Happy Holidays from all of us at FruitFast.

We are fortunate to live in a place that is not only ideal for growing fruits like Montmorency tart cherries, but is also blessed with great people, beautiful scenery and vibrant communities. With the holiday season upon us, we thought we would share a little bit of northern Michigan with all of you.

Our 10 Holiday Activities – in no particular order – are below. If you live nearby, we hope you’ll enjoy these suggestions with friends and family. If you’re across the country (or even further), give us your impressions of our northern home in the comments. Happy Holidays!

The Christmas tree in downtown Traverse City.

10. Christmas Eve “Light-Seeing” Tour
From our headquarters here in Eastport, Michigan to downtown Traverse City, there are plenty of beautiful displays of Christmas spirit adorning the homes and businesses along the way. If you’re visiting northwest Michigan this holiday season, join us in a favorite tradition: Christmas Eve “light-seeing.”

Gather everyone in your family/group together and hop in the car – or two vehicles if necessary. Put some Christmas music on the stereo and drive slowly through the neighborhood admiring the Christmas lights. If you know of a house that does a little extra (or a LOT extra), which can be found in most communities, pull over and allow for a little extra viewing time. If you’re close to downtown Traverse City, don’t miss the traditional Christmas tree at the intersection of Front and Cass streets.

9. Cross-country skiing on the VASA Trail
Home to the internationally-known North American VASA cross-country ski race each winter, the VASA Trail winds its way through the hills and valleys east of Traverse City, offering cross-country skiers over 20 miles of groomed trail and beautiful scenery.

8. Movies at the Historic State Theater
If you grew up in northwest Michigan, there’s a good chance you went to the State Theater in downtown Traverse City to see a movie or two during your Christmas break from school. Re-live fond memories and create new ones at this completely renovated, classic movie house. Christmas Eve screenings of It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas are sure to inspire the Christmas spirit in even the biggest Scrooge. Read the holiday schedule at the State.

7. Shopping in Local Shops & Boutiques
Whether you’re picking up a few last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve or browsing the windows with a peppermint mocha, northwest Michigan’s downtowns are perfect for holiday shopping. Quaint waterfront villages like Leland and Suttons Bay are popular stops, as is Traverse City’s vibrant downtown, which offers special evenings for Men’s Night and Women’s Night during the holiday shopping season.

6. Sledding Down Your Favorite Sledding Hill
Connect directly with childhood holiday memories by grabbing a sled and heading to the nearest sledding hill. If you still have your Flexible Flyer in the rafters of the garage, pull it down and show the kids what sledding was like in the time of A Christmas Story.

5. Toast the Season with Local Beer
It’s no coincidence that Michigan has developed a reputation as the “Great Beer State,” and the Grand Traverse region is a big contributor. Enjoy hand-crafted brews at brew pubs and restaurants throughout the area, including Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire and Jolly Pumpkin on Old Mission Peninsula. Downtown Traverse City offers three options: Right Brain Brewery, Mackinaw Brewing Company, and North Peak Brewing Company.

4. Snowshoeing at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Snowshoeing at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Snowshoeing is high on our list of winter activities for a number of reasons. It’s an opportunity to burn some calories, it’s relatively easy and requires no instruction (outside of putting on the snowshoes), and most importantly… it’s fun!

The 70,000-acre Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore offers virtually limitless opportunities to explore the outdoors during the winter, many of which offer stunning views from bluffs high above Lake Michigan. Join a ranger-guided snowshoe hike, held on Saturdays during the winter beginning January 7, 2012, and enjoy the natural setting.

3. Wine Tasting on the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas
Michigan tart cherries aren’t the only fruit that thrives on the rolling hillsides of northern Michigan. Wine grapes have become a significant part of the agriculture in the area, and now support a thriving wine region with over 30 wineries between the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Wind through country lanes and historic farms between tasting rooms at Leelanau Peninsula Wineries, or explore the narrow finger of land between East and West Grand Traverse Bays as you visit the Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula.

2. Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Northwest Michigan is home to some of the best skiing & snowboarding in the Midwest, averaging over 150″ of lake-effect snow per year in many areas. Get the kids bundled up and hit the slopes at Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, west of Traverse City, Holiday Hills in Traverse City, or Shanty Creek Resort, near Bellaire. Further up the road are Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands or Nubs Nob near Petoskey and Harbor Springs.

Ring in the New Year in downtown Traverse City. Happy 2012!

1. New Year’s Eve in Downtown Traverse City
In 2009, Traverse City “dropped” a new holiday tradition on northwest Michigan: The Cherry-T Ball Drop. Drawing inspiration from its larger cousin in Times Square, this now-annual event attracts thousands to downtown Traverse City to watch as a giant electric cherry is “dropped” to celebrate the beginning of a new year. Come early and start the celebration at one (or more) of TC’s bounty of restaurants, bars and breweries. Happy New Year!

Beyond the Holidays
Northwest Michigan is a popular travel destination all winter long – and with good reason! Aside from numerous winter sports opportunities and lively communities, our part of the world is home to some great winter events. Here are just a few:

Winter Trails Day – January 7, 2012
Learn to cross-country ski or snowshoe for free at several participating resorts and trail systems.

Women’s Winter Tour – February 5, 2012
Billed as the ultimate “Celebration of Wine, Women and Chocolate,” this popular annual event for women focuses on outdoor winter sports, and of course, fun!

Winter Microbrew & Music Festival – February 11, 2012
Craft brews and live music at historic Grand Traverse Commons.

Winter Wow Fest – February 17-20, 2012
An annual celebration of winter over President’s Day Weekend.

Wherever you are celebrating this year, all of us at FruitFast hope you enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, and wish you happy, healthy New Year!

One-pound bags of FruitFast premium dried fruit are on sale through Sunday.

Looking for an easy way to add the Power of Fruit to your daily diet? Perhaps you’re helping your family take advantage of the numerous health benefits of these wonderful fruits. It’s easy to do both with premium dried fruit from FruitFast!

Add dried montmorency tart cherries to your salad with lunch or dinner. Mix a handful of dried wild blueberries or dried cranberries into your yogurt or oatmeal with breakfast. There are some many ways to enjoy these delicious, all-natural dried fruits. Find plenty more on the FruitFast Blog.

Now through Sunday, save 25% on one-pound bags of premium dried fruit!

Stock up for the coming holiday season, purchase gifts for family and friends, or replenish you personal supply with our lowest prices ever on premium dried fruit!

• Sweetened Montmorency Tart Cherries
Regular Price $9.00, Sale Price $6.75
• Unsweetened Montmorency Tart Cherries
Regular Price $16.00, Sale Price $12.00
• Wild Blueberries – Sweetened
Regular Price $14, Sale Price $10.50
• Cranberries – Sweetened
Regular Price $5.00, Sale Price $3.75

Tart cherries covered in dark chocolate make an excellent holiday gift.

Know someone who deserves a great gift or special thank you? Treat them to a one-pound bag of our chocolate-covered dried cherries! Choose from Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries or Milk Chocolate Covered Cherries. Both make excellent holiday gifts!

• Dark Chocolate Tart Cherries
Regular Price $9.00, Sale Price $6.75
• Milk Chocolate Tart Cherries
Regular Price $9.00, Sale Price $6.75

These are the lowest prices ever offered on our 1 lb. bags of dried fruit. Take advantage of this special pricing and fill your shopping list for:
• Holiday Hostess Gifts
• Thank-You’s
• Stocking Stuffers
• Cookies, Muffins, Desserts and Entrees
• Personal Indulgence – Don’t you deserve a treat?

Click here to shop online or call one of our customer service specialists at 877-591-3101 to order by phone.

Each CherryFlex Softgel contains the naturally-occuring phytonutrients of approximately 80 cherries.

If you’re a regular reader of the FruitFast blog, you’re probably aware of the many health benefits of cherries. Even if this is your first visit, you may already be drinking a serving of tart cherry juice concentrate each morning, adding dried tart cherries to a salad, or using a cherry supplement. Either way, incorporating cherries into your daily routine is an excellent choice for those interested in healthy lifestyles.

