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Organic is more than a label or certification… organic stands for quality and conviction, for the responsible use of nature’s resources. What is organic food? Crops are generally grown without synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, irradiation ( a form of radiation used to kill bacteria ) or biotechnology. Is organic food better for me? Organic foods may have higher nutritional value than conventional food, according to some research. The reason: in the absence of pesticides and fertilizers, plants boost their production of the phytochemicals ( vitamins and antioxidants ) that strengthen their resistance to bugs and weeds. Is buying organic better for the environment? Organic farming reduces pollutants in groundwater and creates richer soil that aids plant growth while reducing erosion, according to the Organic Trade Association. It also decreases pesticides that can and end up in your drinking glass. What are the basic organic standards for plant crops? Farmers wanting to produce certified organic crops must show the USDA that their cropland has been free of prohibited substances for a period of 3 years. In addition farmers must agree to use practices that help promote soil integrity including crop rotation and composting. To prevent “drift” from synthetic pesticides or fertilizers used on non‑organic adjacent cropland, farmers are also required to establish buffer zones around all certified organic crops. drsmoothie.com [email protected] 888 466 9941 2 of 5 What is the source of the fruit? We’ve painstakingly sourced our organic fruit and vegetable ingredients from around the world to bring you the very best of what the organic food‑trade market has to offer. All our fruits comply with the USDA organic standards. How do you track your ingredients? There is an established method of organic ingredient sourcing and handling that is regulated by the FDA’s National Organic Program. It consists of a stringent verification process, whereby food processor and handlers must link the chain of custody of ingredients from the farm, all the way to the market. Organic certifying agencies, like Quality Assurance International ( QAI ) review our ingredient panels and assist us in ensuring everything you get in the final product is sourced according to FDA guidelines. Can you prepare Dr. Smoothie Organic with Cafe Essentials® or Smoothie‑Ceuticals®? Yes, with select flavors. In addition to Dr. Smoothie Organic, Dr. Smoothie Brands® now offers complementary organic versions of Cafe Essentials and Smoothie‑Ceuticals products. This allows for a 100 % organic finished beverage. You may also prepare Dr. Smoothie Organic with traditional Cafe Essentials or Smoothie‑Ceuticals products, however, the resulting beverage will no longer be considered 100 % organic. Organic Cafe Essentials flavors currently available: • Café Moka • Chocolate • Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Crème • Madagascar Vanilla Latte • Moka Latte Is everything organic or just the fruit? In general everything is organic except in some cases we use a natural flavor that has been reviewed and signed off by the certifying agency as organic compliant. What is more important taste or nutrition? Taste and nutrition are both important to us at Dr. Smoothie®. That is why every formulation has been designed with the purpose of equating good taste with good health. You’ll be surprised at how tasty authentic, organic ingredients can be. Assuming I use Dr. Smoothie Organic, is it necessary to use organic fruit as my blend‑ins? Although it is not necessary to restrict the types of blend‑in ingredients you use, we highly recommend that you keep the organic concept true to its intent. Therefore we recommend using organic fruit for your blend in to keep intact the true identity of an organic smoothie you are serving. Dr. Smoothie Organic flavors currently available: • Carrot Apple • Mango • Pineapple • Raz‑Berry Blend • Strawberry • Strawberry Banana Organic Smoothie‑Ceuticals flavors currently available: • Organic Vanilla Whey Protein How big is the organic customer base? Extremely large and growing. Dr. Smoothie products are on trend: • A 2012 survey found 74 % of US consumers purchase organic • 36 % use organic foods at least monthly • 40 % of consumers see organic as a moderate need / interest • 45 % of consumers see organic as a high need / interest / on trend • Non‑GMO tops the list as ingredients consumers want out of their food products • 26 % of the population is deemed “super‑users”. These people account for 61 % of the health and wellness food group, a 161 billion opportunity of which organic fits into. • Organic and “natural” product growth outpace conventional foods by three times • Sales for organic grew 5 % in 2012 • 41 % of Millennials report that they look for natural and organic brands ( born from 1982 to 2000 ) • 55 % of Millennials want restaurants to offer better‑for‑you options • 62 % of those