Nutrition

Unlike most processed salsas, all-natural Summertime® Gourmet Salsa has less than half the salt of other salsas, but way more flavor. It is also low in carbohydrates, has no fat or preservatives and uses a special process to enhance the flavor of its ingredients.

"Processed tomato products are a great, natural source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found naturally in products like salsa," said Dr. Betty Greer, Associate Professor in Nutrition at the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Office.

Antioxidants, like lycopene, help renew the body and fight off diseases like prostate cancer, Greer said. "In fact, men who ate 10 or more servings of these products reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 35%," she said.

Furthermore, lycopene protects the heart, lungs, eyes and many diseases of the aging. Several studies suggest that people with the highest levels of lycopene in their bodies used fewer canes and walkers and could complete common daily living functions better, Greer said.

Yet the the lycopene isn’t absorbed in digestion unless you eat it with fat, she added. "The lycopene is fat soluble so it needs a little fat to help the body absorb it. That’s a great excuse to eat a few corn chips with your salsa," Greer said with a laugh.

Not only is Summertime® Gourmet Salsa an all-natural, gourmet salsa that is good for you, but it is handmade by cooks in the beautiful hill country of East Tennessee. Summertime® Gourmet Salsa is derived from a 100-year-old Hispanic family recipe. Our Salsa was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival as one of the best new product from Southern Appalachia in 2003.

"It allows you to enjoy the taste of the all-natural ingredients without the ‘heat’ that interferes with savoring the flavor of so many other store-bought salsas. That’s why we coined the phrase, ‘Enjoy the Heat Without the Burn ®,’" said Gerald Hawkins, who created the Salsa in his kitchen several years ago.

Boosting the flavor is important for people following a healthy diet because normally fat carries the flavor and carries that creamy mouth feel. Summertime® Gourmet Salsa is the perfect snack for anyone on a low-fat or no-carb regimen, Hawkins said

"With our zesty ingredients like garlic, onions, chiles and hobañero peppers, your mouth gets a workout that everyone can enjoy. Just stick a celery stick right in the jar and dig in!" he said.

Even better, Summertime® Gourmet Salsa adds flavor to any dish or recipe without the fat or carbs found in most snack foods. Please see the recipes that follow. So go ahead, enjoy the taste of Summetime®.

Summertime® Gourmet Salsa is available at The Fresh Market throughout the Southeast