Riverbend

2010 was another summer to remember here at CARSON wrappedhersheys.com!  After a very busy spring, we all were able to enjoy the great outdoors and some great music with our 2nd Row Season Tickets at Riverbend.

From KISS to Sting, and Aerosmith to Brad Paisley there was something for everyone who wanted to just relax or bang their heads.

The Hershey Company even got into the mix, by sponsoring one of our favorite groups, Rascal Flatts.

We love it down on the Ohio River, eating some great food, including Cincinnati favorites, like LaRosa’a Pizza, Montgomery Inn ribs and Skyline Chili before each of the shows.  I personally love the summer shows at Riverbend, and think our CARSON group does as well.  But for now, goodbye to summer, and Riverbend...we will see you in 2011.

Chocolate Goes High Tech...It's in the DNA

When it comes to anything as great as chocolate, we are always trying to find ways to expand production.  One of the most volatile commodities in the world are cocoa beans from cacao trees, due in large part to the unstable regions of the world where they are grown.
 
Farmers in West Africa could perhaps quintuple their output per acre once scientists find the genetic key to this tree.
 
As you might have guessed, the two largest chocolate companies, The Hershey Company and Mars in the U.S. are leading the scientific research efforts, and both feel they are close to a breakthrough.  It would be great if these discoveries could lead to lower cost for all of us chocolate loving consumers. Stay tuned, and in the meantime, Eat More Chocolate...it is good for you...and CARSON wrappedhersheys.com has you covered!
 
Read The New York Times article

Chocolate Hawaii

Do you know there is only one (1) state in the U.S. that produces cacao beans... no it’s not Ohio, it’s Hawaii. Not only do they grow the beans they celebrate chocolate as well.
 
The Kona Chocolate Festival and Symposium has been going strong for 9 years. Even though the economy forced them to postpone the 2010 event, they will be back strong in 2011. According to their website, "The Symposium is three days of workshops on chocolate, cacao agriculture, demonstrations in chocolate working techniques, and tours of local chocolate factories and cacao farms - the only cacao growing farms in the territorial United States."
 
Sharon and I just returned from Kona, and of course wanted to learn more about the local "chocolate scene." The Kona Brewing Company makes certain seasonal brews that have chocolate in them, as well as coconut and other local farmers bounty.  If you have not had a brew from the Kona Brewing Co. I would highly recommend it...it has hit the mainland and is a treat.
 
And of course, no visit to Kona would be complete without drinking some of the best coffee in the world grown right there. Again, Hawaii is the only place in the U.S. where coffee is grown, and the taste of Kona coffee is something special.  However, because it is grown on a very small area of land, and is picked by hand, it is also very expensive.
 
In 2004, The Hershey Company went Hawaiian when it bought the Mauna Loa Company that specializes in growing those wonderful macadamia nuts.  Soon you began seeing macadamia nuts in more and more Hershey Chocolate products, which was great for all of us nut lovers.
 
At CARSON wrappedhersheys.com we have a variety of tropical wrapper designs.  Some of our most popular are in our wedding collection for those who are lucky enough to have destination weddings, live near the water or just love the theme no matter where they are.
 
Fondest Aloha

Chocolate Fuels Journey

Katie Spotz is a remarkable woman, who is using her rowing ability to help raise money and awareness for safe drinking water for those who do not have such an essential need.

Her 2,817 mile journey might have seemed endless, but 300 chocolate bars helped fuel her along the way!  At CARSON wrappedhersheys.com we say... You really can take chocolate anywhere.

Here's a link to an article about Katie's epic journey.

Chocoholic Mix

Everyone loves our custom wrapped HERSHEY'S Minis, but they are so popular, they are eaten and enjoyed very quickly.
 
Here is an easy and inexpensive way to please the chocoholics, while really making a splash with your custom minis...add HERSHEY'S Kisses chocolates or other small foil wrapped candies to the mix.
 
Let CARSON wrappedhersheys.com help create your next personalized candy mix...we have the most incredible custom HERSHEY'S Minis and sell bulk Kisses chocolates and Madelaine foil chocolates as well...all you have to do is get online and order...we will do the rest!

Spring Break 2010

Last week we headed out West for Spring Break and Reds Spring Training with our daughters.  We love Arizona and could not have had better weather during our stay.
 
I think I have mentioned before, we are definitely "foodies", so our trips always have some element of searching for a great meal, or even better, a great dessert.  This year we found both on multiple occasions.
 