ages 25–44 said it was very important to eat healthy / pay attentions to nutrition • From 2007 to 2012 the number of moms looking for natural / organic foods jumped 31% drsmoothie.com [email protected] 888 466 9941 3 of 5 Do you see this product replacing the 100% Crushed fruit line? What kind of role out promotions or bundle deals will there be on the official launch? No. You may see 100% Crushed customers purchase Dr. Smoothie Organic, however, Dr. Smoothie Organic opens up a whole new market segment. Look for those promotions via email or other specials. Will Dr. Smoothie Organic be prepared just like the other smoothie products same water / ice / product? Yes. Dr. Smoothie Organic blends work just the same as our Classic and 100% Crushed smoothie lines. Do you see stable pricing on this product due to the limited fruit sources available? While organic sourcing is certainly challenging, we do not anticipate any different price fluctuations than what we see currently with all our other raw materials. What is the process that makes them certified organic? In order for anyone to label products with the USDA organic seal, their formulations must be reviewed and approved by certifying agencies. These agencies are recognized by the USDA as the executors of the National Organic Program. Working closely with a certifying agency ensures that we offer products that have truly certified organic ingredients throughout our blends. Will we disclose the source we get these certified organic fruit? Where are they coming from? What states or other? As our formulations are proprietary, we cannot disclose absolute specifics about where or how we source our organic ingredients. Dr. Smoothie takes pride in letting our customers know the regions where each beverage’s key ingredient or taste profile comes from. What is the ratio of real fruit per serving in a Dr. Smoothie Organic 16 oz, 20 oz, and 24 oz smoothie? All Dr. Smoothie Organic smoothies are considered 100% fruit when properly reconstituted as prescribed by the FDA. Will Dr. Smoothie Organic fall under the 100% Crushed category? If a flavor profile includes a veggie component what is the ratio from real fruit to the vegetables in a 16 oz smoothie? Usually it contains 1 or more servings of veggies in a 20 oz smoothie. Who should be interested in this new product? Those who currently drink natural or organic smoothies and those desiring to limit ingestion of pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, irradiation, or chemical food additives. The market place is ripe for organics. If a customer is currently serving organic coffee, organic frozen or fresh fruit or using 100% Crushed they probably have the best customer profile to start with. But really any shop can serve or add organic to the menu to address the fast growing organic population. What will be the strongest selling points? Same as 100% Crushed but the added benefit of organic. Public news, on a frequent basis, addresses the good, bad, and ugly of our food chain. Organic addresses several of these segments. The smoothie is 100 % crushed fruit and provides the 5 fruit servings of fruit as recommended by the USDA and other health agencies. The biggest selling point for Organic is along the same lines as natural, but even greater. • NO GMO • NO artificial flavors • NO artificial colors • NO preservatives • Eco friendly • NO growth hormones • NO antibiotics • NO irradiation • NO herbicides / pesticides The attraction to organic is about “what is not in there” & ethical sustainable crop and animal farming. Although our Organic Smoothie blends are made from 100 % fruit, they stand in a category all their own. drsmoothie.com [email protected] 888 466 9941 4 of 5 What is the sales strategy for shop owners? Organic is a well known commodity. Proudly display our colorful point of sale introducing the addition of Dr. Smoothie Organic to your shop and the sales will come to you. We suggest being knowledgeable about the organic culture as those will be the customers you will attract. What are the differences between 100% Crushed® fruit concentrate and Dr. Smoothie Organic? 100% Crushed is the current gold standard in smoothies and Dr. Smoothie does send our fruit though vigorous washings to remove residue and use only the best growers. If you are already serving our 100% Crushed product, the next logical step is adding the organic category to your current menu to expand your customer base and serve the organic client. We have selected Dr. Smoothie Organic as our platinum line. Certified organic fruit is grown under strict government regulations regarding soil condition, growing practices, pesticides, sprays, fertilizers etc. Is there a niche customer base for this product? What is the nutrition advantage over fruit products? Yes. Organic smoothies are an open market. All users, segments and ages will appreciate your concerns for their health. Major grocery and big box stores carry organics and selection increases. If your customer base