BUSINESS: Kalona SuperNatural wins blue ribbon at Iowa State Fair

For the third year in a row, Kalona SuperNatural continues its reign at the Iowa State Fair, by taking home first place for its 100 percent grass-fed vanilla kefir and second place for its buttermilk, both in the cultured dairy category.

Additionally, Kalona SuperNatural received second place for its lightly salted butter, in the butter category.

The award-winning, nationally recognized organic dairy competed against more than 60 other products, earning them the top spot in the Iowa 'Quality Dairy Products Contest.'

Kalona SuperNatural, based in southeastern Iowa, provides high-quality, organic, hormone-free milk and dairy products from select midwest Amish and Mennonite grass-fed family farms.

'At Kalona SuperNatural, we pride ourselves on our 'old-school' processing methods. This approach contributes to the reasons our products continue to win top accolades and awards each year,' explained Sara Rissi, Kalona SuperNatural sales and marketing manager. 'We're honored to work with a wonderful group of local, organic farmers who 'do things right' and take pride in the high-quality product they produce.'

The Quality Dairy Products Contest panel of judges consisted of leaders in the grocery industry, food scientists and researchers from Iowa. Rissi said, 'The judges were extremely impressed with our vanilla kefir and the grass-fed notes of our butter, which explains why we received top recognition.'

Notable judging remarks described Kalona SuperNatural vanilla kefir as, 'the perfect aroma of butter and vanilla, very smooth texture on the palate, well-balanced.' In addition, the panel gave top marks for the butter for its 'clean aroma, soft, smooth, delicate flavor from pasture-grazed cows.'