Fresh Idea Wins A $10,000 Culinary Tour From Del Monte

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Gus C. of Washington is the winner of the Del Monte "Add Some Garden" contest.  By adding Del Monte^® Peaches to his Peachy Keen Ceviche, Campanario proved that more colorful and nutritious meals are just a can away. He beat out four other finalists and will take home the Grand Prize, a Culinary Tour worth $10,000.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130121/NY44497LOGO)

"I like to experiment with cooking, and since Del Monte^® peaches always taste so fresh, I thought they would be a great way to add a pop of color and a new taste to a recipe I grew up with," said Gus C. "I keep Del Monte canned fruits and vegetables in my pantry, and they're the secret ingredient I use to whip up a garden fresh meal in no time."

Del Monte^® fruits and vegetables are grown in the best growing regions, nearly 90% in the United States, and are picked fresh and packed at the peaks of ripeness to ensure nutrients and flavor are locked in, making them a tasty & nutritious addition to any meal.  The Del Monte "Add Some Garden" contest launched November 5, 2012 and featured five phases of competition. Each phase focused on a different Del Monte canned variety, and asked consumers to share how they simply "Add Some Garden" to their favorite meals by adding a can of Del Monte green beans, corn, tomatoes, peaches or pears.

"We know our Del Monte community is full of creative cooks, but we were so impressed with all of the tasty tips we received," said Brian Ng, Del Monte Foods. "There were so many great ideas demonstrating how simple it is to make a good meal great by adding Del Monte fruits and vegetables."

Other category winners and their tips include:

• Green beans - Lydia A. from New York won for her tip of adding Del Monte^® green beans to her Gnocchi Alfredo
• Corn - DeAnn B. from Ohio won for her tip of adding Del Monte^® corn to her bruschetta
• Tomatoes - Kadija B. from Florida won for her tip of adding Del Monte^® diced tomatoes to her Mediterranean Sauteed Tilapia
• Pears - Jesse O. from California won for his tip of adding Del Monte^® pears to his Caramelized Pear Potato Skins

They will all take home a $500 gift card for their ideas.  To view the finalists' tips and for additional information, visit the Del Monte Facebook Page

About Del Monte Foods
Del Monte Foods is one of the country's largest and most well-known producers, distributors and marketers of premium quality, branded pet products and food products for the U.S. retail market, generating approximately $3.7 billion in net sales in fiscal 2012. With a powerful portfolio of brands, Del Monte products are found in eight out of ten U.S. households. Pet food and pet snacks brands include Meow Mix^®, Kibbles 'n Bits^®, Milk-Bone^®, 9Lives^®, Milo's Kitchen^®, Pup-Peroni^®, Gravy Train^®, Nature's Recipe^®, Canine Carry-Outs^® and other brand names. Food product brands include Del Monte^®, Contadina^®, S&W^®, College Inn^® and other brand names. The Company also produces and distributes private label pet products and food products. For more information on Del Monte Foods, visit the Company's website at www.delmonte.com.

SOURCE Del Monte Foods