Category: Member Spotlight

North Fork Chocolate

We handcraft “small batch” Artisanal Chocolates and individual size gourmet desserts using LOCAL farm and purveyor products on Long Island. Only fresh, natural and or organic ingredients go into our products. We craft our own proprietary blend of Belgian chocolate that surrounds local handcrafted centers created from; fresh fruits, cream, sea salt, herbs, honey, spice, wine, and spirits.  Our pies, cakes, tortes and tarts are created with the same farm fresh local ingredients.

Our team has a broad range of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Chocolatier and Executive Chef Steven Amaral is a graduate of Johnson and Wales and nominated for the James Beard Award on the Pacific Coast where he lived in Hawaii, and also traveled through Europe; Spain, Italy, France learning from the world’s top Chefs! Today he handcrafts for you our products inspired with passion, creativity, and love for the art of chocolate.

Visit our online store!

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Peppered Fern

Danielle and Emi formed Peppered Fern, LLC as a joint effort to provide the world with vegan, gluten-free, preservative-free treats and nut butters, without compromising quality or taste. Using natural sweeteners, bold flavors, and wholesome ingredients, we want our customers to have healthier choices when satisfying their sweet tooth.

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Nassau County Industrial Development Agency

Nassau County delivers the best of all things—vibrant businesses, walkable downtowns, suburban charm, the nearby buzz of New York City, and one-step access to the world. Come to the place top-tier talent and innovative businesses call home.

  • Innovative industry
  • High-Tech infrastructure
  • Transit-oriented-development
  • Mixed-use development
  • Global brand headquarters

and much more.

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The Wellness Unicorn

Wellness is a multidimensional process, which is dynamic and flexible, not rigid. Unlike programs that focus on one dimension of wellness, prescribe a fixed routine, or limit choices and options, Unicorn Thinking allows for customization to lifestyle, individual needs, and preferences, which creates harmony instead of struggle.

If you’re tired of living life on a scale, counting points and portions, or eating processed chemicals disguised as food; If you’re ready to explore a different system, I invite you book a discovery call to experience, see, and feel, what true wellness can look like for you.

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Manufacturing and Technology Resource Consortium

MTRC is Empire State Development’s Regional Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center for the Long Island region. We are one of the ten centers within the NIST NY-MEP program, with FuzeHub being the state-wide MEP center.

MTRC is designed to assist small to medium-sized manufacturing companies develop business growth and increase competitiveness through training, workforce development, and/or revitalize/renewal of their product lines all while supporting our region’s priority industry cluster: biotechnology.

The MTRC maintains a consortium of program partner resources from within the university such as: the Centers of Excellence, Centers for Advanced Technology, the Center for Corporate Education and it’s subset the Center for Operational Excellence, the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence, and the regional Small Business Development Centers; and external partners such as the Composite Prototyping Center, and a group of potential training partners from Farmingdale State College, Nassau Community College, the New York Institute of Technology and Suffolk Community College. Each of these organizations have a working relationship with company clients in the Manufacturing and Technology sectors and carries out projects with them to improve some aspect of their business. We look to these program partners to develop project contracts, hold workshops, etc. that are common to both our and their mission and support the efforts through cost-sharing.

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Certified Laboratories

Certified Laboratories is a family-owned, ISO accredited food testing laboratory. We offer complete microbiological and chemical testing services in our new laboratory in Melville, NY. We also have two locations in California and one in the Midwest. Specialty areas include spice analysis, microbiology, chemistry, nutritional analysis, chemical residues, foreign material identifications and environmental testing. We also have expertise in microbiological reduction validation services (including HPP).

As part of Certified Group, Certified Laboratories and Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) work together to deliver technical solutions and quality testing our customers can feel confident in – on time, every time – So the World Can Trust in What it Consumes™. Our North American network of 30+ ISO 17025-accredited labs serves many regulated industries, including beef, dairy, poultry, pet food, spices, seafood, nuts, produce, FDA imports, and ready-to-eat foods.

