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Posts Tagged ‘Tyler’

What makes you say Yum?

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

We all live active, hectic lives and we are just getting back into full swing with school, work, sports, etc.  Starting a new business requires hard work, but at Yumnuts we like to live by the motto:  “Life is Short, Remember to Say Yum!”

Given that, I’d like to ask our fellow Yumnuts to take a minute to tell us what makes you say Yum? white-lake2

I’ll start with my story - a weekend in the mountains.

I was lucky to get up to the Adirondack Mountains for the weekend to close out summer.  The days were sunny and mild and the evenings were crisp and cool.  The weekend started out with a little time on the Samoa Board.  The water at the lake was still very warm and I was able to get out for a night swim.  Nothing beats floating on your back in the water and looking up at millions of bright/vivid starts in the sky.  I saw 15-20 shooting stars.  Next, out of the lake and into the cabin next to the fireplace to spend some good quality time with friends and family. 

I woke up Saturday morning and got in a 3 mile run and then out onto the water.  Swimming, kayaking, tubing, wakeboarding, more swimming and one of dock-jumping1our favorites . . . dock jumping.dock-jumping-3  Who can do the craziest jump off the dock into the lake?  Flips, twists, spins, flops, cannonballs and a few things that I cannot even describe.  Even the dogs got in on the action.

 The evenings were all about BBQ, campfire, s’mores, ice cold drinks and more quality time with family/friends.  We cram a lot of people into the small cabin, but we would not have it any other way.  We also pack a lot of activity into a shoKayakingrt 2 day weekend, but I always leave the “camp” feeling totally refreshed.

Please take a minute to post a story and some pictures to tell us what makes you say Yum.

Tyler

Co-founder & #1 Yumnut

Yumnuts on CT News Channel 12

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Checkout Yumnuts segment on News 12 Connecticut this weekend.  The show “12 On The Money” is hosted by Rebecca Surran, who is very supportive of local businesses.  The 6 minute segment will be airing on both Saturday 6/6 and Sunday 6/7.  Here are the times:

Saturday 6/6/09:  6am, 9:30am, 1pm, 4:30pm, 11:30pm

Sunday 6/7/09:  6am, 9:30am, 12:00pm, 3:30pm

Monday 6/8/09:  3:30am if you are nuts!

Life is short, remember to say YUM!

Yumnuts Healthy Snacks Supports 74th Annual Dogwood Festival

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Yumnuts Naturals recently supported the 74th Annual Dogwood Festival in historic Greenfield Hill a74th Annual Dogwood Festivalrea of Fairfield, CT.  The Dogwood Festival is a family-friendly event set against the beautiful backdrop of the pink and white flowering dogwood trees.  Yumnuts co-founder Tyler Ricks lives in Greenfield Hill and has been attending the Dogwood Festival for more than 10 years.  “It is important to support the local community and the Dogwood Festival is an outstanding event that contributes to local and regional charities.  We are glad Yumnuts was able to participate,” said Ricks.   The event featured the Juried Craft Show with over 40 New England crafters offering handmade, specialty items.  The festival provided crafts, games and other children’s activities.  Yumnuts was available at the dinner and Backyard BBQ.  

Other highlights of the festival also offered a free concert with the Pitchpipers, a Family Fun Night at Dwight Elementary and the 4th Annual Dogwood Dash.  Ricks ran in the race with his son and some of his friends.  Ricks explains, “Events like this that encourage a healthy, active lifestyle are a perfect fit for Yumnuts.  Nuts are nature’s healthy snack and help provide the fuel for an active lifestyle.  For me, starting the day with a run through beautiful Greenfield Hill is . . . 100% Yum”.

Yumnuts Takes Root in Norwalk - Norwalk Hour 4-2-09

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

The Norwalk Hour article on April 2, 2009 by Chris Bosak

Norwalk Hour Article

Click to view Norwalk Hour part I

Click to view Norwalk Hour article part II

Yumnuts Healthy Cashews Support Westport Soccer

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

In March, Yumnuts sponsored the Westport Soccer Association’s WIN Tournament.  The tournament was held at Staples High School in Westport, CT.  The tournament is one of the larger indoor tournaments in the area with over 100 teams from Southern CT and Westchester.  For Yumnuts, the event was a way to spread the word about Yumnuts healthy cashews, but it was also a way to support youth soccer, a passion of co-founder Tyler Ricks.  “Youth soccer promotes an active, healthy lifestyle”, said Ricks.