So now that you’ve discovered the benefits of cherries, how can you maximize those benefits? And what is the most effective method for getting your daily intake?

For thousands of people throughout North America and beyond, the answer to these questions is CherryFlex Softgels.

CherryFlex is created using a proprietary process that preserves more of the naturally-occurring phytonutrients found in cherries than any other product in existence. The CherryFlex process incorporates the entire fruit, rather than using only the pulp of the fruit as other processes do, which enables CherryFlex to deliver the full complement of anthocyanins, antioxidants and other natural phytochemicals found in the fruit.

CherryFlex Softgels are our most popular product – and perhaps the most effective method, for accessing the natural health benefits found in cherries. Each CherryFlex Softgel contains the naturally occurring phytonutrients of approximately 80 Montmorency tart cherries. To receive the same level of antioxidants found in one CherryFlex Softgel, you’d have to drink four 8-ounce glasses of single-strength tart cherry juice.

As a point of comparison, other cherry supplements are produced by simply removing all available moisture from the pulp of the fruit, reducing it to a powder, then filling small capsules with the powder. This process removes many of the natural nutrients along with the moisture, resulting in a cherry capsule that offers only a fraction of the phytochemicals found in CherryFlex Softgels.

If you’re an active, health conscious person looking to take advantage of the natural health benefits of cherries, CherryFlex Softgels offer the highest concentration of natural phytonutrients from this wonderful fruit in a convenient package designed for easy daily intake . In other words, CherryFlex Softgels are the most effective product available for harnessing the “power of cherries.”

We recently had a visitor to the FruitFast Facebook page ask an interesting question:

Juice from tart cherries offers a multitude of health benefits.

“Do you sell black cherry juice concentrate?”

We’ve had this question pop up before so we thought it would be a good idea to discuss this a bit further.

Black cherries, or “sweet” cherries, are the larger, dark-colored, sweet-tasting cherries regularly found in the produce section of your grocery store. In areas where they’re grown, like here in northern Michigan, sweet cherries are a summer favorite at events, farm markets and roadside stands.

You’ll often find tart, or “sour” cherries, being used in the kitchen, whether it’s cherry pie, dried cherries or one of our customers’ delicious recipes. They are sold ‘fresh’ as well, but not nearly as often as sweet cherries. However, when it comes to cherry juice concentrate, the tart cherry clearly has the upper hand.

FruitFast cherry juice concentrate is made exclusively from Michigan-grown Montmorency tart cherries. So why is this the case? We started by asking FruitFast President, Steve DeTar, about the decision to focus exclusively on the Montmorency Tart Cherry for FruitFast cherry juice concentrate.

“First you start with the health benefits. Tart cherries offer benefits that are far greater than the sweet cherry,” he said.

Research has shown that tart cherries offer the greatest number of health benefits among all cherry varieties. More specifically, anthocyanins and other naturally occurring compounds found in the tart cherry can help speed muscle recovery following strenuous exercise and help to maintain healthy joint function. Want more? The natural goodness in tart cherries can also help to support a healthy immune system and a healthy sleep cycle.*

While the sweet cherry is certainly a wonderful fruit with its own set of health benefits, the natural benefits of the tart cherry are far superior. Plus, studies researching the health benefits of cherries have almost exclusively featured the Montmorency tart cherry, indicating its popularity with those interested in healthy lifestyles.

Those are pretty compelling reasons, but just to make sure, we asked Steve if there were any other factors in the decision.

“Definitely,” he said, “We also think tart cherry juice just tastes better.”

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Lauren ran the Los Angeles Marathon in 2009.

Lauren is a self-described “20-something Southern California girl who dabbles in running.” Although her Twitter bio describes her as a “marathon runner on hiatus,” she’s an active runner who is looking to add training for a triathlon to her list of challenges.

When Lauren told us that she includes tart cherry juice as a part of her workout routine and has seen great results, we wanted to learn more. Below is a Q & A we recently did with Lauren by email.

