Consumers, Culinary Experts, And Nutritionists Join The “Revoolution”

Healthy alternative to traditional lunchmeat lands in Philadelphia with the launch of heart-healthy Creta Farms Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats™ – the only meats with extra virgin olive oil.

Lansdale, PA. (May 2008) – When Vince Y. stopped by his local market in Harleysville, PA to buy some sandwich meats, he was ready to order the same old, same old he’d been getting for years. But a bright display of samples heralding a new “revoolution” in heart-healthy deli meats caught his eye. Wait a minute, he thought, as he did a double-take: lunchmeat and…extra virgin olive oil? Together?

“I saw the information on the extra virgin olive oil in the meat and thought, ‘That makes sense! Why hasn’t someone done that already?’” commented Vince. “My wife and I ended up buying a couple of pounds, and it was absolutely different than any other lunchmeat we’ve had…better than Boar’s Head or the other meats. Now it’s all we’re buying; we’re locked into it.”

Another recent taste tester who has been using extra virgin olive oil for nearly 25 years says she is happy to provide her family with a great-tasting healthy meat. “My husband’s diabetic. It’s good for him and for our whole family, but taste is important, too. I like this and can’t taste the olive oil in the meat at all. It’s delicious.”

These are just a few of many consumers joining the “revoolution” with the launch of CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats™ – the nation’s only meats with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil. The new products, which are being introduced primarily in Philadelphia-area Acme Markets, along with smaller chains and independent retailers, are expected to appeal to nutrition-conscious consumers interested in premium foods and the benefits of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Thanks to a unique process that’s been patented in 90 countries, much of the saturated fat is removed and then replaced with EVOO. In addition to using hand-trimmed, premium lean meats, CRETA FARMS™ sources the finest EVOO, produced from high-altitude, hand-picked olives that are cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to ensure consistency and freshness. Consumers and gourmet chefs alike are praising the unmatched combination of taste and health.

“It’s very difficult to find healthy ingredients that capture the incredible ‘mouth feel’ and flavor you get with extra virgin olive oil,” says executive chef, Jayson Grossberg, who has worked with Jean-Louis Palladin and Bobby Flay and earned accolades for his restaurant, Alphabet Soup, and catering business, Jayson Michaels Fine Catering. “The taste of the CRETA FARMS meats are so high grade that you can easily incorporate them into wraps, salads, canapes…just about anything you can imagine.”

As a staple in European diets for years, the gourmet EVOO deli meats are being launched by CRETA FARMS U.S. LLC through a joint venture between Creta Farm, Greece and a subsidiary of a local family-run business, Clemens Family Corporation.

“We know from research that local consumers are eager to make the switch to heart-healthy deli meats, and they’ve already given our products high marks for flavor in taste tests,” says Wayne Marchant, president of CRETA FARMS U.S. “This is a wonderful choice for people who want the healthy flavors of the Mediterranean AND the tasty traditions of the American deli.”

EVOO has been made wildly popular in America by today’s leading chefs and television food personalities, following in the footsteps of cultures that have long been captivated by the oil called “liquid gold” since its introduction to Greek life nearly 5,000 years ago.

“I’ve been using extra virgin olive oil in many of the dishes I prepare at home and on the air, and this is definitely a great way for people to get more of it into their lunches and appetizers,” says nationally celebrated chef and culinary consultant, Hope Cohen, host of CN8’s “The Chef’s Kitchen.”

Yet it’s only been in recent years that scientists have been able to definitively prove just why EVOO has stood the test of time as the healthiest of all oils. Today, nutritionists recognize extra virgin olive oil as being an important saturated fat replacement, increasing good cholesterol and antioxidant compounds in the blood while boosting metabolism and delivering a delicate flavor to foods. EVOO contains monounsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids (considered “healing fats”), natural antioxidants and high-density lipoprotein (the “good cholesterol”). Studies have shown that people can reduce their risk of heart disease, gallstones and colon cancer by replacing saturated fats in their diet with monounsaturated fats. By consuming two tablespoons of olive oil a day, people can benefit from its healing attributes, lower their oxygenation levels of low-density lipoproteins (the “bad cholesterol”) and increase the antioxidant compounds in their blood.

Varieties of CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats include:
• an oven-roasted turkey breast bursting with home-style goodness
• a hickory-smoked turkey with the light taste of wooden embers
• a tender cooked turkey breast brimming with natural flavors
• a black forest ham with just the right touch of sweetness
• an extra-lean cooked ham that celebrates pure flavorings
• an old-world hardwood smoked ham with accents of hickory
• a succulent, medium-rare gourmet roast beef featuring the perfect blend of herbs and zesty seasonings
• a savory gourmet bologna like no other

All turkey, ham, and roast beef products are certified heart-healthy by the American Heart Association, enabling people suffering from or seeking to avoid heart disease the chance to enjoy a unique, antioxidant-rich alternative.

“We know that many customers are looking for ways to incorporate heart-healthy ingredients like extra virgin olive oil into their meals,” says Paul Bulman, Marketing Vice President of CRETA FARMS U.S. “The CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats are a delicious way for them to fulfill that desire without sacrificing taste.”