Global Hard Cider Leader Strongbow Gives America A Much-Needed Nature Fix With A Twist

NEW YORK, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists say that people living in urban environments surrounded by concrete, cars and a cacophony of city sounds feel isolated from nature. It's called Nature Deficit Disorder and experts say that even small sparks of nature help make people smarter, happier and more aware.¹ Just in time for summer, HEINEKEN USA, Inc. brand Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders – made with no artificial flavors or colors – is putting a stake in the ground to make green space more accessible to nature-starved New Yorkers.

For the US launch of the brand's global Nature Remix campaign, which was created to bring nature back into cities, Strongbow has partnered with Swale, New York's first floating food forest. Swale was founded by visionary artist Mary Mattingly, who wanted to take advantage of Manhattan waterways and make fresh, edible perennial plants available to all New Yorkers. Thanks to Strongbow, the formerly barren barge will evolve and continue to flourish in 2017 with a blossoming apple orchard surrounded by garden beds filled with herbs, fruits and vegetables.

"The future of Swale was uncertain as the barge headed upstate to over-winter last November," said Mattingly. "But thanks to Strongbow and the Swale team, we have been able to fully realize the vision of creating a floating food forest and showing New Yorkers a new and surprising way to connect to nature to revive and thrive."

Strongbow felt a natural connection with Mattingly and her inspired vision, so much so that she became a central character and muse in the brand's Nature Remix creative campaign featuring the evolution of Swale.

Today, the Strongbow Apple Orchard aboard Swale will celebrate its official debut in New York City at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The event also kicks off Strongbow's national seed initiative, where 100,000 sustainable seed coasters – containing an estimated one million basil and sage herb seeds – will be offered to people across the country to encourage and inspire container gardening.

The Strongbow Apple Orchard on Swale is the latest addition to the brand's impressive 1.75 million cider apple trees grown and cared for in the UK. With 125 years of cider making history, Strongbow has become the number one² selling global cider brand, known for award-winning quality and the natural flavors of its British cider apple varieties.

"Nature is at the core of Strongbow. We care for more than one billion bittersweet apples every year, and use other natural flavors, like honey, orange and cherry blossom, in our ciders," said Jessica Robinson, Vice President of Marketing, Portfolio Brands at Heineken USA. "We encourage everyone to find their own natural escape – whether it's enjoying a respite on a floating food forest circling New York City, or sharing a glass of Strongbow mixed with fruit and garnish with friends."

Strongbow offers an award-winning range of gluten-free hard ciders made from apples and other natural flavors. Produced and imported from the UK and Belgium, Strongbow flavors include Gold Apple, Honey, Cherry Blossom and new Orange Blossom, which combines the refreshing taste of apples with the spring-like fruity aroma of orange blossom.

To get your nature fix, visit strongbow.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

About HEINEKEN USA
HEINEKEN USA, Inc., the nation's leading upscale beer importer, is a subsidiary of HEINEKEN NV, the world's most international brewer. Core brands imported into the U.S. are Heineken®, the world's most international premium beer brand, the Dos Equis franchise, the Tecate franchise and Strongbow Hard Apple Ciders. HEINEKEN USA also imports Amstel Light, Newcastle Brown Ale, Red Stripe, Sol, Indio, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands. For the latest information on our company and brands, follow us on Twitter @HeinekenUSACorp, or visit HEINEKENUSA.com. 

¹ The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature, Physiological Science, 2008

² Based on 2015 global sales volume of largest single cider brands from Canadean Research, Inc.

Contact:
Maggie Mackenzie
312-929-0546
[email protected]

SOURCE HEINEKEN USA, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.strongbow.com