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February 2010 Newsletter

February is here and for a short month it is a busy month. We will be focusing on American Heart Month, Chocolate Lovers Month, Sweet Potato Month, Mardi Gras & Presidents Day. Also, the national groundhog saw his shadow earlier, so we are in for another 6 weeks of winter! This month we are introducing our 1st Consumer Survey. We hope you can take a minute to answer a few questions, so Mann can keep improving our products and give you what you really want and need.



American Heart Health Awareness Month
February is Heart Health Awareness month. The focus is heart healthy diets, exercise, warning signs and preventative measures. According to the American Heart Association one in every six deaths is heart related. The good news is that since 1996 heart attack deaths decreased overall by 34%, so we must be paying attention. But there is still more to do.

Warning signs of heart disease: chest discomfort, pressure or sudden pain; discomfort or pain in either arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach area; shortness of breath; cold sweats; nausea or light headedness. Only 3% of fatal heart attacks are sudden with no warning.

Avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats. Maintain a regular exercise program, and keep your weight in a healthy range.

Mayo Clinic has provided 7 tips for a heart healthy diet.
Mayo Clinic Heart Healthy Diet

February Is Sweet Potato Month
Sweet Potato Facts By Gina Nucci
Sweet Potatoes are packed with more beta-carotene antioxidants than carrots. They contain more than twice as much of this antioxidant as colorful winter squashes. Sweet potatoes, particularly the deep orange-fleshed ones we call yams, are deliciously healthy. Beta-carotene, associated with boosting the immune system and reducing oxidation of LDL cholesterol and cholesterol buildup in the arteries, also plays a role in fighting the formation of age-related cataracts and a number of cancers. Still, Americans consume roughly the same amount of sweet potatoes a year as we do celery-that is to say, very little.

Everyday Ways to Prepare
Simply roasting yams brings out their natural sugars and makes them a treat to eat on their own. They are also good shredded, sliced, mashed, pureed, and even juiced, to use as an ingredient in all kinds of dishes from dips to desserts. I pair them with pork, black soybeans, broccoli, hot chiles, and more.

Mann has this delicious vegetable available already peeled in cubes or spears. They are conveniently packaged in 12 oz, 16 oz and 24 oz washed and ready to use packages. Pick some up today.

Name That Root
Potatoes, true yams, and sweet potatoes are three totally different plants. Potatoes are tubers belonging to the nightshade family. They originated in the Andes in South America. True yams are a huge, hairy starchy root that originated in Africa. Sweet potatoes, including the deep orange-fleshed varieties we call yams, are yet another root vegetable. They originated in the tropics and belong to the morning glory family.

Calling sweet potatoes yams began as a marketing ploy when, in the 1930's, Louisiana farmers decided to sell their orange-fleshed sweet potatoes as Louisiana yams to distinguish them from white sweet potatoes. Their plan succeeded so well that few people today know that what we call yams are simply darker, moister-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Sweet Potato Recipes

Chocolate Tips for Valentines
Research from several sources says that dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids. These antioxidants are good for your heart, brain and circulatory systems. Other tests stated that eating 1.4 oz of dark chocolate a day reduced stress hormones in the body. These flavonoids are also found in colored vegetables (broccoli, tomatoes, cabbage, & kale to name a few) and red wine.

Sounds like a Valentine menu to me! Serve some baked or grilled halibut, Broccolini Caprese Salad, a glass of red wine and dark chocolates for desert!
Broccolini Caprese Salad

Belly Fat Link to Heart Disease & Type 2 Diabetes
Recent testing at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical Center in Boston shows deep belly fat, known as visceral adipose tissue, produces higher levels of a protein that appears to reduce insulin sensitivity regardless of age, gender or BMI. Levels of this protein, RBP4, were three times higher in people who were obese than lean.

Take a few minutes and measure your mid section. Men should measure under 40 inches and women should be under 35 inches. If your mid-section is higher than this you are more likely to have problems, and should have a scheduled check up with your doctor.

Stress can further encourage the buildup of fat around the midsection. When under stress, the body produces hormones such as cortisol that put your entire body on high alert. Among other things, the hormones seem to encourage the buildup of belly fat. Some experts believe that a potbelly might be the body's defense mechanism against stress. Fat cells may actually break down cortisol, giving the rest of the body a slight respite from stress, but heightening the risk of heart complications.

Mann Packing Go Red for Women
Mann Packing Company is also involved with the American Heart Association's campaign "Go Red for Women". This program has its focus on bringing awareness to women's heart disease, which is often misdiagnosed or warning signs are ignored.
American Heart Association Go Red For Women

$1.00 Off Mann's Stringless Sugar Snap Peas or Gourmet Snow Peas
Beginning March 1st, Mann is getting the jump on spring by offering instant redeemable coupons on 150,000 packages of 8 oz Stringless Sugar Snap Peas and 6 oz Gourmet Snow Peas. You can save $1.00 on any purchase of two packages of either Mann's Stringless Sugar Snap Peas or Mann's Gourmet Snow Peas. These crunchy favorites are delicious right out of the bag or added to your favorite recipes. Take advantage of this savings in March.
Stringless Sugar Snap Pea Recipes
Gourmet Snow Pea Recipes
Sesame Seared Salmon With Stringless Sugar Snap Peas

The Women & Men Behind Mann!
Mann Employee Profile
Cody Ramsey, Sales Associate

Cody Ramsey traveled around the world as a professional wake boarder, but something drew him back home to Salinas. It was the opportunity to join the family business, Mann Packing Company.

"I've watched the business my whole life," Cody said. "I took a bit of a different path to get here, but I'm here."

Cody is a third generation Ramsey family member. Mann Packing is in its 71st year as a family owned and operated business, by the Ramsey and the Nucci families. Cody works in retail and foodservice sales. "When I think of where we are today compared to what my grandpa and my dad have seen, it's awesome," Cody said. "Back then it was pretty much just broccoli."
Read Entire Article

Mann Survey. Help Mann Give You What You Want!
Help us know what you think and what you want. Please click the link below and answer seven quick questions and give us your comments.
Mann's Fresh Vegetable Survey

We hope you found this months newsletter informative. We will be adding surveys periodically, in an ongoing effort to give our consumers what they want. Your participation is appreciated. Any separate suggestions emailed to us are always welcome. For those of you taking off for the 3 day weekend, enjoy!

Sincerely,

Susan Cameron
Mann Packing Co.
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