The White House or Your House - Broccoli is a Delicious Way to Eat Smart®
The White House or Your House - Broccoli is a Delicious Way to Eat Smart®
GUADALUPE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A "proclamation" by President Barack Obama about his favorite food—broccoli—at the White House's Kids' State Dinner this week signifies that the once maligned vegetable is back in favor at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. One company that couldn't be more pleased is Apio, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Landec Corporation (NAS: LNDC) , and a leading national producer of fresh-cut vegetable products that are packaged in convenient bags and trays and marketed under the Eat Smart® brand.
Our signature item, broccoli florets are a naturally good source of antioxidants, especially vitamin C. (Photo: Business Wire)
Apio received worldwide exposure in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush banned broccoli from Air Force One. In response, Apio sent a truckload of broccoli to the White House and asked the President to reconsider his decision. The gift resulted in an avalanche of press coverage that came to be known as "broccoligate."
Eat Smart branded products, especially the best-selling broccoli items, are designed to make healthy eating both convenient and delicious. Ready to use, Eat Smart broccoli florets are pre-cut and pre-washed, allowing for quick and easy preparation by steaming them right in the bag. "Broccoli is one of the original superfoods," notes Ron Midyett, CEO of Apio, Inc. "High in fiber and filled with phytonutrients, it's also one of the easiest vegetables to add to a healthy diet because it's so versatile."
"Superfoods" are nutrient-rich foods that typically contain phytochemicals, which are believed to promote health. Glucosinolates—found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, kale, Napa cabbage, and red cabbage—are phytochemicals that can stimulate the body's own natural antioxidant systems. Cruciferous vegetables have long been acclaimed for their healing properties.
More than ever, consumers have healthy eating on their minds, and finding new, delicious ways to prepare broccoli is a hot topic. "Roasting or steaming are just two tasty ways to enjoy fresh vegetable superfoods," says Cali Tanguay, Apio's Director of Marketing and Technology. "Often, lightly cooking vegetables helps to protect their nutrient value as well as preserve their texture and robust flavor."
Apio's culinary experts continually recommend recipes featuring fresh vegetables to show consumers how simple it is to partner healthy eating and appealing taste. Two creations, broccoli with fusilli pasta and red peppers, and broccoli pizza, are satisfying and nourishing options for any table.
For the ultimate in convenience and value, Eat Smart fresh vegetable blends provide a handy solution to families and individuals who want to eat more fresh vegetables. Eat Smart is the only brand that uses patented BreatheWay® technology. BreatheWay naturally extends the shelf life of fresh-cut vegetables to deliver a higher quality consumer tasting experience.
Visit eat-smart.net for a store locator or visit eatsmartsalads.com to learn more about the newest addition to the Eat Smart product line—Sweet Kale Salad. An appealing blend of seven superfoods, this fresh vegetable salad is a hearty blend of perfectly cut vegetables paired with a tasty sweet dressing and is sure to become a shopping list staple.
About Apio, Inc.
Apio, Inc., was founded in 1979 by five growers of celery in the Santa Maria Valley on the central coast of California, and named "Apio" for "celery" in Spanish. Today the company is the leader in processing and marketing fresh-cut specialty vegetables in the United States. Headquartered in Guadalupe, California, Apio sells its specialty vegetables and party tray products under its Eat Smart® and GreenLine® brands. Apio's fresh-cut vegetable products are unique in that most of them utilize the Landec Corporation BreatheWay® proprietary breathable packaging technology to extend the shelf life of specific produce. Landec Corporation (NAS: LNDC) , a polymer science and specialty materials company based in Menlo Park, California, acquired Apio in 1999. For more information about the company, visit Apio's website at www.apioinc.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130712005203/en/
Apio, Inc.
Cali Tanguay, 805-249-5212
Director of Marketing and Technology
ctanguay@apioinc.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
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