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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Bejo Seeds, Inc. Showcases The Vegetable to Be Cooking With Right Now!

With Kohlrabi Veggie Sticks, Raw Veggie Fries, Salad Blends. Veggie Side Dishes and Hash Browns being highlighted at Bejo Seeds, Inc. Booth # 93 at the PMA Foodservice Conference and Expo

OCEANO, CALIFORNIA (July 21st  2015) – At the 2015 PMA Foodservice Conference and Expo in Monterey Bay, Bejo Seeds, Inc. will showcase their proprietary jumbo Kohlrabi processed for a number of foodservice applications.

While kohlrabi dates back to mid-16th century Italy, it was popularized in Eastern European countries, especially Germany. The vegetable's name comes from the German words kohl (meaning "cabbage") and rübe ("turnip").  This healthy and delicious vegetable is part of the Brassica Oleracea family like Kale, Broccoli, and Cabbage. This vegetable group is highly nutritious and versatile.  With high vitamin C and anti-oxidant content levels, Kohlrabi is perfectly aligned with current trends in foodservice.

Proprietary to Bejo Seeds, is the Giant Kossak variety of Kohlrabi.  This unique variety is grown specifically for foodservice as it maintains a wonderful juicy crispness and retains its fresh texture as a large, efficient to process Kohlrabi that can be cut and served raw or cooked into prepared dishes.

A New Partnership

Through a new partnership with Farm Stand Fresh Foods, a marketing and distributing company based in Mission Viejo, CA., Kohlrabi will soon be available to foodservice operations throughout the United States and Canada.  Farm Stand Fresh Foods’ Founder, President and CEO, Chris Lindley shares, “Kohlrabi is a versatile and delicious vegetable that integrates seamlessly into many different dishes.  This is the vegetable to take center stage as Chefs like Dan Barber of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the 2015 James Beard Award winner for Best Restaurant in America, highlight the delicious flavors of Kohlrabi in a number of dishes.”  Lindley continues, “We are very excited about making Kohlrabi available in a variety of forms to Chefs and foodservice operations throughout the U.S. and Canada.”

Kohlrabi Making Culinary Trends

Recently named by Epicurious Magazine as “the vegetable to cook with right now,” Kohlrabi is making headlines across America as vegetable-focused cooking and plant-based diets are on trend.  These days, in most restaurant kitchens the humble vegetable has taken center stage.  “Kohlrabi is the one everyone’s obsessing over right now,” states Epicurious Magazine.

At Dan Barber's fine-dining restaurant Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the kitchen serves "kohlrabi tacos" by slicing paper-thin pieces of raw kohlrabi to serve as the "tortillas," filling them with seared butterfish fillets and a variety of toppings: carrot "guacamole," sour cream, cured pork, and smoked salt. The kohlrabi brings a slight sweetness to the proceedings, adding a lightness and moisture that works well with the seafood.

And, in Los Angeles, chef Jeremy Fox makes a kohlrabi "mustard" at Rustic Canyon Winebar and Seasonal Kitchen. "We sweat down kohlrabi along with shallots and garlic in butter, then make a creamy pureé," says Fox. "Then we fold in some of our house made wholegrain mustard--it's almost like you get these little pops of caviar."

Supporters of the Culinary Institute of America, Bejo Seeds and Farm Stand Fresh Foods participated for the third year in a row at the Healthy flavors, Healthy Kids 2015 invitation only event.  Full-time Instructor at the CIA and well-known Chef, Scott Samuel created recipes using Kohlrabi specifically for this event.  Bejo seeds are involved and support many other programs such as the Healthy Kids Initiative, School Lunch Programs and Produce for Kids.  They are also members of the Healthy Weight Foundation and PMA Eat Brighter Campaign.

Be sure to stop by Bejo Seeds, Inc. booth # 93 and enjoy sampling Kohlrabi for a number of different foodservice applications at the PMA Foodservice Conference and Expo. Ask about our Tasti-Lee® tomatoes, too!

For additional press materials, high res images or samples of Kohlrabi please contact Leigh-Anne Anderson, Anderson Miller PR, via email LeighAnne@AndersonMillerPR.com or by phone (310) 990-5752.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Bejo Seeds Reports Continued Growth in Branded Produce Programs

With Tasti-Lee®, Sweetheart Lettage® and Kool Robbi® being highlighted at the United Fresh 2015 at booth #1257

OCEANO, CALIFORNIA (May 26th, 2015) – Packaged Facts reports that sales of branded packaged produce through all retail channels increased by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% between 2009 and 2013 to reach $5.6 billion.  Conservatively forecasting a CAGR for this category of 4.6% through 2018, when sales are expected to approach $7 billion according to the report. Higher sales volume, higher prices, and consumer demand are key factors in this projection.

At the 2015 United Fresh Show, Bejo Seeds, Inc. will highlight their success with branded produce. Booth #1257 will be featuring the award winning Tasti-Lee® Tomatoes along with other branded vegetable varieties such as the Sweetheart Lettage® and Kool Robbi®.