FruitFast: First, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Torrance, CA with my boyfriend and our dog Maja.  She’s a German Shepherd Mix and a great running buddy.  I graduated from Cal Lutheran University in 2007 with a double major in Marketing Communications and Business Administration and now I work for an internet company that handles international shipping and I’ve been there for about 3 years.

FruitFast: When did you first become involved in running?

I played soccer my whole life and used to hate running.  I really started to get into running when a friend of mine mentioned she was going to train for a half marathon.  I thought to myself “if she can do it, then I can definitely do it too” and started running later that day.  The running bug bit me and I ended up running my first full marathon 6 months later in March.

FruitFast: How long is your typical run?

My typical run depends on my training schedule but I usually run about 25-30 miles a week and the daily runs range from 4-10 miles with a long run on the weekend.

FruitFast: Have you entered organized races? If so, what distances?

I have run 5 half marathons and 3 full marathons since September of 2009 and I would like to start training for a triathlon this year.

FruitFast: How did you first become aware of the restorative power of cherries?

I first became aware of cherries when a friend of mine suggested them.  I suffered from compartment syndrome in my leg and I was looking for a natural way to help alleviate some of the symptoms and swelling.  She had been using cherry juice for awhile so I decided to add it to my regiment and it was amazing.

FruitFast: Have you always used cherry juice, or have you tried other methods? (dried cherries, fruit bars, softgels, etc).

I also add dried cherries to my oatmeal but other than that no.

FruitFast: Tell us a little bit about how cherry juice and similar products have helped you.

Cherry juice has really helped me to alleviate some of the pain associated with compartment syndrome.  It also helps my legs recover a lot faster from runs than they used to.  In addition to those benefits (as if they weren’t enough) I also see a difference from the melatonin found in cherries with my sleep patterns.  I was taking a melatonin pill when I had trouble sleeping but since I started drinking cherry juice I stopped using them.

FruitFast: Describe your routine for using cherry products.

My cherry routine is usually a glass of cherry juice in the morning mixed with orange juice and soda water.  Sometimes I make smoothies with a frozen berry blend that has cherries in it, cherry juice and other fruit.  I also add tart cherries to my oatmeal and trail mix.

FruitFast: Do you/have you recommended cherry products to friends/family with similar interests?

I would highly recommend adding cherry products into your routine if you are doing any sort of physical activity but I think it benefits everyone.  I think there isn’t one person who couldn’t benefit from the antioxidants in cherries and nutrients.

FruitFast: And finally… when you’re talking to someone about why you use cherry products, how do you describe their benefits?

I usually just mention their recovery benefits and tell them my experience with how much easier my body recovers.  It’s such an easy thing to add in to your routine and the benefits are incredible.

Catch up with Lauren on Twitter at @liloruns or check out her blog at http://www.liloruns.com/.

Read more testimonials and learn more about tart cherry juice and the power of cherries on the FruitFast website.

Each spring, typically around the middle of May, the hills and valleys of northwest Michigan come alive with color as thousands of acres of cherry trees come into bloom. Cherry orchards blanket the Michigan landscape along the shore of Lake Michigan from the state’s border with Indiana north to the Mackinac bridge.

The density is highest along the bays and peninsulas that surround Traverse City, known by many as the “Cherry Capital of the World.” During blossom time the Grand Traverse region is a popular destination for sightseeing and photography.

If you’re lucky enough to be in northwest Michigan on sunny day while the brilliant white blossoms are on display, they’re a beautiful site to behold in contrast to the lush, green spring grasses and the clear, blue sky.

We were fortunate to have a couple of days like this at just the right time this year, so of course we grabbed our camera and headed out in search of beautiful blossoms. A few of our photos from Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau County are below. Let us know what you think!

Want to see more? View our Flickr gallery of images from the 2011 cherry blossom season. Do you have photos of this year’s blossoms? We would love to see them! Post a link in the comments or share them with us on our Facebook page.

With the deadline now passed, and recipes turned in and tabulated, now the hard work really begins:  Choosing the winners in FruitFast’s  Berry Cherry Challenge!

