KANSAS CITY — New products with a cause are cropping up in grocery store aisles.  

Unilever PLC’s Ben & Jerry’s brand is honoring athlete and social activist Colin Kaepernick with a new non-dairy dessert offering called Change the Whirled. As a nod to Mr. Kaepernick’s vegan lifestyle, Change the Whirled features a caramel non-dairy sunflower base with fudge chips, graham cracker swirls and chocolate cookie swirls.

Mr. Kaepernick's portion of the proceeds from sales of Change the Whirled will support the work of Know Your Rights Camp, which he founded in 2016 to advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities.

“Colin Kaepernick and his Know Your Rights Camp is the perfect partner for Ben & Jerry's to continue to advance our work on issues of racial justice,” said Matthew McCarthy, chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry's. “Ben & Jerry's is proud to diversify our flavor portfolio by honoring Kaepernick with a full-time flavor. We deeply respect how Colin uses his voice to protest racism, white supremacy and police violence through the belief that love is at the root of our resistance. We have tremendous hope in what we can accomplish together.”

Lidl US is launching Way To Go!, a private label chocolate bar made with 100% traceable and sustainable fair trade cocoa sourced from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperate in Ghana. Way To Go! guarantees that farmers at the cooperative receive at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price for cocoa and the Fairtrade Premium, an extra sum of money for farmers to invest in their farms and communities, Lidl said. Way To Go! Bars come in milk chocolate and dark chocolate varieties.

“Lidl is committed to investing in products and business models that deliver greater returns to people working in the supply chain, and this is especially important in the cocoa industry,” said Stefan Schwarz, executive vice president of purchasing at Lidl US. “By designing and launching the first private label chocolate bar with the objective of directly supporting workers, small-scale farmers and local communities, we are taking another important step in this direction. We are grateful for the support of our partners at Fairtrade, who help make innovative programs like Way To Go! possible.”

Once Upon a Farm is adding a new flavor to its line of organic, cold-pressed fruit and vegetable blends. New Farmer Jen’s Sweet Potato Pie features sweet potatoes with coconut milk, dates and a touch of vanilla. The recipe was modeled after a family recipe from Once Upon a Farm’s co-founder and chief brand officer Jennifer Garner. The new variety is certified USDA organic and Non-GMO Project verified.

For every Farmer Jen's Sweet Potato Pie pouch purchased, 25¢ will be donated to Save the Children (up to $50,000) — a non-profit organization that focuses on helping children grow up healthy, educated and safe across rural America.

“We are so proud to team up with Jennifer and the incredible Once Upon a Farm family, working to provide healthier, happier tomorrows for our nation's children,” said Mark Shriver, senior vice president of US Programs & Advocacy for Save the Children. “One hungry child in America is one too many, and the support Save the Children will receive through this partnership will help our efforts to nourish and feed children across rural America.”

View slideshow of new products.