Endorsed by Andrew Weil, MD

Many of us still have that childhood memory of a pickled herring bowl passed around the table by aunts, uncles, and grandparents. It was always a staple on our special occasion, Shabbat and Yom Tov tables, and it was savored by so many of the “grown-ups”.  We can picture the bowls of pickled herring in wine sauce. And, if we think back, the brand name that usually comes to mind is Vita. Yes, sometimes products DO outlive the test of time, and this is the story of Vita.

The original Vita was started in 1898 by a Canadian family, as a seafood fishing company with crews fishing for herring. It remained in the Barry family for five generations.  Eventually it was sold, and the headquarters were moved to the U.S. Since 2009 Vita is once again a private company, located in Chicago, Illinois.  Vita seafood products include pickled herring in cream & wine based sauces and complementary specialty food products, such as horseradish, cocktail sauce, and tartar sauces.  For all of its seafood products, Vita Foods embraces the recommendations of the MSC, “ Vita is dedicated to the sustainability of the seafood used in their products, and follow recommendations of The Marine Stewardship Council, the world's leading not for profit organization in certification and ecolabeling for sustainable seafood.”

Vita Food Products, Inc. is comprised of two separate divisions: Seafood and Specialty. All Vita herring and seafood condiments are certified kosher. Our focus for this feature is herring, but we will share news about its specialty products in a future article.

Dear readers, herring is not a food of the past, but has roared back as a gourmet choice: hip, cool and trendy. Today, many types of fish, including herring, are considered “must” haves in a healthy diet.  Eating herring is once again both a premium indulgence and now a healthful decision.

Vita has kept up with the times and understands today’s discerning consumer. In fact, to emphasize and publicize the health aspects of their herring, they have partnered with Andrew Weil, MD, famed wellness and nutrition expert! Dr. Weil has endorsed VitaPerfect Catch Herrings and donates his royalties from sales to the Weil Foundation, supporting integrative medicine through training, education and research.

We tasted two of the Weil endorsed herring products, Perfect Catch Wild Herring in Wine Sauce and Perfect Catch Wild Herring in Dijon Mustard Sauce. Both were superb, Best of all, enjoying the taste of herring is certainly a plus, since we now know how healthy it is. Vita Herring is high in omega 3 fatty acids and low in mercury levels. Plus, it is ready to eat with no preparation needed.  You can enjoy Vita Herring products right out of the jar, on a cracker, in a salad or in many recipes.  Herring − Try it, you’ll like it!

Try the following recipes using Vita Herring: Smoked-Herring Caesar Salad, Creamy Parve Pickled Herring, and Beets with Herring and Apples.

For additional Vita Herring recipes, please visit VitaFoodProducts.com. Vita products are available nationally in most grocery stores.

September 20, 2011