Here are the 12 Semi-Finalists:

Entrées:

Roxanne Chan
Jill Drury
Naylet La Rochelle
Mary Shivers
Amie Valpone
Kristel Wiesner

Desserts:

Danielle D’Ambrosio
Margee Berry
Joni Hilton
Sunya Hobson
Alida Nattress
Mary Shivers

Debbie Colaianni and her panel of judges reviewed all kinds of dishes and desserts, narrowing the field for the final round entries.  From here, Debbie and her team will actually be making these dishes – precisely following the recipes – and then a second panel of judges will score and taste the entries and ultimately select the winners!

We want to thank all of the entrants who took the time and made the effort to submit an original culinary delight using FruitFast products in either the Entrée or Dessert categories, or both. There was an abundance of FruitFast ingredients used from cherry juice, Mixed Berry, Pomegranate, CherryFlex Liquids, and plenty of our premium dried fruits.  We are pleased to report that in the short one-month timeframe we had far more entries than we ever expected from no fewer that 23 different states. And from both men and women, too.

Best of all, when this process is complete, FruitFast will have lots of wonderful recipes to share with all our customers and friends – so we all end up being winners.

Stayed tuned to find out who the talented culinary stand-outs are as we will be announcing them on April 30 – right here on our blog and on Facebook.

Another busy week at the FruitFast Store as finally Spring just might have arrived.  We can definitely tell that people are starting to move around more and tackle all those projects out-of-doors!

It has to be the reason customers are clamoring for CherryFlex to help maintain flexibility and joint health* and help ease sore muscles*.

Nick from Algonquin, Illinois echoes the sentiments of many of our cherry juice, softgel and ProSport Shot customers when he wrote this email message;

“ The CherryFlex ProSport Shots are a big hit.  I keep them in a zip-lock bag in my workout bag.  They are convenient, the taste is powerful but good, and most of all they work.  I purposely leave them out when I’m changing at the health club, and people I work out with have asked me about them, so I handed out a few samples to them.  Positive feedback from them as well.  I’ll definitely be a repeat customer. “

Don’t forget that CherryFlex is available in several forms that are convenient, delicious and affordable.  Many of our tart cherry juice concentrate customers have been making the switch to CherryFlex softgels, or liquid fruit supplements that are tasty by the teaspoonful or terrific in beverages and recipes, and then, of course, there’s our delicious fruit bars.  Same great product — same great taste and benefits.

Think Spring – think CherryFlex!

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Berkley, California … Taylorville, Utah … Arcadia, Michigan …  Eugene, Oregon … New York, NY … and Miami, Florida.

Food lovers from around the country are sending in their recipes and entering the Berry Cherry Challenge.

We are very pleased with the response so far to our first-ever FruitFast recipe contest!  And there’s plenty of time left to send your favorite original recipe to us, too, for a chance to win $250 cash or a much coveted KitchenAid mixer.

Contest entries are being accepted through Tuesday, April 5^th for Desserts and Entrées using Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast products in original recipes.

Second and third place winners will have their choice of FruitFast products valued at $125 and $75 respectively.

It’s easy and fun and the winning cooks and their recipes will be announced and featured here on the FruitFast website.

What could be better?  Lots of FruitFast fans will receive discounts just for entering, too, and we will all get to enjoy these fabulous recipes!

You’ll find all the information you need right here.  Enter today for a chance to win!

Looking for options when it comes to a healthy, low-carb, low calorie snack?

It’s easy to fight the urge to indulge and end the bulge with FruitFast Fruit Supplement Bars.  Steering clear of potato chips, ice cream, candy bars and processed snacks is easier with these 100% fruit bars that are great-tasting and good for you and your family.

If you are counting calories, CherryFlex, Wild BlueBerry IQ and the Wonderful Pomegranate Bars all contain about 100 calories each.  Unlike many other processed treats, FruitFast bars contain no preservatives, refined sugars or additives and are gluten-free.

Developed and patented by the USDA, FruitFast Bars are the perfect answer for in-between meals, using USA grown fruit in our proprietary process that produces premium quality fruit pastes.

Don’t be tempted by processed products with unknown ingredients and chemicals.  Try our FrutiFast bars for their delicious, natural taste and convenience.