Soccer has been a big part of Tyler’s life.  Tyler played travel soccer as a kid growing up in Barrington, IL and Rochester, NY.  He was named to the NSCAA All-American team in his senior year at Pittsford Mendon High School.  He played four years of Division I college soccer at Cornell University and SUNY Buffalo.   Tyler has also been a volunteer youth soccer coach for more than 15 years.  He currently coaches a team for Fairfield United Soccer Association.

Yumnuts had another reason to support the Westport WIN tournament.  The tournament donates the proceeds from the tournament to the Coleman Brothers FoundationWestport Football Club Crest

The foundation was formed in the memory of brothers Keith and Scott Coleman who died in the World Trade Center Attack on September 11, 2001.  The foundation supports soccer players who demonstrate a meaningful commitment to sportsmanship, leadership and integrity.  Tyler plays with Todd Coleman (Scott and Keith’s brother) on Westport FC, a men’s over-30 team that plays in Connecticut’s Shoreline Adult Soccer League.  Westport FC was formed by former Staples High School soccer players after September 11th and the team crest bears Keith and Scott’s initials.

The event was Yumnuts first consumer event since launching the first week of March.  “I cannot think of a better way to launch.  We are participating in our local community, helping kids lead an active lifestyle and supporting a great cause”, said Ricks.

Yumnuts Launches at Expo West

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Yumnuts launch healthy cashews at Expo WestThe Yumnuts team of Tyler, Jerome and Mike headed west the first week in March for the official launch of Yumnuts at Expo West in Anaheim, California.  Yumnuts spent the week leading up to Expo on the packaging line ensuring that the first production run went smoothly.  The product and packaging came out great and was a huge hit at the show.

The crew handed out over 2,500 samples of Yumnuts products.  There was a very good, positive buzz about the product at the show.  We had a number of people come to our booth because someone else had told them that they needed to try our chocolate cashews.  We even had the comment, “You all have the hottest nuts at the show”, a reference to our chili lime flavor.

The show was also a great opportunity for Jerome and Tyler to connect with many of their former colleagues from Bear Naked.  Many of the Bear Naked alumni are still active in the natural food industry and were in attendance at Expo.  It was great to catch up with old friends and hear about their new endeavors.

The show was a success and has lead to Yumnuts working with several distributors and customers.

Yumnuts Visits India

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Yumnuts cashew farm in India (c)Yumnuts Naturals

In late January, Mike and Tyler had the chance to visit Southern India to get an up-close view of the cashew industry.  It was a fascinating trip that took us to a cashew farm, a processing facility and a roaster.  At the cashew farm we were introduced to all of the different stages of cashew growth and development.  We learned about the cashew apple and even tasted the fruit right off the tree.  It was bitter and very acidic.  Let’s just say I am not sure I would be having one of these apples every day.

At the processing facility we learned how they take the raw cashew seeds (still in the shell) and steam, crack, heat, peel and sort them.  All of this to yield what we know as a raw cashew.

We met some of the best people in the cashew industry.  Our gracious hosts took very good care of us on our trip.  It was a pleasure to spend time with them and to learn more about their industry and their families.Backwater 2

Mike and Tyler had the opportunity to take a backwater tour on the interior waterway.  Mike tried his hand at making rope and we saw dozens of different birds, a prawn farm and many different local fruits, vegetables and spices.  It was a very relaxing trip and our tour guide was an absolute comedian.  He climbed a 40 foot coconut tree in about 5 seconds flat and told great stories.  The highlight of the trip may have been when Mike and Tyler both tried to lean back in the boat to go under a low bridge (imagine a sitting limbo).  They both fell off their seats and onto their backs on the floor of the boat.  As they fell, they both cracked their heads on the wood seat behind them.  While it was painful, it induced a good, hard 5 minute laughing spell for everyone.  Mike had a welt on the back of his neck for a good solid week.

Our last night we had the treat of staying on the Arabian Sea and witnessed a spectacular sunset.  All around it was a fantastic trip and one of life’s truly great experiences.