Certified Laboratories also provides a full range of laboratory testing solutions for the cosmetic, over-the-counter (OTC), dietary supplements, and botanicals industries, including microbiology, chemistry, in-package stability, and sterility testing.

Island Harvest

Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization with a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. We accomplish this through efficient food and product collection and distribution systems, enhanced hunger awareness and nutrition education programs, a Workforce Skills Development Institute, targeted services for specific populations, outreach activities and advocacy initiatives.

The strategic objective of Island Harvest is to provide the highest-quality food, advocacy, resources, product and services to our neighbors in need, while advancing the potential of our staff and volunteers.

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The Baking Coach

Baking Coach is a Baking Entertainment Company. We offer Baking Activity Kits and delicious ready-eat baked cookies using our own special recipes. We also provide in-person baking and cake decorating workshops, private lessons, and private baking or cooking events in Long Island, and the surrounding areas.

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TD Bank

Whether you’re launching your first business, expanding an existing business or planning to sell, TD is here to help. Our local Small Business specialists can guide you to the best products and services to help you achieve your goals. Plus, you can easily open and manage your accounts online.

Contact:

Keith Lawlor, Regional Vice President

keith.lawlor@td.com

631-848-7047

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Jamaica Choice Foods

All of our entrees are made with fresh, authentic, Jamaican ingredients

Our products are created with you the consumer in mind. Designed with moderate shelf life to maintain freshness and quality. Our products are USDA inspected and meets all standards for a good, nutritionally balanced diet.
You can order your choice of entree from our online partners above (Grubhub or Doordash) or the “Where To Buy” section of this website to see where you can make a purchase.

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Mazars USA

Mazars USA provides food and beverage companies with the specialized expertise required to venture further in this dynamic industry environment. The more than 200 leading food and beverage manufacturers, distributors, restaurants and importers who call us their trusted advisors are a testament to our deep market knowledge and global capabilities. We give you a competitive edge to maximize results.

LocaLl Bred Curated by Trellus

LocaLI Bred is a curated gift box brand founded to shine light on Long Island’s best local artisans and makers. In 2024, the brand was acquired by Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery & Marketplace, a Long Island-based company with a mission to help small businesses compete against e-commerce giants and reach more local customers.
Each LocaLI Bred box serves a dual role, as a memorable gift and a stamp of Long Island pride. Whether to welcome a newcomer to the Island or to delight a native with some fresh local flavors, LocaLI Bred boxes ensure that the gift recipient truly makes a positive connection with the Island.
LocaLI Bred curated by Trellus supports multiple local businesses across Long Island, from artists to jam makers, spice blenders to candle makers, and everything in between. Gift boxes are updated seasonally to feature the newest and best artisans here on Long Island. Corporate gifting options are also available.


For more information, visit www.localibred.com

Panos Graphic Services

Panos Graphic Services is a full-service marketing and design firm working across all major platforms-from digital to traditional. We help clients make the professional and lasting impressions by creating logos, branding campaigns, websites and collateral materials. We are also a print broker, ensuring your company always gets the best pricing for printing, production and event direct mail.

Founded by Tina Atlas Panos in 1980, Panos Graphic Services, a New York State Certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), has become one of Long Island’s leading independent design studios for print and electronic media. We maintain a core team of designers, marketing strategists, digital specialist and copywriters to serve your marketing needs. We also partner with other creative vendors such as photographers, videographers, events planners, and printers, which enable us to offer your business a full array of services.

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Eat Better Meals

First, let me introduce myself, my name is Dan Gross, and I am the founder of Eat Better Meals, which started one day in August 2015 when I gave a hungry friend a meal I had made. He loved it, and so later that year I started making meals out of my mother’s kitchen on Long Island and delivering them to friends, neighbors, and workout buddies.

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Donny Greens

Microgreens are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and they just happen to be cheap and easy to grow, even in a small space. They are a “gateway crop” for growing your own food AND starting an Agri-business.
I’ve mastered the art of microgreens while running my own business the past 7 years, selling them to my local community as A weekly delivery service.

