Mediterranean Health Trend Upgrades Traditional American Deli Meats

Local families looking for healthy alternatives in their lunchmeat discover CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats™ – the nation’s only deli meats with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil

Lansdale, PA. (April 2008) – Gorgeous sunsets. Sparkling blue water. Cool ocean breezes. It’s no wonder people in Greece live longer, healthier lives. But one of the real secrets to the Mediterranean lifestyle is food rich in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, commonly known as EVOO. Now, people in the Philadelphia region too can incorporate EVOO more readily, thanks to CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats – the nation’s only deli meats with heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.

“My husband’s diabetic, so I’ve been cooking with extra virgin olive oil for almost 25 years,” says one woman who participated in recent taste tests. “It’s good EVOO 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,” stated a recent consumer.

Popular for years in Europe, the EVOO deli meats are now being produced in Pennsylvania and sold through Acme, and other independent retailers, throughout the Philadelphia region. Using 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 from the Isle of Crete, produced from high-altitude, hand-picked olives that are cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to ensure consistency and freshness.

“We are excited because we know the product is really going to connect with people,” says Wayne Marchant, President of CRETA FARMS U.S. “We’re combining the healthy flavors of the Mediterranean with the tasty traditions of the American deli.” It’s a welcome addition for many people who struggle to find healthier alternatives that taste great for them and their families. But with Americans’ growing attention to healthy food choices and the Mediterranean lifestyle gaining a stronghold in the United States, the EVOO meats can satisfy people seeking the perfect marriage of premium-quality, heart-healthy deli meats that taste great.

“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.”

While EVOO has been made wildly popular in America by today’s leading chefs and television food personalities, researchers have long been captivated by the oil called “liquid gold” since its introduction to Greek life nearly 5,000 years ago. Yet it’s only been in recent years that scientists have been able to definitively prove just WHY it 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

The American Heart Association has certified all of the CRETA FARMS turkey, ham, and roast beef products heart-healthy.

Even bologna – a favorite of children but usually the bane of parents’ attempts to stock the fridge with healthy fare – has gone gourmet, thanks to CRETA FARMS. Boasting lower saturated fat than typical beef or pork bolognas, the company’s authentically Mediterranean-seasoned bologna is an extra nutritious, antioxidant-rich alternative that people of any age can enjoy.

By incorporating CRETA FARMS Gourmet EVOO Deli Meats into their diet, families can start living healthier lives while still enjoying the great taste of premium deli meats. “People are intrigued by the idea of this because it marries good taste with a healthy product, especially seeing as we have such demand for all-natural products these days,” says Erin, a deli employee who has observed recent taste tests. “The olive oil is not overpowering; it’s just subtle enough that you can tell the difference. Even people who say they typically don’t buy deli meats wanted to give it a try, and they liked the taste.”