Live Gourmet and Grower Pete’s Earn Third-Party Certification

Hollandia Produce, LPs’ Live Gourmet brand Living Upland Cress and Grower Pete’s Organic brand Living Watercress have been certified as Antioxidant-rich Superfoods based on a laboratory analysis of their antioxidants levels, especially lutein. Bags of Living Upland Cress and Living Watercress will now feature the Antioxidant Superfood certification label from SCS Global Services (SCS), a third-party certifier of food quality and safety. “There are a lot of food products in the marketplace that claim to be rich in antioxidants but very few have any data to back it up. This certification lets our customers know the levels of healthful antioxidants they are getting in every bag,” says Vincent Choate, director of marketing for Hollandia. “This certification promotes transparency while educating consumers and will help our products stand out.” The laboratory testing, conducted by SCS, confirmed that Live Gourmet Living Upland Cress and Grower Pete’s Organic Watercress contain high quantities of lutein, an antioxidant known to fight cancer-causing free radical compounds. Lutein, which is also found in leafy greens such as spinach and kale, has also been found to support eye health and vision, according to researchers at the American Optometric Association. “The SCS’ Antioxidant Superfood Certification program was created to help high-antioxidant content products like Living Upland Cress stand out in the marketplace for their verified content. Helping consumers understand what an antioxidant is and how they impact your body is an essential part of promoting healthy eating habits,” says Dr. Heidi Wright, food testing program manager for SCS. Hollandia Produce LPs’ Living Upland Cress and Grower Pete’s Organic Watercress are grown in Hollandia ‘s state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouses that control for light, temperature, humidity and nutrients, making their products available throughout the year. The company expects packages featuring the SCS Antioxidant Certification mark to arrive in supermarkets in April 2014.