May 9, 2005

THE DYNAMIC HEALTH DUO OF BLUEBERRIES AND POMEGRANATES FOUND IN NEW 100 PERCENT FRUIT JUICE FROM OLD ORCHARD BRANDS

Old Orchard BlueberryPomegranate 100 percent fruit juice launches this month, combining the antioxidant power of the blueberry with the health benefits of the pomegranate.

SPARTA, Mich., May 9, 2005 — Can blueberries help you remember where you put your car keys? Can pomegranates help ward off cancer and cardiovascular disease? According to research by many organizations including the USDA and the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the blueberry and pomegranate are two of the most powerful fruits for people to consume as part of a healthy diet. Getting the benefits of these powerful fruits gets easier this month with the launch of Old Orchard Blueberry Pomegranate 100 percent fruit juice.Old Orchard Blueberry Pomegranate 100 percent fruit juice is the first pomegranate juice offering from one of the top five national juice manufacturers. Other specialty producers and niche producers have been offering pomegranate juices over the past few years but at a significantly higher price than the suggested $2.99 for a 64-oz. bottle of Old Orchard Pomegranate Blueberry 100 percent fruit juice.“The leading researcher and producer of pomegranate juice charges more than $3.00 for a 16-oz. bottle,” said Michael McDonald, vice president of sales and marketing. “They are certainly on to a great health benefit. However, we realize that not everyone can afford to pay more than $14 for 64 oz. of a pomegranate juice, and that’s why we’ve applied our expertise and reach to develop and market a  blueberry pomegranate juice for the masses, so everyone can take advantage of the health benefits."Blueberries are a powerful fruit. When compared with 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables, the blueberry ranks first in its antioxidant activity, according to research by the USDA Human Nutrition Center. Antioxidants are important to the body as they battle naturally occurring unstable oxygen molecules — called free radicals — in the body that are associated with cancer, heart disease and the effects of aging.

The pomegranate is an equally powerful fruit and is packed with polyphenols — the antioxidants found in all plants. Many companies and researchers have been looking into the power of the pomegranate and believe that it has even higher antioxidant powers than the blueberry and cranberry.
“The great thing about the pomegranate is it’s naturally sweet,” McDonald said. “By combining the blueberry and pomegranate the end result is a sweet and exciting taste. Many people enjoy the benefits of cranberry or grapefruit juice, but they don’t enjoy the taste; pomegranate blueberry will be a great way for these people, and others, to fill the body with valuable antioxidants.”

Sparta, Michigan-based Old Orchard Brands is one of the fastest growing fruit juice brands in the United States. The privately held company started operations in 1978 and offers consumers 29 frozen concentrate flavors and 36 bottled flavors in a variety of 100 percent fruit juices, blends and low-carbohydrate fruit juice cocktails. For more information visit www.oldorchardjuice.com.