When Faith learned about Greyston's open hiring policy, benefits, and apprenticeship program, she knew what she wanted. Her relentless phone calls and persistance paid off in a full-time position in December 2001. She was then 43, a struggling single parent who had been in and out of jobs where she never felt like more than a "punch-card number." From the beginning, each learning experience and opportunity to teach others "made me feel proud," she says.
Faith thrives on challenges, from the food safety course she completed to the computer skills she is gaining. "I ask questions," says Faith, an Assistant Supervisor in Training. "I'm never afraid to ask questions.
Blog
Monday, November 30, 2009
Cyber Monday! Free Shipping!
On my way to the bakery this morning, Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus Is Coming to Town came on the radio. What a song! A sign that the Holiday season is truly upon us…
As you know, Black Friday is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year here in the States. But this year, many chose to sleep in the day after Thanksgiving instead of rising with the sun to grab some of those outstanding deals. Not a bad move, considering that people who waited to do some of their early shopping on Cyber Monday (today!) will be able to take advantage of FREE SHIPPING on any orders placed with us between today and December 5th, 2009 (Saturday.) Just enter MONDAY09 at checkout when you shop at our online store. Nothing wrong with getting your holiday shopping started- or even finished- early!
We hope that your holiday season brings you joy and happiness. After all, it is the season of giving…
-The Do-Goodie Family
P.S.- Look forward to a blog entry about B Corporation’s “Season of Giving” coming soon!
WOW......two weeks into my new position with the Greyston Bakery team and time is already flying by! The daily aroma of baked brownies wafts through the air both inside and outside the bakery. The smell of fresh baked brownies always puts a smile on your face. Everyone is busy working the process to insure great tasting perfect brownies every time and all the time. I have enjoyed meting the team and learning about the fantastic mission of the Greyston Foundation. In this time of year where we reflect on the blessings we have I know that I am fortunate to be a member of the Greyston Baking Team!
We are just 2 days shy of Thanksgiving- a sure sign that the holiday season is truly upon us. What are all of your plans for Thursday? Any fun traditions your friends & family have? May as well take this opportunity to remind you of our 10% OFF coupon code if you enter TURKEY09 at checkout at our online store (before November 26th, so hurry up!)
Moving on, let's talk about one of the most important holidays of this season: National Brownie Day. In case you haven't heard of this delicious day, it takes place every year on the 8th of December. This National Brownie Day, we'll be heading to Whole Foods' in New York City and Connecticut to serve up some tasty free brownies (and maybe a little Ben & Jerry's ice cream...) to celebrate the day that celebrates our prized dessert form! Look out for more information on our National Brownie Day efforts in the coming week and feel free to reach out with any questions. Updates will be given on Facebook and Twitter! (see Facebook and Twitter...fan and follow us!)
Be well and thanks for supporting Greyston Bakery and the Do-Goodie Family!
COMING SOON: Blog from our new CEO, Bill Mistretta
I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003, but as a registered nurse, I was confident I could manage the necessary lifestyle changes. My grocery visit shook that positive attitude. Like others with celiac disease, I discovered it was almost impossible to find food that tasted the way I remembered. It was like eating cardboard or sawdust and many items had a funny after-taste.
My grocery trip led to an extensive investigation of celiac food choices and a long search for gluten-free products. As a zealous home cook, I was determined to find a gluten-free flour to create the breads, pastas and desserts I had savored before my diagnosis.
It wasn’t easy. Gluten is part of the protein that’s found in grains like wheat, barley, rye. Foods like bread, crackers, cereals, and pasta, are on the celiac “can’t eat” list. Gluten is often hidden in secondary processed foods ingredients like modified starches, colorings, and flavorings.
I have been in the Medical field for 28 years and have been a nurse for the past 18. The Main focus of my practice was the operating room until I was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003. In 2004, one year after struggling with the gluten free life style, I incorporated Celiac Solution, LLC to assist newly diagnosed celiacs with a gentle transition in to a gluten free life style. Now I have embraced my diagnoses and have used my passion of nursing, food and cooking to help people maintain a happy, healthy gluten free lifestyle.
My Sister, Jessica, was visiting when we tested another flour mixture, using a recipe for banana bread popular at her restaurant. We modified the recipe slightly, and that day, we finally produced the desired results. I was excited, because the texture was like I remembered, and it tasted really great.
The bread proved popular at my local celiac support group, and not long after, members urged me to place a gluten-free entry in the Barnstable County Fair. On a hot sticky day in July, with a kitchen that was under construction, I baked the banana bread in a toaster oven, and brought it to the fair. There, I was told there were only a few gluten-free entries, and the bread would be placed in the overall quick bread division.
I thought I was doomed. Instead, I was astounded to learn my gluten-free entry placed second among all “regular” breads.
Because of popular demand, in 2006, we introduced our bakery division. Good JuJu Bakeryour continued mission is toprovide safe gluten free products with the taste and texture that are baked "just like you remember" available online and through a host of retailers.
