On New Year’s Eve, this small ‘in comparison’ city on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan drew an estimated 12,000 revelers to welcome 2011.  A sea of wall-to-wall people turned out for the second annual New Year’s Eve celebration, which doubled as a chance to donate non-perishable food items to the needy in the region.  Balmy temperatures (for northern climes), music and a pyrotechnic/ fireworks display added to the spectacular.

The Cherry-T Ball Drop:   looking forward to next year’s event when we’ll again be comparing apples to cherries.

Happy New Year!

Photo by Dr. Gary Kaberle

As we come to the end of another year, Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast wants to reiterate how much we value your business.  It’s an honor to have your ongoing support.  We strive to provide products that are undeniably ‘The Best!’   We truly enjoy offering personalized phone assistance, speaking with all our customers, and learning how our products are working in your lives is what keeps us energized.  Your word of mouth endorsements have provided the growth needed to continue testing, experimenting and creating fruit-based products with value added benefits.

With that, we wish all of our customers a Happy New Year – one that’s healthy, filled with purpose, dedication and kindness.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better (person).”

– From the entire Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast Staff

Forty-five thousand runners participating in Bank of America’s Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10 in downtown Chicago.  One of the country’s premier running events, the 26.2 mile race attracts elite athletes and everyday runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

And CherryFlex ProSport Shots will be there!

Sample ProSport Shots will be part of every participant’s packet pick-up at the Health & Fitness Expo where runners go to gather race day essentials.  Each Participant Bag with CherryFlex ProSport Shots will also contain the runners’ bib number, timing device and event T-shirt.  It’s estimated that 125,000 people will attend the two-day expo –  a show promoting health and wellness – at McCormick Place on Chicago’s Waterfront and it’s open to the public with free admission.

Then early Sunday morning, runners congregate for a massive start to the event in downtown Chicago at Grant Park, with no fewer than a million spectators.

Sound like a big deal and a huge undertaking?

It is for runners and organizers alike and FruitFast is excited to be a part of this October 10, 2010 33^rd annual event.  We’ll be cheering the runners on in all categories from the youngest at age 16 to those athletes who are over 80.  it’s been said that “people run Boston (Marathon) for the history, but run Chicago for the celebration.”

Are you or someone you know running in the marathon?  We invite you to share training regimens or the actual marathon experience with a comment below or on our Facebook page.

And to all the runners –  Good luck and have a great celebration!

Example:  Get your daily squeeze of CherryFlex ProSports Shots, a convenient, fun and healthy way to enjoy your quota of a quality super fruit.  Each 8 gram squeeze pouch is filled with a delicious tasting tart cherry paste that helps maintain healthy joint function* – a natural source of antioxidants.

Everywhere we traveled in our cherry-covered bus, we found new friends interested in wholesome eating, living a healthier lifestyle, and finding alternatives to processed foods.

Whether it’s your teen who’s back on the gridiron or soccer field, a friend training for their first marathon running race or sore muscles after your weekend tennis match, CherryFlex ProSport Shots are just the ticket as they speed relief from muscle fatigue post-exercise.*  The same is true for all adults who enjoy fitness and outdoor activities or hold down physically-demanding day jobs.

Feel your best all year long with FruitFast.  See our entire line of quality USA grown, fruit products or call toll free 1.877.591.3101.

The CherryFlex Express will be in the center of activity this next week for the Third Annual Cherry-Roubaix – a bike race series set for August 27 to 29 in Traverse City, Michigan.  It’s three great races and one great ride in a fun-filled weekend of cycling for all ages.

“Each year the event grows in participants and spectators,” said an event founder and committee member Bob McLain.  “We are expecting hundreds of cyclists – some coming from as far away as California.”

The CherryFlex Express has been covering the miles this summer, too, promoting CherryFlex ProSport Shots, our new great-tasting tart cherry gel that speeds relief of muscle soreness post-exercise*.  The world of cycling is a perfect pairing for our whole family of quality fruit products designed to deliver the power of fruit.

See you on the course!

Janet and I have been on the go, too, traveling around in the CherryFlex Express – better known to us as “the bus.”  We have participated in several parades, been on hand for canoe and bike races, queen events and agricultural gatherings.  And we are not done yet.

