Andrea Scott, Manager of Interactive Marketing
Oct 19. 2009
Picture this: 14 bloggers exploring 18,000 acres of POM Wonderful pomegranate orchards, enjoying a special meal made with pomegranates at The Vintage Press and receiving a personalized tour of the POM processing and juicing plant in Del Rey, CA. Did this really happen? It did – it was the first ever POM Wonderful Blogger Harvest Tour.
What is a Blogger Harvest Tour? A three day trip for 14 bloggers to share the POM Wonderful experience of how pomegranates are grown, harvested, and sold, or juiced into POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is created, bottled and shipped.
First Stop: The Orchards
Eric of Eric Rivera Cooks, “The POM Wonderful is actually a breed of Pomegranate. There are other types of pomegranates out there but nothing like the POM Wonderful. That may sound like a sales line but I’ve seen them with my own eyes and it’s true. “
Brad Paris, VP and GM of Global Produce, explained how pomegranate shrubs are nurtured, how to pick the perfect pomegranate and how to open a pomegranate, through multiple demonstrations.
Everyone had the chance to pick a pomegranate, open it and taste the red ruby arils straight from the source. Yum.
Second Stop: The Vintage Press
Heather of Heather Eats Almond Butter, “Last night’s meal at The Vintage Press was incredible. All my food rules and restrictions flew right out the window, and I enjoyed every bite.”
David Vartarian, head chef, created a customized menu for us, including a goat cheese salad with arils, a quinoa couscous ragout with arils, a pomegranate sorbet with POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, and a chocolate pyramid.
Third Stop: The POM Wonderful processing and juicing plant in Del Rey, CA
Brad led us through the fruit processing part of the tour, explaining every step the fruit goes through once it arrives on trucks coming in from the orchards. Fruit is sorted and sold as fresh fruit or juiced for POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice.
Caitlin of Healthy Tipping Point: “I love learning how food/products is produced and packaged … I have also been on tours of an Audi factory and a Boeing factory. But I think the POM Wonderful tour was the most interesting one!”
Jim Gagnon, VP of Operations, took over the tour to explain how the iconic double bubble bottles are blown, filled, and shipped. No pictures allowed for this portion of the tour.
Last Stop: Saying Good-bye
Coco of Balance, Joy and Delicias, “These people are serious on making the best product available for the customers by using the cutting edge technology, meticulous designing and employing the most efficient and kind people to make it happen!
PS – stay tuned for another post on the history behind the Blogger Harvest Tour and how it came to be.
6 responses to “POM Harvest Tour 2009”
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I would be interested in doing a tour of your processing facility. Can one be arranged?
Had a blast guys! It was a GREAT trip.
Michael,
We usually don’t do tours of our processing facilities but I have asked to see. I will let you know.
This was such a fun trip! I’m thankful for the opportunity to go.