Kraft Chemical Company will be distributing a tart cherry powder developed by Ray Pleva of Cedar.

Ray Pleva Products, Inc., announced last week that Kraft, located in Melrose Park, Ill., will be distributing C-319 tart cherry powder to the food and cosmetics industries. The product can also be used in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, Pleva said.

Pleva said C-319 tart cherry powder provides the food industry with multiple product enhancements, including improved food safety, the extension of shelf life, and as a replacement of monosodium glutamate.

In connection with the distribution announcement and in observance of National Cherry Month, Pleva and his wife, Marge, hosted a cherry kick-off event for Kraft Feb. 11 in Melrose Park. The Plevas served lunch that included Plevalean burgers, Plevalean meatballs, smoked cherry pecan sausage, cherry enhanced pork sausage, cherry cured bacon and snack sticks. At the end of the meeting, Pleva presented his cherry enhanced therapeutic line of eight Cerise nutraceutical products to the Kraft sales staff.

Kraft is a global supplier of specialty raw materials, chemicals and non-ferrous metals for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, chemicals, paint, rubber, ceramics, manufacturing and electroplating.