While passing out CherryFlex ProSports Shot pouches at a National Cherry Festival bike ride, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the news about super fruit benefits is spreading.

During our missionary work on behalf of the fruit industry, many of the riders were already aware of the muscle and joint soreness relief that cherries can provide.  They were already making cherry products a regular part of their training regimen.

And though that was welcome news to our gang, in a way I’m not surprised.

The industry’s official website – choosecherries - is focused on promoting the healthful benefits of tart cherry consumption.  Cherry juice, juice concentrate and our tasty pouches filled with tart cherry paste (Cherry Flex ProSports Shots) are among the tart cherry-based products linked to providing antioxidant health benefits.  There’s even a Red Recovery Routine page provided by the Cherry Marketing Institute to help athletes improve their performance with a smart mix of foods.  Further, a Power Team comprised of a decathlon gold medalist, nationally recognized sports dietitian, and ultra-marathoner, has been formed to add credibility and updates to the use of tart cherries in training routines.

At last, tart cherries are gaining some richly deserved recognition.  The truth is that this Super Fruit has among the highest level of antioxidants, anthocyanins, and phytonutrients, providing the nutrition required by active people.

Don’t be left out.  Visit our website or call toll free 1 877.591.3101 for your cherry fix!

Record crowds have poured into the Grand Traverse region of northern lower Michigan for one of the country’s largest and longest running festivals.  Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to descend on the Cherry Capital of the World over the next week to celebrate this amazing healthy fruit and to just have fun. There is something for everyone – performances by the Blue Angels, pie-eating contests, bike tours, dog jumping competitions and amusement rides, plus nightly entertainment.

Unfamiliar with the Montmorency red tart cherry?  Well, visit cherryflex.com and learn about the many benefits from this ruby-colored fruit, including its antioxidant properties for maintaining healthy joints, cardiovascular health and  healthy immune systems.*

With summer activities at their peak, this is THE time to become familiar with the benefits of FruitFast products.  Whether you enjoy walking, running, tennis, golf or are young or old, FruitFast’s exclusive process condenses the tart cherry into a thick paste that includes the skin and pulp.  This is where the cherry’s antioxidants reside.  Scientific studies show that CherryFlex helps maintain health joints* and speeds relief of muscle fatigue* – perfect for those on the go.

You have a wide choice of FruitFast products and all are made from quality, whole fruit without preservatives or additives in a process that does not apply high heat or solvents.

Choose from our popular line of fruit softgels, cherry juice concentrate or our newest product: CherryFlex ProSport Shots.  Taken orally, this delicious tart cherry gel is convenient and all pure fruit.

Help us celebrate tart cherries at www.cherryflex.com!

But this favorite holiday signifies much more:  a time to honor our forefathers whose vision and courage lead to our everyday freedoms.
Independence Day is a time to wear our colors – red, white and blue – proudly as we pay homage to those principles upon which our country was founded.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people remains the basis for this great country and are tenets that need our continued protection and support.

Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast extends special wishes for peace and goodwill to our valued customers, neighbors and friends.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

After a bumper crop in 2009, red tart cherry growers say harvest numbers will drop considerably after a yo-yo temperature range this spring that affected the fruit.

A check with my farming buddies points to this conclusion:

Early snowmelt, followed by unseasonably warm temperatures this spring, hastened the fruit’s development.  May frosts killed the blossoms and this will result in a lighter crop yield overall.  Some grower’s trees were affected more than others, but expectations are that the harvest could be down 50 percent or more.  Official estimates from the USDA are expected soon.

But there is always a silver lining.  Due to perfect growing conditions here in the Cherry Capital of the World last season, there is plenty of fruit in storage to meet the needs of the consumer and processors.

The supply of cherries  should remain stable and – we are happy to say – that includes Montmorency tart cherries for our FruitFast products.

On this Memorial Day….

Thanks to the efforts of some of our country’s historians and storytellers, the all too real exploits of our war veterans have come to light recently in book and film, and other media venues.

These extraordinary tales of sacrifice and courage to preserve freedom for the peoples of the world are at once humbling and soul searing.

So as we mark Memorial Day 2010 with our families and friends, let us all pause to acknowledge veterans and their families.

We all are indebted to those who have fought for our freedom.

With Gratitude,

The FruitFast Family