Over the past three years we have expanded our line to English muffins, dinner roll, pizza crust, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, vanilla & chocolate cupcakes and our continued favorites Award Winning Banana Bread and Banana Nut Muffins.
We had experienced tremendous growth and we were ready to move out of our home based Kitchen, but because banks were not lending we could not secure financing for our expansion. With having exhausted all avenues and with a sad heart we were ready to close the doors.
But because of a good man (Jerry Scavo) that believed in our ideas and our products Good Juju was not closing the door but actually opening a new one. I was then introduced to Julius Walls and Greyston Bakery. I was so happy that our missions paralleled with the ultimate goal of both being to Help People! The name may have changed but Greyston bakery’s Do-Goodie, Gluten Free and I will continue to providesafe gluten free products produced in dedicated gluten free manufacturing with the taste and texture baked just like you remember!
Strange spell of weather we're having, huh? Don't know how to feel about the warmth. It's certainly better than being chilled to the bone, but I wonder what the cause is...
In any case, as you know, we recently launched our Gluten-Free line of baked goods. We are very happy with the warm reception these new cookies, muffins, and banana bread have been getting! Fitting for the outside temperature, wouldn't you say? If you haven't already, check out our brand new Gluten-Free Shop.
On another note, considering the temperature outside, it's amazing Thanksgiving is just over a week away! Can you believe the Holiday season is just around the corner? I'm sure you will all be spending much needed time with all of your loved ones, be it friends or family, as we inch closer to 2010. Even if the weather doesn't maintain this uncharacteristic mildness, we here at the Greyston Bakery hope that you stay warm in the coming weeks. In the next few days we will have blog entries from our resident Gluten-Free guru Judith Mann and our new CEO Bill Mistretta, so look out for that and keep doing good and doing well!
Sincerely, The Do-Goodie Family
P.S. Drop us a comment if you'd like to be added to our mailing list. A little secret: if you order from our web store before November 26, you can get 10% OFF by using the code TURKEY09.
Greyston Bakery, Inc. – A Certified B Corporation…
Greetings from Yonkers! Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful day. I wanted to take a moment to tell you about something that we are very proud of here at Greyston Bakery. As you may already be aware, we are a certified B Corporation. I know what you’re thinking: just what is a B Corporation? Well, a B Corp is a type of corporation that uses the power of business to address social and environmental problems. Our method for addressing social issues is to offer and provide a supportive workplace with opportunity for advancement to all. Our profits contribute to the community development work of the Greyston Foundation (www.GreystonFoundation.org.)
It’s a great feeling to know that we aren’t the only ones using business to drive positive social or environmental change- and even better to know that we are a part of a community with them. Our friends at B Lab- the organization that created the “B Corp”- are always willing to help out and we encourage you to support them.
It has been said that you are the company you keep. We here at Greyston Bakery love being a part of an outstanding community of extraordinary businesses that do good and do well, and whose inspiring missions distinguish their operation from others. To find out more about what it means to be a B Corporation, or to learn about other B Corporations, please visit www.BCorporation.net. Have a great day!
If you’re reading this post, you’re likely aware of Greyston Bakery’s latest culinary endeavor: gluten-free baked goods! We will have a delicious selection of desert treats available at our online Gluten-Free Shop any day now—including chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, banana nut muffins and banana bread (chocolate and vanilla cupcakes coming soon!) Along with these newly launched Do-Goodie treats, we have a few additional products in the gluten-free family of Do-Goodies nearly ready to hit shelves. The one I’d like to tell you about today may not be sweet, but boy is it savory. I’m talking about our forthcoming gluten-free pizza dough. Some of us here at the bakery were lucky enough to get a tasting of the fine epicurean efforts of our own Gluten-Free Guru Judith Mann (who you may know as Judith of Good JuJu Bakery)— who whipped up a number of personal-sized pizzas for us yesterday. The pizza was fantastic! If I wasn’t told the dough was free of gluten, I would have never guessed it was anything out of the ordinary. The thin crusted pie was delicious- I found myself sneaking a slice every few minutes I could duck away from my desk. Look out for this pizza dough on our web store soon! Take care, now.
Ahh, November…a month of transition from beautiful fall foliage into cheery winter serenity. The increasingly cold air hasn’t slowed the brownie artisans here at Greyston Bakery, however. We continue to bake brownies— and now Gluten-Free Do-Goodies— with love and with care. And let me tell you…the new Gluten-Free treats really do taste just like you remember! In this joyous time of year, we are all able to keep ourselves and our hearts warm by spending time with friends and loved ones or sitting next to a warm fire. It’s a time when letting others know how much you care couldn’t be more fitting, and giving couldn’t be timelier.
Well, anticipation of this year’s Holiday season is certainly beginning to mount—it’s just around the corner! In light of this, we folks at the bakery wanted to take a moment to ask what you planned on doing differently during this holiday season. In these troubled economic times, it may very well be that the most thoughtful of gifts are exchanged between friends and loved ones. Giving a gift with sincere meaning cannot be underestimated. Enjoy your week!
