Metromint Blog

I Love Mint.

I love mint. And not just Metromint. I love mint leaves in my salads, I love it mixed with cilantro, so last year I planted it in a pot on my porch.  It was fruitful (leafful?) all summer until I went away for a week and forgot to tell my husband to water it. Normally mint is very hearty and this wouldn’t be a problem, but in Northern California it doesn’t rain in the summer so my mint dried out and died. Or so I thought.

I am very excited to see that my mint has returned! So I decided to learn some more about my mint plant

• According to ancient mythology, the plant is named after the nymph Minthe, Pluto’s lover, who was transformed by the god Hades into mint after her death.
• Mint is a perennial and there are two basic types we are most familiar with: Spearmint (what I planted) and Peppermint.
• The fastest way to dry it is to place leaves between two paper towels and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
• Plant mint in a large pot. (This was my problem. Mine was too small and contributed to it drying out fast.) Mint can grow fast and become a nuisance, so a pot is ideal to contain it.
• Cut the mint to the ground in the fall (ooops, I didn’t do this) to ensure a full crop the next season.
• Repot mint each year to ensure it grows those big, tasty leaves. Otherwise the roots will get bound. (definitely did not do this either)

This year I will bring my mint inside in the fall and try to keep it alive through the winter. Nothing perks me up like a taste of summer in the winter.

What do you do with your mint leaves?

 

Liver LIFE Walk, supported by Metroelectro

9/29/10
by Michelle Flatley, Events Manager for the American Liver Foundation

On September 11th 2010 the American Liver Foundation hosted their annual Liver LIFE Walk Event in Downtown San Jose. The Liver LIFE Walk is a pledged 3 mile fundraising walk event that promotes liver wellness, while raising funds for critically needed liver disease research, education and advocacy. The event benefited the American Liver Foundation (ALF), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for liver health promotion and disease prevention. Our mission is to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.
 
The walk day was a fantastic success with perfect 75 degree weather and over 250 walkers supporting the cause. Walkers enjoyed the scenic walk route along the Guadalupe River trail and especially enjoyed our rest station stocked with Metroelectro water at the 1.5 mile mark. A big thank you goes out to Metroelectro for keeping both our walkers and our fabulous volunteers hydrated throughout the walk day!!!

Emerson Elementary walk-a-thon

11/9/09
by Jon Weber, Creative Director

At Metromint we believe in the power of community. So we support
community events and nonprofit organizations with in-kind donations of
Metromint.  We recently sent 10 cases of Chocolatemint to the
Emerson Elementary School Walk-a-thon in Berkeley. Each student who
participated  received a bottle to keep them hydrated as they walked to
raise money for the PTA. We look at it as our contribution to helping make
the world a better, healthier place, one case at a time. The kids just
thought it was cool.

spicin' up the mail

11/19/08
by Michele Thorne, Wellness & Outreach Director

It is not everyday that I get personal notes, but now and then I will receive a handwritten note from a fan, and I love them. I recently noticed a thick, personalized envelope in my mailbox and, when I opened it up, I was completely blown away! Inside were 16 handwritten thank you cards from the John Marshall High School 5th Period Culinary class students, taught by Ms. Andrea Phillips in Los Angeles, CA. My favorite detail: The cards were created from old cooking magazines.

As if it could get any better than that, the letters were more than a friendly communication. Ms. Phillips let me know that the students’ letters actually help JMHS meet many of their educational standards and school wide learning goals to help the students become effective communicators. One of the letters was from a student named Josue O. who says, “Thank you for giving us some of your product. My favorite was the Lemonmint. I am also glad you gave us this water because both mint and water reduce stress and tension. I’m glad because I’m always studying for tests.”

We wish you all stress-less tests, and to all the culinary students at JMHS, YOU ROCK!

go emerson elementary!

10/31/08
by Michele Thorne, Wellness & Outreach Director

Each month we donate product to community events, locally and nationwide. This month we were able to help a local school, Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley, CA, raise money for the PTA during their walk-a-thon! Everyday is a perfect day to support education, healthy kids and good exercise and we were pleased to be a part of this event. Go to our in-kind donation page for more information on how we can help at your upcoming event.

celebrating earth day

4/25/08
by Jenn Chan, Area Manager – Northern CA Women with Metromint totebags at Oakland, CA Earth Day event

This week, we had the opportunity to participate in a few wonderful community Earth Day events sponsored by Whole Foods in the Bay Area. On Tuesday, at the South of Market location, big blue balloons decorated the sky and the side street was filled with people, artists, dancers, musicians, and a variety of vendors. The sample food and drinks were delicious! There were an array of garbage bins with signs instructing folks on differences between recyclable and compostable trash. Neighboring communities came out to enjoy the festive day. Michele Thorne and I were sampling Metromint at our vendor booth and introduced one of our newest varieties: Chocolatemint. We received a great response from the tasters and some even thought the idea of chocolate mintwater was wild! The biggest highlight from our sampling station was giving away our free Metromint reusable tote bags. Everybody used our bags to fill their groceries and other vendor sample goodies. Just imagine the street filled with moving blue polka dots! Also, we were happy knowing that the tote bags were instantly useful and we hope the bags will be used over and over again. Overall, Earth Day was full of love, conversation, and education. Good times!

employee wellness initiative

4/1/08
by Joe Villafuerte, Director of Human Resources

This year we are implementing a new health incentive for all Metromint employees, a Wellness Program. The program is aimed at assisting our local and remote employees in maintaining a healthier balance when it comes to their own wellness. The company’s goal is to help boost employee satisfaction, increase productivity, reduce healthcare costs and cut absenteeism. We are working toward the Partnership for Prevention's "Healthy Workforce 2010”, helping America achieve its health objectives for the year 2010.

Our SF based employees have the opportunity to partake in a local health club, offerings from area yoga and dance studios, and a weekly organic fruit delivery. Our Valencia and remote employees may also take advantage of reduced fitness memberships. More wellness initiatives are in the works.

in the spirit of wellness and outreach

3/19/08
by Michele Thorne, Wellness and Outreach Director

Wellness education and community outreach are not only the tenets this company holds close to the vest, but they happen to be the pillars of my work here at Metromint. I consider myself one of the lucky ones because I often get the privilege to meet you, our consumer. Whether through email, phone, photo or in person (which is always good), I am grateful to have the ability to replace the singular term consumer, with many individual personalities.

I have had the great fortune to meet many of you at trade shows, at events where I have facilitated a hydration or wellness class with one of our retailers, at wellness centers and hospitals, or even at schools and countless outdoor events benefiting numerous causes, people and organizations. Truth is, I am usually invited to teach something, but invariably, I always learn something too. Often after the event is over, and while I am returning to the office in our big Metromint van, I get sparked and motivated to continue learning and also reflect on what I have learned.

This past week I was really fortunate because I was invited to share some of my wellness experience with the students at Francisco Middle School. I was also able to meet some of you at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, where I co- facilitated an anti-inflammatory foods class with our very own Metromint All Star, Brooke Benlifer. AND I spent some time with over 100 members from a chapter of the West Coast Road Runners in southern California! What I learned, again, was how great it feels to give—whether it is information, water, a smile or thank you.

To teach and to learn is the quintessential way of reciprocity. You all give us so much enthusiasm and support. So, in the true spirit of wellness and outreach (and reciprocity), the next time you have an event at your store, school, center, office or group, think of us at Metromint and give us a chance to give back to you…and remember, STAY HYDRATED!