Fig Food(TM) Company Launches Website to Continue Healthy Eating Dialogue

Website celebrates individuals who are making a difference

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Feb 08, 2011, 08:53 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fig Food™ Company, LLC, the manufacturer of organic soups, is taking its national dialogue about natural food and a healthy lifestyle online with its new website http://www.figfood.com.

Launched in November 2010, Fig Food soups are 100 percent plant-based and are certified organic and kosher. With only 200-260mg of sodium per serving, the soups are a delicious option for consumers seeking convenient, nutritious choices.

"Sure, Fig Food makes delicious soup, but there's more in each spoonful than delicious ingredients," said Fig Food President Joel Henry. "Fig Food is also a community learning together about the benefit of plant-based foods - a community where the fence between consumers and organic farmers is lifted with the exchange of ideas and goods - a community looking to make our world a better place."

Apart from product nutritional information and an interactive map which helps consumers find Fig Food Soups at stores close to them, the site features Fig Talk, where people can join conversations about plant-based food, organic agriculture or sustainability, share recipes and more. Consumers who register on the site receive a $1 coupon to go toward their next purchase of Fig Food Soups.

The Fig Family portion of the site features community members who are making a difference in their community and gives them broader platform from which to raise awareness and ideally financial support. The first family member featured is Michael Zabrek, who is not only a Whole Foods Market Team Member, but also a prominent fundraiser for Whole Foods Market's nonprofit Whole Planet Foundation, which empowers entrepreneurs through microfinance in global communities where the company sources products. So far, Whole Foods Market Team Members have donated more than $2 million through paycheck contributions, empowering more than 110,000 individuals in 29 countries to lift themselves out of poverty. In 2009 and 2010, Michael was a top fundraiser.

"An integral part of our corporate mission is to support grassroots organizations that are making a difference," said Henry. "All too often these organizations lack the funding to help drive their mission. As a small business, my budget doesn't begin to cover my philanthropic aspirations, so while I cannot give funds, I can provide visibility."

"In 2005, we launched Whole Planet Foundation with the mission to empower the self-employed poor in developing world countries through microcredit loans," said Philip Sansone, president and executive director of Whole Planet Foundation. "Microcredit provides individuals a chance to lift themselves out of poverty through entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity. To date, the Foundation has authorized $16 million and disbursed $10 million to microfinance institutions, positively impacting more than half a million people worldwide. We are proud that one of our participants has been recognized by an entrepreneur who is also a member of the Whole Foods Market family."

About Fig Food

Founded in New York City in 2010, Fig Food Company, LLC manufactures soups from the finest organic and locally sourced ingredients available. Fig Food soups are 100 percent plant-based and are certified organic and kosher. The Fig Food portfolio consists of four ready-to-eat varieties (Tuscan White Bean, Umbrian Lentil, Yucatan Black Bean and Gran Farro e Fagioli) and three condensed varieties (Tomato, Wheatberry and Split Pea). Fig Food Company was named a semi-finalist in the 2009 NY Green Business Competition and was accepted into New York City's first business incubator at 160 Varick Street. Started by Mayor Bloomberg under the auspices of the NYC EDC and administered by NYU/Poly, the incubator offers community and resources to burgeoning entrepreneurs in NYC. Additional information about Fig Food Company can be found at http://www.figfoodcompany.com.