The riders – ages 4 to 80 – took part in the annual Old Mission Peninsula Bike Tour as part of the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan.  They rode a 22 or 35 mile route on winding roads through rolling farmland, laced with cherry orchards and spectacular bay views on all sides.

“We had a great time last year, so that’s why we’re back again,” said Bill Gast of Elk Rapids.

Bill and Mardi Gast sample CherryFlex ProSport Shots.

Each participant received a complimentary sample of FruitFast’s new CherryFlex ProSport Shot – the easy, convenient way to enjoy the health benefits of red tart cheriries.  Each pouch contains a tart cherry gel that’s great tasting and helps speed recovery of muscle fatigue…something every biker experiences on long treks.

Mardi Gast, a long-distance rider who enjoys biking the Northeast states each fall, was quick to down her free sample, saying she enjoys the shots for their help with maintaining healthy joint function and flexibility.*

Be sure to share your sporting experiences and photos with us for posting on our website and on Facebook.  And if you want to order the new ProSport Shot, give us a call toll free at 877-591-3101 or order online – it’s quick and easy.

We would like to introduce you to gourmet chef, turned blogger at momgateway.blogspot.com. Her name is Ann and she’s a busy mom, scientist, and supporter of our FruitFast products as she’s all about healthy eating and recipes that are simple but delicious.

Ann is very familiar with the value of Super Fruits – dark skinned fruits known for their antioxidant values – and the importance of eating them daily.  So we were delighted when she offered to create not one, but two, custom recipes using our FruitFast Liquids!

Our thick-textured, totally fruit Liquids – both the CherryFlex and the Mixed Berry varieties – can be found in Ann’s recipe for Cherry Coconut Cream Gelee, a tempting fruit sushi dessert that is tasty and distinctive in appearance, and the entrée Roasted Lamb with Mixed Berry Sauce.

And here’s another benefit:  Momgateway is also offering readers a giveaway of our products!  Visit her blogsite, signup for the drawing before March 28, and you could win three FruitFast products of your choice.

Our thanks to Ann, and her culinary talents, and for featuring our products on her blog with a focus on healthy foods and healthy recipes.

Food labels don’t tell us what foods to eat, but they contain vitally important information in making your decisions of what to buy and consume. 

Basically there are two important parts to reading a food or supplement label; the nutrition or supplement facts and the ingredients.

Nutrition and Supplement Facts -  The nutrition or supplement facts tell us the amount of calories, protein, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber,  saturated fats, vitamins and minerals that a product contains per serving.  Be sure to note the amount of sugars, saturated and trans fats as these compounds should be limited, according to the USDA.

Ingredients List -  The list of ingredients is key to note when purchasing any type of food or supplement.  It lets you know what a product contains, such as unhealthy chemicals.  If a label contains more than a few unpronounceable compounds, chances are it’s not a nutritious choice.  The Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers to list the ingredients with the largest quantities first and the smallest quantities last.

Read and compare our FruitFast labels with others.  Take, for instance, our juice concentrates, they contain only one ingredient – 100% juice without added water, fillers or preservatives.  And our proprietary line of fruit softgels, like CherryFlex, Wild Blueberry and Pomegranate, contain USA grown pure fruit as their first listed ingredients.

FruitFast recognizes the importance of letting our customers know the nutritional facts and ingredients in all our products.  You’ll find certificates of analysis conducted by outside professional laboratories posted on our website.  Have  questions about our product ingredients?   We invite you to give us a call toll free at 1-877-591-3101.

With snow falling – and more predicted -  in the Cherry Capital of Michigan’s mitten, Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast is definitely in the Holiday Spirit with special savings through the end of the year.

Topping Santa’s list of FruitFast suggestions for gift-giving is our line of popular softgels made from whole fruit using our one-of-a-kind process that keeps the fruits’ healthy properties in tact.  Choose from five varieties:  CherryFlex®,  Wild Blueberry IQ®, Wonderful Pomegranate, Black Raspberry and Great Lakes Cranberry.

During December, take advantage of the biggest discount ever offered on FruitFast Black Raspberry and our newest softgel, Great Lakes Cranberry.
Both are priced at just $9.95 a bottle – that’s a 50% savings.  The size is right and the price cannot be beat for the perfect stocking stuffer or hostess gift!

Giving the gift of health to family and friends is made easy by calling our toll free number, 1-877-591-3101.  Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you make the perfect selections -  whether it’s Cherry Juice Concentrate, Mixed Berry Liquid, dried fruit for giving or baking or any of our delicious FruitFast bars varieties.