My daughter and I watch Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network, with Guy Fieri...otherwise known as Triple D.  Not long ago we saw an episode that featured a little Italian restaurant in Phoenix called Giuseppe's.  Needless to say it was incredible and I would recommend to anyone who is anywhere near the area.  After eating at Giuseppe's we picked up a dozen cupcakes at Sprinkles for dessert.
 
We also made the drive to Las Vegas, traveling through Wickenburg and Kingman Arizona, where we got some kicks on Route 66, and of course stopped to eat at the All American diner, Mr. D'z's.  It was like stepping back into the 50's, eating some great burgers and having the best milk shake I have ever tasted...they even gave you the big silver cup from the mixer so you could have the extra milk shake that would not fit into your glass!
 
After a longgggggg wait to get through the Hoover Dam, where they are building a new bridge so you no longer drive over the dam itself, we made it to Las Vegas, to see some family.  We checked in at the new Aria which is part of the massive MGM City Center project, and were greeted by the wonderful Jean Philippe chocolatier shop where they had a beautiful display of chocolate flowers.  They also have made to order crepes that are out of this world.
 
Cathy Vongnaraj .. Cathy V. for short, is a great friend and the premier host at Aria.  We had a wonderful meal with her at American Fish, that features ...you guessed it.. fish from American waters.. and then we saw the new Cirque Du Soleil show Viva Elvis together.  The bottom line...the next time you are in Las Vegas, you MUST go to Aria and have a meal, see a show and make sure to say Hi to Cathy V.
 
After a beautiful drive back to Scottsdale, through the desert, mountains and Joshua Tree National Park, we had one final excursion left, which was to travel to Goodyear, Arizona, and see our team, the Cincinnati Reds, at their new Spring Training facility.  We took in a game on St. Patrick's Day and the Reds wore green hats while up against the Cleveland Indians.  Chili Dogs and Green Beer were the meal of the day.  The weather was perfect, the beer was cold, and it was the the best way to end a great trip.

Chocolate Can Improve Your Health

The incredible qualities of chocolate seem to be discovered on a regular basis by researchers. As always, it seems moderation is the key, but it certainly seems that eating a Hershey's bar each week will not only make you smile because it tastes so good, but may also improve your health.

Read the USA TODAY Article

CARSON Stimulus Plan Sweetener

I know I have said it before, but no one is more clever than our customers.  I am certain that if CARSON wrappedhersheys.com customers were put in charge of fixing our country’s economy, that they could do so in record time.

Recently we have seen some very resourceful wrapper designs aimed at gaining special attention in this tough job market.  Sending out simple resumes on bond paper is just not going to cut it in today’s world, but putting your information on a custom wrapped Hershey’s Chocolate bar, with the phrase HIREME certainly sets our customers apart from the rest of the crowd.

Times are tough, but we are definitely on the sweet road to recovery!

Taste the Freshness

Our last Holiday Season was probably the busiest ever at CARSON wrappedhersheys.com.  We worked nonstop it seemed for about 6 weeks creating and shipping Holiday Gift Tins and Hershey's finest and freshest chocolate, to people all over the world.
 
And when I say fresh, I mean fresh.  It seemed like every 10 days or so we were receiving another truckload directly from Hershey, Pennsylvania, and judging by the dates on the cases, our Hershey's chocolate was made just before it came to our warehouse. We turn our inventory so fast, that it always has a freshness date anywhere from 12-14 months out from the time we receive it, but the chocolate we received over the Holiday Season was made just several days before it was delivered to us!  Have you ever tasted a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup that was just made?  Well if not, it is incredible!
 
I think that anyone who received Hershey's Gifts from CARSON this Holiday Season received the absolute freshest Hershey's chocolate that could be eaten anywhere.  We pride ourselves on freshness and quality all year around.

Get a Le Whif of this!

As a follower of all things chocolate, this new concept certainly caught my attention... Inhaling chocolate!
 
When I read about this new product, I envisioned it as being similar to inhaling hot cocoa mix or something like that, and as soon as I get my hands on it, I will let you know.  If it doesn't taste good, you could always use it as an air freshener.
 
I wish you could smell our warehouse at CARSON wrappedhersheys.com!  When the Hershey's chocolate bars are in full motion throughout, it is a smell to behold. My personal favorite is opening the sealed bags of kisses and miniatures we receive and getting a enjoying the sweet smell of the nations best chocolate.