bite. No really. I found this amazing vegan cheese at Fancy Food Show in February 2020, which, ironically, is a show that has the most dairy cheese I’ve ever seen. I took a bite and stayed for many more samples, because I truly couldn’t get over the delicious taste and texture. I'm very GRATEful to share Oatzarella with you and feature them for my virtual Organic Week. If you missed out on yesterday’s feature with Bragg, click here.

Two years ago, around this time, I was in Washington D.C. with the Organic Trade Association (OTA) as one of their influencers to "hit the Hill" to lobby for the future of the Organic industry and, more specifically, the Farm Bill. Organic Week D.C. is an amazing week organized by the OTA. Organic businesses travel to D.C. to hit the Hill and meet with key members of Congress! When you support the ORGANIC industry, you are supporting organic brands and organic farmers that believe in the health and wellness of your family. Did you know that there are 700 chemicals that are prohibited in organic farming, yet 3000 chemicals are allowed in conventional farming as opposed to 67 that are allowed in organic. Organic producers, farmers and brands are committed to making healthy food safe and available to all Americans! (Here's a group photo from 2019 when we HIT THE HILL with the OTA!) Read more about that trip HERE.

In 2019, we were able to travel to Washington D.C. for an in person Organic Week, but last year things were moved to a virtual "Organic Week”, and I decided to do my own version in 2020 and host a Virtual Organic Week featuring amazing brands (Live More Organics Freak Flag Organics Four Sigmatic Pines Wheatgrass Artisana Organics Evolved Rebbl) that I love. Eating organic is important to our family and I even write about it in my book, Eat Real Food.

This year, I’m sharing some of my favorite USDA Organic brands and products with you each day on social media and here on www.KrystensKitchen.com, as well as sharing some Q + As with each brand. Follow along on Instagram, too! Please show these brands some love!

Oatzarella makes organic, Top 8-free, oat milk-based, vegan, kosher products including cheese wheels and shredded cheeses in a few flavors (Original, Italian Herb and Chipotle Pepper) and now cheesecakes! They recently launched their cheesecakes at Sprouts nationwide which come in Chocolate and Original. All of their products are produced in a facility that is Top 8-free and made in Southern California.

Most brands start with a mission and have a story behind the masterpieces they create. Oatzarella is no different. When the founder’s daughter was born with serious food allergies. The family adopted a mainly plant-based diet and quickly learned that so many kids (and big kids, too) have food allergies. Their mission was to create an organic, high quality ingredient, plant-based, free of top allergens line that tasted delicious. They did just that. I was blown away with my first bite and kept coming back for more.

If you're interested in learning more about Oatzarella visit their website here or follow them on instagram.

Why did you start your company/ Why did the company start? OATzarella was started really by accident! We wanted to develop a plant-based cheese for my daughter, as she suffers from food allergies and didn't like what was available at the grocery store. On a whim, we took OATzarella to a food show and it was named a top 9 product of the entire show. The rest is history!

Why is creating organic products important to you? In our home, it is organic or bust. We also focus in on Non GMO Project verified as well. Really we eat fresh and clean label ingredients. Our bodies are not designed to intake chemicals and poor quality, modified ingredients. Our belief is organic eating will lead to better brain development for our kids, and healthier bodies for us all.

What do you wish consumers understood about organic ingredients/sourcing organic ingredients? Organic is generally a bit more expensive, but it is far cheaper in the long run. Reducing your long term chances of diseases means reducing your future reduction in wages, hospital bills, and other costs of ailment. Sometimes it is hard to take the long view of things, but surely reducing chemicals in the short run will provide cost savings and a better lifestyle in the long run.

Do you have any advice for other brands or consumers about why they should choose organic products and support the organic industry? I see it as being on the right side of food history. One day, future generations will look back and be baffled that we ingested all of these chemicals and cheap ingredients. Our grandkids will look at non-organic, modified foods as something akin to how we view cigarettes today. For brands, organic ingredients tell consumers that you care about their wellbeing. It is harder and more costly to use organic ingredients and processes, but it speaks volumes about your brand identity and ethos.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your brand/products/upcoming product launches? We're so excited to have just launched our Organic, oat milk mini cheesecakes. These mini cheesecake 2 packs were requested a bunch, as people wanted a simple, quick treat that is clean and tasty. These just launched nationwide at Sprouts this month!

Where can people buy your products? Although we have only been launched for less than a year, our products are available in over 800 stores from coast to coast, and in the Caribbean. The mini cheesecakes are nationwide at Sprouts, and most OATzarella products are available at Whole Foods in the mid-Atlanic region. Otherwise, check out our map at OATzarella.com/find for a store near you!