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Lizard Strategy

Lizard Strategy, ecommerce strategy is about creating lasting customer relationships that encourage traffic, build trust and drive repeat transactions. Our team combines data and analytics with hands-on interactive marketing and online retailing experience to remove customer friction and maximize sales.
We are your one-stop shop to drive sales today — and tomorrow.

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SolomonEdwards

SolomonEdwards specializes in blending people, processes and capabilities to achieve critical business objectives and help clients succeed. Since we have walked in our clients’ shoes and know the challenges they face, we are able to ingrain ourselves in their businesses to become trusted advisors who work to deliver strategic expertise, present proven project delivery models and design custom solutions to solve their business problems and help them flourish in the evolving marketplace.

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Maryhaven

Maryhaven is a community whereby people with special needs are safe, accepted, and supported.

We offer a full range of services, including residential, day habilitation, and vocational training. The people we support, their families, staff, and partners in the community work together to promote independence, individuality, integration, and social connections.

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Barry’s Baked Goods

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and send best wishes for the holidays and New Year.

We are a small baking business run by a teen (Leo) and his grandmother (Grace) located on Long Island, NY. We specialize in bread, muffins and cookies for all seasons and holidays.

Since we started in 2021, we have sold our baked goods in markets and fairs in the North Shore of Suffolk County from May through December, and we have many loyal fans who order directly from us.

As part of our mission, we donate 5% of our gross sales to charity. We are very proud to share with you that we have donated more than $1000 to The Trevor Project so far, and we look forward to donating more in the coming years.

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Soronko Kitchen and Bakery

Soronko Kitchen and Bakery is a Food and Beverage Company selling a line of authentic West African food products and Beverages. We passionately bring the vibrant flavors of West African cuisine to the United States and beyond. Our mission is to provide a diverse range of health-conscious food products that resonate with Africans living in the US, while also enticing adventurous individuals and stores seeking new and delicious culinary experiences. Through both our retail presence and convenient online ordering system, we aim to make our tantalizing products accessible to all who crave a taste of authentic. West African cuisine. Like us on Facebook and Instagram

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Sparkling Pointe

Nestled in the breezy and beautiful North Fork of Long Island, Cynthia and Tom Rosicki have dedicated Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery to estate grown sparkling wines produced exclusively in the traditional Méthode Champenoise. Sustainably farming 40 acres of vineyard, planted with the classic Champagne grape varieties—Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay—each Sparkling Pointe cuvée is an authentic expression of the land and the winemaker’s finesse. The rhythmic union of personality and house style, the art of assemblage, and the pursuit of excellence are at the essence of all Sparkling Pointe Wines.

“Pure symphony of the senses, elegant ballet of tiny bubbles, the perfect harmony between soul and people.”

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HealthyFriendz

Andrea Massop Ramos is a Clinical Nutritionist. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology from Syracuse University. She received her Masters Degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York Institute of Technology.

Andrea is very concerned with the growing rate of Obesity in the U.S., especially in our youth population with the childhood obesity epidemic. With her passion for children coupled with this obesity epidemic, Healthy FRIENDZ Nutrition LLC was created (FRIENDZ= Fun Recreation Inspire Encourage Nutrition Daily with Zest).

Healthy FRIENDZ provides nutrition education to children and families in a fun interactive way via workshops, food presentations, menu planning and personal chef services, all based on ethnicity and cultural heritage of the client. The goal is to “Learn how to Eat, and Learn how to Live.” Healthy FRIENDZ builds confidence, and self esteem, by getting the family on one cohesive journey to a healthier “YOU”.

Smusht

At Smusht, we do dessert differently. Every day we offer a variety of artisanal crafted, pre-made grab-and go and ice cream sandwiches. Customers can also choose from our 21 flavors of homemade ice cream, any two of our freshly baked cookies and 12 different toppings to create their very own Smusht. We are also a full service ice cream shop. You can always enjoy a cup, cone, sundae or shake.

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