In This Issue

Exclusive offers for you

From now through August 31st, 2009, all online orders of $20* or more placed on GleeGum.com will include 1 free box of Wee Glee! Each box of Wee Glee contains one ounce of all-natural Glee Gum in a brand new size: itsy bitsy pieces perfectly sized to pop by the handful. With a tasty mix of four fun flavors- Tangerine, Triple Berry, Bubblegum, and new Banana- Wee Glee makes for a swell, sweet treat. Small size, big taste. Whatta combo!

Economy got you feeling glum? Cheer up. Just chew Glee Gum! The recession-proof price can't be beat, and here's a deal that's extra sweet: the Glee Gum Buy One - Get One coupon! Redeemable at your favorite local store, the coupon can be accessed here. Enjoy!

THE BIG SCOOP

ONE SMALL STEP FOR GLEE, ONE GIANT...

Greetings, gum chews! Oh my, do we have news!

As you may have guessed from the special offer above, our newest product just debuted: Wee Glee! Featuring biodegradable packaging on the outside and all-natural chewing gum on the inside, Wee Glee proves good things do come in small packages! Wee Glee will be coming soon to a store near you and is available online now at GleeGum.com. Try some today!

And didja hear? Triple Berry Glee was just featured in Bon Appétit! The May issue of the gourmet food magazine included a super story entitled "The United Plates of America: A guide to the best things to eat, drink, and buy in all 50 states." Triple Berry Glee was named one of the top three treats in the state of Rhode Island. And that's no easy feat, given all of this state's yummy eats! Check out Triple Berry's moment in the limelight right here.

Lastly, Glee Gum can now be found in 59 of the GIANT Food Stores' Nature's Marketplaces, located on the East Coast. First step, GIANT. Next step? The WORLD!

In the meantime, hope you all enjoy a safe, sweet summer!

focus on non-timber forest products

FINE DINING WITH FUNGI

Oh, the magic of mushrooms. You can toss them in salads, slice them for sauces, or stuff them with cheese and spices. But did you know that mushrooms are also a valuable NTFP?

It's true! The harvest of wild mushrooms is a sustainable practice that helps to conserve forest regions. Mushrooms also comprise an essential part of the forest ecosystem, helping plants to grow and providing food for animals.

There are over 40,000 kinds of mushrooms. In the Pacific Northwest alone, you can find almost 10,000 species. But of those, only about 100 varieties are edible and just 50 or so are really delish. In fact, most mushroom species are deadly to consume! Rumor has it that they once caused the downfall of Roman emperors Claudius and Tiberius and poisoned plenty of other powerful people.

Wild mushrooms can grow in several ways. They can live off decaying organic material like twigs or logs. Or they can form symbiotic relationships with living plant or tree roots, gaining carbon and energy and giving soil nutrients back in return. Some are parasitic and harm their hosts, causing disease and rot.

Mushrooms "fruit" at different times throughout the year, depending on the variety and the conditions like moisture and temperature. As with apple picking, the proper harvesting of wild mushrooms does not affect future production of the crop. But air pollution and clear-cut logging can cause serious declines and damage.

Mushrooms make for big business in Europe. In the US, Oregon and Minnesota even have official "state" mushrooms. And in Japan, these fun fungi have been harvested for centuries as food, medicine and aphrodisiacs! Feeling in the mood for mushrooms right now? Check out the exclusive offer below from our friends at FungusAmongUs®. And mush on!

SUPER MUSHROOM SPECIAL:

FungusAmongUs®, "the Organic Mushroom People," have an exclusive offer just for Glee fans!

Based in Snohomish, WA, FungusAmongUs® imports mushrooms from all over the world. From organic dried Shiitake mushrooms to Italian truffle salt, FungusAmongUs® offers many marvelous mushroom products. The latest is the Pacific Northwest dried mushroom line, created to encourage consumers to buy locally and regionally.

For 10% off any order at their online store*, go to www.fungusamongus.com and enter the coupon code: NEWSLETTER1

* Valid on all products. Valid on all categories. No minimum purchase amount. One use per customer. Offer expires 12/31/09.

Love to Compete? Sweet!

