[PHOTO - Pacquiao's cut is examined by strength and
conditioning coach Alex Ariza after the fight. Joaquin
Henson]
MANILA, NOVEMBER
25, 2011 (STAR) SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin Henson - WBO
welterweight champion and still the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny
Pacquiao is now into vegetables, lending his name to endorse a line of premium
products in a partnership with State Street Produce of San Antonio, Texas.
The deal is among the tie-ups negotiated by Lucia McKelvey, hired by Top Rank
as executive vice president for business development and marketing last
February. McKelvey has since arranged several multi-year deals for Pacquiao.
'Pacquiao Produce' president Allen Reyno, a Filipino based in Los Angeles,
said State Street Produce used to market a brand called Beijing King but has
replaced it with a line exclusively endorsed by the Filipino ring icon.
"Manny's favorite vegetable is broccoli and that's at the top of our product
list," said Reyno. "But that's not all we carry. We also distribute bell
peppers, green onions, carrots, cauliflowers, lettuce and many more. All the
vegetables are grown in 5,000 acres of farmland in Guanajuato, Mexico. As soon
as they're harvested, the vegetables are shipped fresh to our freezers and
delivered to our wholesale buyers. We're moving into the retail market soon. Our
vegetables are guaranteed to be fresh. We don't use processors."
* * *
[PHOTO - World champion boxer, recording star and politician Manny
Pacquiao has partnered with State Street Produce in San Antonio, TX, to launch
the 'Pacquiao Produce' label and establish a foundation that will help needy
children around the globe. (Photo courtesy of State
Street)]
Reyno, who traces his roots to Bulacan and Zambales, migrated to the US in
1987. Their family business is in shipping and transportation. Reyno operates a
yard at the port of Long Beach where containers are brought in to deliver
products. A video of Pacquiao endorsing the vegetables was recently filmed in
Reyno's Long Beach yard.
"Lucia is our angel," said Reyno. "She made this happen. Our vegetables are
now in restaurants and stores all over the US through our wholesale buyers but
we intend to go retail ourselves. Manny's name gives our product instant
credibility and recall. We're not just reaching out to the Filipino community in
the US. We're planning on a global reach."
* * *
[PHOTO - Boxing promoter Bob Arum speaks at a post fight news
conference following Manny Pacquiao's majority decision victory over Juan Manuel
Marquez of Mexico at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, November
12, 2011.]
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said Pacquiao Produce could be to the Filipino
titlist what grillers are to former world heavyweight champion George Foreman.
State Street Produce chief executive officer Ted Ludeman, quoted by Produce
News, said, "Our slogan is 'Feeding Our Future Champions' and we're actually
able to help children fight obesity and see that there is a figure out there who
is able to promote a healthy lifestyle and is a reputable human being …
(Pacquiao) is such a humble man.
Manny goes back to his hometown in Philippines after every single fight and
feeds and gives money to every single person in the town. He sits out there for
two days straight and just hands out money to people over and over and over
until every single person in his town is fed and has money. I realized that this
is bigger than us.
Manny is green. What is greener than broccoli? Broccoli is as green as it
gets. So I sat down and said, 'Manny, we grow broccoli, we want you to endorse
our broccoli.' And he said, 'You know what my favorite vegetable is? Broccoli.'
And I said, 'OK we're on to something.'"
In the media room for Pacquiao's recent fight against Juan Manuel Marquez at
the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Reyno set up a Pacquiao Produce
vegetables counter for taste tests. Several dressings were available and Reyno
said he'll look into the suggestion of developing a Pacquiao line of salad
dressings, too.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2009 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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