Gourmet News

Mission: Agape Aims to Curb Food Insecurity in Pittsburgh

Published December 16, 2024

Mission: Agape, a nonprofit focused on serving families in food desert communities throughout Pittsburgh’s Mon Valley region, has officially launched. Led by the founders of RQM+ and a dynamic board of successful local business leaders, Mission: Agape is set to make a significant impact in addressing food insecurity.

Founded by Kelly and Mike Doyle, Mission: Agape evolved from the McKeesport Agape Center, created in 2020 to address the food insecurity crisis in McKeesport, a Pittsburgh suburb where the food insecurity rate is 31%, far above the state and national averages. McKeesport is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania and fourth most dangerous in the United States based upon the violent crime rate average per capita, according to a study conducted by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2018.

Originally operating out of the Doyle family’s garage, MAC grew rapidly, serving families without access to transportation to reach regional food pantries. By 2022, the program had expanded, leading to the purchase and renovation of a 13,000-square-foot church that became the Agape Center. Mission: Agape’s 40+ volunteers serve over 5,000 people monthly, distributing healthy food, toiletries, and pet food. However, with 110,000 people in the Mon Valley still facing food insecurity, the need remains urgent.

Recognizing the growing demand, the Doyles partnered with RQM+ founders Maria Fagan and Lisa Casavant, whose leadership transformed MAC into Mission: Agape with a broader vision. Fagan and Casavant bring their business acumen from RQM+, a global medical device consulting firm, to the organization’s leadership, ensuring a sustainable, scalable approach to addressing food insecurity.

“When I first volunteered, I was shocked by the level of need so close to home,” said Casavant, board VP. “Feeding these families is more than a calling—it’s an urgent necessity.” board President Fagan added, “We grew RQM+ to be the industry leader in quality, employee satisfaction, and customer satisfaction, and we are applying the same principles here. Mission: Agape is an opportunity to make a transformative impact in people’s lives.”

Mission: Agape is seeking $200,000 in emergency donations to fund infrastructure improvements, including a walk-in refrigerator, freezer room, box truck, and the OrderAhead system, allowing families to order customized food boxes for delivery. The organization also provides holiday support, offering Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas gifts to those in need.

To donate or learn more, visit www.mission-agape.org or contact Kelly Doyle at Kelly@Mission-Agape.org.

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NatureSweet Constellation Holiday Medley Debut

Published December 9, 2024

This holiday season, NatureSweet is bringing festive cheer to kitchens nationwide with its Constellation blend of red and green snacking tomatoes. Perfect for adding a pop of color and flavor to festive appetizers, charcuterie boards, salads and seasonal dishes, this 10-oz holiday medley offers a delightful balance of sweet red Cherubs and floral green grape tomatoes, enhanced by subtle hints of aromatic herbs.

“At NatureSweet, we love to make memories, even with our favorite, sweet snacking tomatoes,” said Mary Pettis, brand manager at NatureSweet. “Many consumers have shared how excited they are to try green tomatoes and create beautiful platters to share with guests. Families may also enjoy leaving these little red and green tomatoes out for Santa and his reindeer— a fun way to incorporate healthy options alongside traditional holiday treats. We’re proud to offer healthy snacking choices year-round, and especially during the holiday season when everyone’s enjoying delicious food together.”

Available for a limited time this December, the Constellation Red and Green Blend is a seasonal favorite and is available in a 10-oz package at select retailers, including Roundy’s Supermarkets, Hy-Vee, Topco, Peirone Produce, and Big Y. Suggested retail price is $3.49.

Make this holiday season even more special with NatureSweet Constellation tomatoes, a flavorful and colorful way to elevate your favorite dishes and celebrate the season.

NatureSweet, the leading brand in snacking tomatoes, is your single-source solution for greenhouse-grown vegetables. As the largest vertically integrated controlled environment agriculture company in North America and greenhouse grower, NatureSweet owns over 1,400 acres of greenhouse space.