is asking for organic, be one of the first and you may be surprised at your greater business and prominence in your community! Will a customer that buys organic products be interested in this product? Yes. Current businesses are looking at introducing organic products, organic frozen or fresh fruit smoothies. Those who prefer 100% Crushed may take that next step to Dr. Smoothie Organic. Interestingly Organic Food News stated 41 % of the population purchased their first organic product in the last 2 years. Organic is a growing market. What is the difference in nutritional value from actual raw fruit to this concentrate? Raw and IQF fruit is usually picked green as it cannot stand up to transportation and time on the shelf if picked ripe. Once picked green fruit sweetness comes from the fruit producing sugar not nutrition. Organic tree and vine‑ripened fruit has full nutritional value. Why should I take the chance and offer this product to my customer base? The best way to decide is ask yourself the question, do you have the customer base that will embrace and support organic products? Or do you have the desire to add an organic category to your current menu? In reality, there is very little risk and a very great reward in offering Dr. Smoothie Organic smoothies as the investment is nominal. Though often argued, many studies support more vitamin and mineral content in organics. All studies aside, it is what is not in organic that create the difference. That is, no pesticide and other chemical residue, eco‑friendly, sustainability and more. This contributes to better health and feeling of being good to yourself and your customer. You also receive a variety of fruit in each glass lending to the synergistic nutrition of each fruit. Competition in the market and price comparison…what separates us from them? There are few competing in the organic smoothie market. Organic smoothies are usually limited to local health food markets. As far as we know, Dr. Smoothie is the only company with an organic smoothie mix. Taste profiles are as expected from Dr. Smoothie…best in class. Is this an all‑natural product like 100% Crushed? Since there is no official designation of Natural, that term is not used anymore. Organics do perform on everything natural used to provide and then go a step further with non‑GMO and other attributes. What would be the price point for Dr. Smoothie Organic vs a 100% Crushed fruit smoothie? This is totally dependent upon your geographic location and current pricing structure. Generally speaking adding $.50 to $1.00 to your price will either recoup your cost or give you your full 3x markup. Why should my customer drink this product? First off, they taste great. Plus you are offering a unique product that is good for them, healthy, clean and flavorful. drsmoothie.com [email protected] 888 466 9941 5 of 5 Is the shelf life the same as the rest of our smoothie products? Will adding the Smoothie‑Ceuticals affect the taste? Yes In general the same as when used in your current Dr. Smoothie puree. Although Smoothie‑Ceuticals are not certified organic. Is it more or less light and temperature sensitive? Are Dr. Smoothie Organic flavors available in BIBs? No, storage is the same as other Dr. Smoothie purees No, not at this time. Do we have the 8 oz sample bottles available? How many bottles per case? Yes, our normal sampling protocol is to sample 1 or 2 flavors maximum. At that point the customer will know if they want to order. 6 – 46 oz bottles. Who certified this product? The real key is not just sending samples, it is in qualifying the operator so be sure it is a fit in the first place. United State Department of Agriculture ( UDSA ) rules through QAI as the certifying agency. Our excellent taste profiles are known, and the organic is no different, excellent. Dr. Smoothie Organic smoothies are: Number of flavors planned? 6 to date for smoothies, 5 to date for frappes, 1 to date for whey protein. How many servings of fruit? • Per 16 oz smoothie – 4 servings • Per 20 oz smoothie – 5 servings Are there preservatives in this product? No. Dr. Smoothie does not use preservatives in any of our products. Beyond the Dr. Smoothie manufacturing protocol, the USDA is strict in regulations keep organics free of chemicals, pesticides & preservatives etc. • Gluten Free – Yes • Vegan – Yes • Dairy Free – Yes • Egg Free – Yes • Sugar Free – No, fruit is not sugar free but all sugars are naturally occurring from the fruits • Wheat Free – Yes • Soy Free – Yes • Salt Free – Yes • Nut Free – Yes • GMO Free – Yes • NO added sugars Besides a smoothie, are their other uses for these new flavors? Yes. For fruit juices, bar beverages, take it to the kitchen. Any place fruit is needed think Dr. Smoothie as it is a fruit concentrate, not just a smoothie mix. Please see our culinary and bar recipe books available online. When will this product be available to ship? March 2014 in limited release, then more in April. drsmoothie.com [email protected] 888 466 9941