Ten years in development by Dr. John “Jay” Scott at the University of Florida, this delicious vine-ripened tomato caught fire with consumers and is now the #1 brand of fresh round tomatoes in the US (AC Nielsen FreshFacts® 52 Weeks Ending July 26, 2014). Tasti-Lee® brand messaging is recognized by consumers to have up to 50% higher lycopene levels, superior flavor, sun-ripened, and excellent quality. The seed is produced and distributed worldwide by family-owned international seed company, Bejo Zaden of The Netherlands, with its North American division, Bejo Seed, Inc. responsible for the rapid success of the Tasti-Lee® Tomatoes brand.

The demands for creating the perfect tomato were two fold, shares Dr. Scott. For one, the tomato needs to have delicious flavor year-round, have a naturally plump size, and keep shape after cutting for sandwiches and cooking.  Second, the fruit needs to be sturdy enough to withstand the pressures of commercial agribusiness and transport.  Tasti-Lee® aced both the demands and have since gained a loyal following of consumers looking for Tasti-Lee’s® delicious flavor, color, size, and hearty lycopene content.

These soil-grown, non-GMO tomatoes naturally turn a beautiful deep red color from sun-ripening (never gassed with ethylene). The perfect balance of sweet and tangy taste, Tasti Lee® tomatoes not only contain 50% more lycopene than your average tomato, but they stay firm on the consumers’ kitchen counter resulting in a superior cutting tomato.

Grown by experts in the farming community, Tasti-Lee® tomatoes come in both organic and conventional varieties, and are available in leading natural supermarkets and mainstream grocery chains around the nation. Tasti-Lee® truly brings the fresh taste and texture of homegrown tomatoes to supermarkets year-round.

Look out for the Tasti-Lee® farm truck full of farm fresh tomatoes and sample Tasti-Lee’s delicious new salsa at Bejo Seeds, Inc. booth #1257 at the United Fresh Show.

Following the United Fresh Show, Bejo Seeds will be one of seventeen exhibitors at the exclusive Fresh Festival for Fresh School Service.

For additional press materials, high res images or samples of Tasti-Lee Tomatoes®, please contact Leigh-Anne Anderson, Anderson Miller PR, leighanne@AndersonMillerPR.com.

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TASTI-LEE SOCIAL:

Website: www.Tasti-Lee.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TastiLeeTomatoes

Twitter: https://Twitter.com/tastilee

YouTube: www.Youtube.com/user/tastilee

Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/tastilee

Blog: www.TastiLeeBlog.com

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

One of the Best Heart Healthy Superfoods Just Got Better!

Tasti-Lee® Tomatoes Have 50% More Antioxidant Rich Lycopene Than Other Tomatoes

OCEANO, CALIFORNIA (February 17, 2015) – Tasty in salads, yummy in sandwiches, and superstars in sauce; tomatoes are the fourth most popular fresh-market vegetable in the United States well known for their versatility and deliciousness.  But succulent tomatoes are more than just an ingredient and delicious fruit.  Tomatoes are high in heart-healthy nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, biotin, potassium, and fiber. Plus, tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene. Research suggests that the combination of nutrients in tomatoes may help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Lycopene is a carotenoid that studies show may help lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, keep blood vessels open, and may help lower heart attack risk. Lycopene carotenoid is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants can help the body eliminate dangerous free radicals that can damage DNA and other fragile cell structures.   Carotenoids are what help give fruits and vegetables their color, for sun-ripened tomatoes, the brilliant red comes from carotenoids.

Tasti-Lee Tomatoes® (www.Tasti-Lee.com) have the highest levels of lycopene in any tomato variety in the United States. These GMO-free, soil-grown and sun-ripened tomatoes naturally have 50% more lycopene than traditional tomatoes!  Tasti-Lee® tomatoes proudly carry the Heart-Check Mark food certification from the American Heart Association that helps people identify foods in stores that meet the nutritional standards of the American Heart Association to promote heart-healthy eating habits.

The Tasti-Lee® variety of round crimson beefsteak tomatoes are also ultra flavorful, beautifully red, and perfectly juicy. Here’s the difference - Tasti Lee® is a naturally developed tomato variety that is grown the old- fashioned way; in rich healthy soil under warm sunshine. Tasti Lee® is the first commercial tomato to deliver a summer taste in the middle of winter. Grown outdoors and harvested at optimum readiness the flavor and freshness of Tasti-Lee® is that of a just-picked backyard garden tomato, but without all the work.

Almost 20 years ago The American Heart Association designed the Heart-Check Mark that is placed on products that have been screened and certified to meet the proper nutritional criteria.  Tasti-Lee® tomatoes are proud to promote heart-healthy eating habits to people across America.

Grown nationally by leaders in the farming community, Tasti-Lee® tomatoes come in both Organic and Conventional options.  These tasti tomatoes were created as a premium, vine-ripened tomato picked when the bright red color is naturally beginning to develop.  Tasti-Lee® Tomatoes are never artificially ripened or gassed with ethylene for color.  Tasti-Lee® tomatoes are available in leading natural supermarkets and mainstream grocery chains around the nation.

For additional press materials, high res images or samples of Tasti-Lee Tomatoes, please contact Leigh-Anne Anderson, Anderson Miller PR, LeighAnne@AndersonMillerPR.com, (310) 990-5752.

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TASTI-LEE SOCIAL:

Website: www.Tasti-Lee.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TastiLeeTomatoes

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tastilee

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/tastilee

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tastilee

Blog: www.tastileeblog.com