DESIGN A GLEE TEE

We couldn't be more pleased with the scores of Glee Poetry Contest submissions we received! From epic tales of shopping sprees to lively limericks about natural candies, the entries were charming, cheerful and full of Glee. It was awfully hard to pick just three winners, but those gum dispensers weren't going to gift themselves! So congratulations to Stefanie S., Isabel T., and Benita G.! Check out their silver-penned stanzas and brilliant balladry on the Glee Guy's blog right here.

Now on to the new contest! Everyone always asks if we have a Glee tee. We don't! The problem? We can't figure out what to put on it! Please, help us! Send us your idea for a great Glee Gum tee shirt, be it artsy, silly, inspired or just downright Glee-ful! The winning design will be featured on GleeGum.com and in the next issue of the newsletter. The winning designer will get fame, glory and a fully loaded Glee Gum Dispenser! And if the design is really dazzling, it may even be printed on a new run of Glee tees. Yippee!

To enter the "Design a Glee Tee" Contest, send your design along with your name, email address and zip code to Verve, inc. by August 15, 2009. You can email the design as an attachment (PDF or JPG) to gleeguy@gleegum.com, scan and fax it to 401-272-1204, or send it by snail mail to Verve, inc., 305 Dudley Street, Providence, RI 02907. To be eligible for consideration, designs must be original (though use of the Glee logo and mascot is strongly encouraged!) Two-color designs are preferable. There is no limit to the number of designs you can send. We plan to post as many submissions as possible to the Glee Guy's blog, so keep your eyes peeled for 'em!

Glee, Globally

1% FOR THE PLANET, 100% POSITIVE

The makers of Glee factor environmental concerns into more than just ingredients, packaging and business practices. For the past two years, Verve, inc. has also been a proud member of 1% for the Planet. That means 1% of ALL sales of Glee Gum and Candy Kits are donated to environmental organizations.

1% for the Planet (or 1% FTP) has a mission to "keep earth in business." Since their inception in 2001, this novel non-profit has recruited over 1200 businesses worldwide, all committed to donating 1% of sales to environmental groups. 1% FTP is particularly nifty in that it places the power of environmental change in the hands of its members, allowing them to send donations directly to the specific groups they choose. Woo hoo!

For the makers of Glee Gum, that means donations to organizations that we know and believe in. Locally we contribute to the Southside Community Land Trust, which provides community gardens, eco-education and more in the same inner city Providence neighborhood where Verve, inc.'s offices are located. We are also thrilled to support the Center for Creative Learning in Monteverde, Costa Rica. And with the help of the Forest Foundation, we grant six academic scholarships per year to the sons and daughters of Mexican chicleros.

To learn more about what 1% FTP is doing to improve the relationship between industry and ecology, check out www.onepercentfortheplanet.org. On July 28th from 1 PM to 2:30 PM EST, they'll be offering a presentation on climate policy with Clean Air Cool Planet. Headed for a Parisian getaway? Keep your eyes peeled for the 1% FTP marketing campaign soon to blanket the Paris Metro. 1% FTP is even releasing a short film this August! 1% FTP is all about making a positive impact, and we hope more businesses join their effort soon. Look for the logo!

MESSAGE FROM THE MASCOT

A POETIC PLEA

I am sorry to be writing you about a woeful matter.
I generally aim to engage in strictly Glee-ful chatter!

Alas, this is a desperate measure for a desperate time.
In my distress I find myself seeking solace in rhyme!

Glee Gum is being discontinued at Trader Joe's.
And this sad fact is the cause of all my worldly woes!

Trader Joe's carries only Peppermint Glee,
But they buy an awful LOT of it, you see!

Still it seems that sales are slow
And so Glee Gum has got to go.

If you could take a moment's time to help keep Glee in stock,
You would make me the happiest gum mascot on the block!

Sometimes Trader Joe's brings discontinued products back
When enough customers complain about their lack!

So please consider calling a Trader Joe's store
About the lack of Glee Gum (which you adore!)

Or send an email to corporate HQ
And tell them why Glee is important to you.

Together perhaps we can save Glee Gum
And stop all its fans from feeling glum!

--- The Glee Guy, Naturally

~~~
To find a Trader Joe's store to call, click here.
To email Trader Joe's corporate office, click here.
And thank you, gum chums!

Glee in the Community

Places You're Apt To Find Glee: Basically, Far As The Eye Can See!

Find more information about Glee Gum at GleeGum.com.