With a dedicated team of approximately 9,000 Associates, we carefully grow, harvest, and package a variety of fresh vegetables, both organic and conventional, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers. Available in major retailers across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, our produce is handpicked at peak freshness to ensure superior quality. Committed to making a positive social, environmental, and economic impact, NatureSweet’s purpose is to transform the lives of millions of agricultural workers through a scalable and profitable business model. Our dedication to sustainability and social responsibility is reflected in our B Corp, Fair Trade and Equitable Food Initiative certifications.

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Squishmallows Cupcakes Sweeten the Holidays

Published December 9, 2024

Squishmallows is getting its most decadent collaboration to date! Jazwares, one of the world’s leading toy companies, is teaming up with Baked by Melissa, America’s favorite mini cupcake brand specializing in “bite-size” miniature cupcakes, to bring fans an exclusive collection that is as cute as it is delicious. Transforming fan-favorite Squishmallows into bite-sized delights, each cupcake is bursting with flavor and is as fun and playful as the cuddly plush pals themselves.

“It has been so much fun bringing these iconic plush characters to life as bite-size cupcakes,” said Melissa Ben-Ishay, co-founder and CEO of Baked by Melissa, who designed every cupcake herself. “Baked by Melissa is an essential addition to any celebration, big or small, and we know this collaboration will be the perfect spin on our holiday treats for both Baked by Melissa and Squishmallows fans alike.”

“Squishmallows is a premiere lifestyle brand for every season and this holiday fans can treat themselves, family, and friends to this delicious colorfully customized assortment of indulgent bite-size cupcakes,” said Gerhard Runken, executive vice president, brand & marketing, Jazwares. “Collaborating with Baked by Melissa was a delicious new way for fans to experience Squishmallows this holiday season.”

Perfect for gifts, parties, and events this upcoming holiday season, this tasty collab will be available through Dec.31, and features six yummy, bite-sized cupcakes representing six lovable Squishmallows characters.

Jericho (Cookie Cow): Calling all cookie lovers! This cupcake features light brown vanilla cake, cookie dough stuffing, and cookie dough icing, topped with micro chocolate chips and red sprinkles.
Ricardo (Fruit Bat): It’s bat-tastic! This vibrant cupcake features red and white tie-dye cake, pink vanilla stuffing, and green vanilla icing, topped with dark chocolate and red sprinkle brittle.
Tolef (Cookie Bear): Another option perfect for Christmas! Our final cupcake features white vanilla cake and sugar cookie icing, topped with red and green drizzle.
Cam (Calico Cat): As one of the most well-known and beloved characters, this cupcake features vanilla and chocolate tie-dye cake with milk chocolate icing, topped with green drizzle and colorful nonpareils.
Ethel (Candy Cane Hot Chocolate): Pink lovers unite! This cupcake features pink vanilla cake, hot cocoa stuffing, and white vanilla icing, topped with white chocolate candy cane brittle.
Myla (The Christmas Tree): Oh Christmas tree, how lovely is this cupcake? Our next option features chocolate cake, dulce de leche stuffing, and green vanilla icing, topped with white chocolate sprinkle brittle in the shape of Myla’s beloved star.

The adorable cupcakes will be available in all Baked by Melissa store locations and online at bakedbymelissa.com for nationwide shipping, store pickup, and same-day Manhattan delivery. Customers can enjoy a 25-pack of the Holly Jolly cupcake assortment with Jericho, Ricardo and Tolef’s flavors ($37), the Under the Mistletoe cupcake assortment with Cam, Ethel, Myla’s flavors ($37), or all six flavors in the Seasonal Squad assortment ($42). This limited-time assortment will also be available with all flavors in a 6-pack ($10.25 in stores or online in a bundle of 4 for $41), 50-pack ($70) and 100-pack ($135).

Each assortment will be wrapped in a festive Baked by Melissa x Squishmallows sleeve and will be accompanied by one of six exclusive recipes by Melissa Ben-Ishay for holiday treats to make at home, all of which are inspired by Squishmallows characters. Videos of the recipes will also be shared across Baked by Melissa’s popular TikTok and Instagram, where Ben-Ishay has amassed almost 4 million followers with her everyday cooking.

For more information on Squishmallows, visit Squishmallows on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Squishmallows.com. For more information on Baked by Melissa, visit Baked by Melissa online at bakedbymelissa.com, on TikTok, and Instagram.

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