Backyard Farms® Announces Mary Ann Esposito as Chef Spokesperson

MADISON, Maine, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Backyard Farms today announced its new partnership with Chef Mary Ann Esposito of Ciao Italia, America's longest running television cooking show. Backyard Farms, the largest grower of year-round tomatoes in New England, will team up with Esposito in 2014 to create delicious, original tomato-centric recipes and share tomato cooking tips. The two plan to share the recipes and tips via digital and social media.  Visit www.backyardfarms.com and http://www.ciaoitalia.com for more information. 

"We're thrilled to be working with Mary Ann Esposito this year," said Tim Cunniff, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Backyard Farms. "We're honored to have such an incredibly experienced and respected, top-notch Italian chef on our team.  Fans of Backyard Farms tomatoes will be able to experience our fruit in ways they never have before."

"I use Backyard Farms tomatoes in my kitchen all the time, so I am excited to be working with such a great group of tomato growers," said Esposito.  "Tomatoes are one of the staples of Italian cuisine.  Until I discovered Backyard Farms tomatoes, I never would buy tomatoes in the off-season to use in my favorite recipes."

As Backyard Farms' Chef Spokesperson, Esposito will create original recipes and accompany Backyard Farms at promotional events throughout the year. Esposito and Backyard Farms also plan to collaborate on a series of mini online cooking demos where she will cook using Backyard Farms tomatoes and offer her culinary expertise on cooking and preparing different tomato varietals. These mini demo videos will be hosted at http://www.backyardfarms.com, as well as on the Backyard Farms YouTube channel. 

About Backyard Farms
Backyard Farms operates 42-acres of greenhouse growing space in Madison, Maine that provides the Northeast with fresh, locally-grown Backyard Farms tomatoes year-round.  The company has based its business on the principles of taking care of its employees, giving back to local communities and treating the earth with respect. Backyard Farms tomatoes are left on the vine to ripen and shipped within just a day of harvest, creating a tomato that is sweet and bursting with flavor. For more information about Backyard Farms please visit its website at www.BackyardFarms.com or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BackyardFarms.

About Chef Mary Ann Esposito
Authenticity, history, tradition.  Those three words define Mary Ann Esposito and the signature cooking style that has made her one of America's most loved television chefs.  As the creator and host of the nationally televised PBS series, Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito™, she has brought those values to millions of Americans.  Countless organizations have recognized Mary Ann for her efforts to preserve the traditions surrounding Italian food and culture.  She is also the author of 12 cookbooks. Her most recent is Ciao Italia Family Classics.

For more information about Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito, please visit http://www.ciaoitalia.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/maryannesposito. 

SOURCE Backyard Farms