Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Buy Me Some Peanuts and…Chocolate Milk?

VERNON HILLS, Ill—Tetra Pak announced a program with Organic Valley to introduce milk in single-serve, Tetra Prisma Aseptic cartons to the fans of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, single A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners.

The program includes giveaways, sampling, contests and various activities, while providing parents with healthier beverage choices inside the Fox Cities Stadium, located in Appleton, Wis.

The ambient features of Tetra Pak’s containers were recognized by the ball club as an innovative solution for the well-known challenges of storage, spoilage and distribution of sensitive products such as milk. The Organic Valley milk in aseptic containers is the same milk they pack in refrigerated cartons that are sold at grocery stores—but it is filled and sealed in such a way that allows the milk to sit on a shelf, at room temperature, for up to one year. The shelf-stable version of the milk is readily available at major grocers throughout the United States.

“This is a great example of how Tetra Pak is working with its clients to provide safer, healthier options for consumers through the development of innovative applications for our packaging solutions,” said Suleyman Muratoglu at Tetra Pak’s dairy category. “Our aseptic packaging for milk is basically the same process we use to fill and seal juice boxes, which we know kids love and parents approve. We’re excited to fill a need for the club’s fans, and to offer a better, healthier alternative at the ballpark.”

Single-serve milk is available to fans at concession stands and from stadium hawkers. The kids’ play area adjacent to the stadium will be named the Organic Valley Kids’ Zone for the 2007 season, and a nearby kiosk will dispense the single-serve milk cartons. Several days are slated for all-fan giveaways with free samples, discount coupons will be distributed for redemption at local grocery stores, and autograph Sundays will be sponsored by Organic Valley.

Aseptically packaged milk does not require constant refrigeration, which saves energy and space by minimizing use of refrigerators. All that’s required for consumption is to chill only the needed product a few hours before service. The single-serve milk cartons hold one complete serving of milk, approximately eight ounces.

“Our fan surveys show that parents want more healthy choices at the ballpark, and Organic Valley’s flavored milk tastes great, and is an all natural product,” said Ryan Grossman, food/beverage manager for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. “The single-serve milk cartons are easy for kids to open, carry and consume, which is one less thing for parents to worry about while enjoying the action during the game.”

Aseptic carton packaging significantly reduces spoilage, material waste and costs to ship and store liquid food. The carton material is made primarily from a renewable and renewed resource—trees—that is lightweight and recyclable. Beyond ballparks, aseptic packaging brings safer, healthier options to on-the-go consumers that demand great taste, freshness and convenience.