Fast shipping, special pricing and lots of choices make Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast the logical choice this Holiday!

Order all of our specials today at: www.brownwoodacres.com/specials.php

Lots of spectators, vacationers and hometown residents participated in 8-days worth of activities since the Fourth of July during the Cherry Festival, and from all accounts, it was a very successful celebration for the cherry industry, growers, retailers and revelers. Janet and I always enjoy the concerts in the Open Space down on the waterfront, the Queen’s coronation (congratulations to Angela Sayler), parades and the chance to see friends connected to the cherry industry that we have been a part of for many years.

To make sure there’s reason to visit, planners continue to welcome summer fun addicts for an array of different events to our hometown.  The Traverse City Film Festival brings scores more to attend showings of independent films – current, classic, new and some you’ve never heard of before and probably won’t again.  In its fifth year, TCFF is fast becoming an annual don’t-dare-miss-it draw for an entirely different segment of the population.

Gaining in popularity is the Horse-Shows-By-The-Bay equestrian event with riders and competitors from around the country visiting our area.  It’s quite the spectacle with jumping courses and dressage.  But if you aren’t a fan of horses but like jazz, there’s the Manitou Music Festival in Leelanau County or a long marquee of entertainers at the famed Interlochen Center for the Arts.  There are polka festivals, wine tours, art shows, steam engine days and even a 120-mile AuSable Canoe Marathon where athletes paddle over sixteen hours through the night   – and the list goes on and on.

We are pleased that the economy’s troubles have not paralyzed travel and enjoyment in our tourism-based region.  And like many areas in this great country of ours, there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to good down-on-the-farm family fun mixed with a bit of arts and culture.

When I think of smoothies, several thoughts come to mind;
• A healthy drink
• Easy to make
• Inexpensive

Brownwood Acres/ FruitFast supplies our delicious and nutritious Fruit Juice Concentrates and popular Liquid Fruit Supplements to smoothie outlets, health clubs, restaurants and natural food stores.  So if you have a favorite eatery, gym or grocery store that you wish would carry the FruitFast line to improve their smoothies, tell them about www.brownwoodacres.com.  Or let us know and we will contact them for you.  Just call us toll free at 1.877.591.3101.

There really isn’t anything tricky or complicated when it comes to creating your own smoothie right at home.  I recommend starting with your favorite ingredients – which we know will include our FruitFast concentrates and liquids – and ones you typically have on hand.

Start with the fruit, water, milk or juice, ice cubes and then get creative!  For an extra healthy treat, flaxseed, wheat germ or whey powder can be added for a boost.  Low fat yogurt adds nutrition with fewer calories or the reverse can be the goal when you add nuts, ice cream or chocolate syrup.  Then you have dessert in a glass.

FruitFast’s gourmet cook, Debbie Colaianni, can get you started with a recipe for a Pomegranate and Mixed Berry Smoothie that’s on the FruitFast Recipe Blog.

And yes, do share your favorite smoothie recipes with us.

A new study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University suggests that not getting enough sleep directly affects the immune system, making people more prone to colds.

Sheldon Cohen, psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University says, “People who slept less than seven hours were about three times more likely to get a cold than people who slept eight hours or more a night.”

Over 150 people were in the study. After two weeks of monitoring their sleep, they were quarantined for six days and given a cold-virus through nose drops. Eighty-eight percent of people became infected with the virus but only 43 percent actually got sick, showing signs of infection, such as a stuffy nose, cough, and sore throat.

So add “sleep” to your list of to-do’s this week…and think of it as an investment in your health!

Was it worth it?

It is possible to enjoy holiday meals without necessarily carrying that meal around with you for the next few months. Many people incorporate FruitFast’s dried fruit into their favorite traditional holiday meals to make the meals healthier, as well as adding extra flavor. FruitFast offers three Premium Dried Fruits: Montmorency Dried Tart Cherries, Balaton Dried Tart Cherries, and Dried Wild Blueberries. FruitFast’s dried fruits are quality analyzed, unlike many others on the market.

Over the next few weeks Fruit Fast will be offering some tried and true recipes that incorporate our dried fruit and Liquid Fruit Supplements. Click on our recipe site and indulge in our “picks” of tasty delights to make your holiday meals and entertainment a little more guilt-free. Start a new holiday tradition – enjoy the food but feel good knowing you won’t be paying for it later!