Foster Farms' Popular Thanksgiving Helpline Relieves Stress for Holiday Chefs; Turkey Tips, Cooking Advice and Delicious Recipes Available by Phone and Online

Business Wire, Nov 1, 2004

LIVINGSTON, Calif. -- How do you stuff and roast the perfect turkey, drum up delicious gravy, or "brine" your bird this Thanksgiving holiday? Foster Farms answers these questions and more this season with the return of its free Turkey Helpline (1-800-255-7227) and expanded self-help informational Web Site (www.fosterfarms.com). In addition to providing fool-proof turkey tips, this holiday season, Foster Farms invites consumers to "Savor the Season" with expert holiday entertaining tips, delicious traditional recipes, and healthy low fat and low-carb dishes to please every guest. There are even recommendations on wine pairing.

In keeping with an annual company tradition, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and all day on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, Foster Farms turkey specialists will be on call to provide thousands of home chefs with tasty recipes, fool-proof cooking instructions and important consumer safety guidelines.

From November 17 to November 29, 2004, the Foster Farms Turkey Helpline may be accessed 24-hours a day, seven days a week by calling (800) 255-7227. The Turkey Helpline is staffed by live operators and provides consumers with tips to help make their turkey dinners a success. Prior to November 17 and after November 29, the Foster Farms Turkey Helpline is available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST. The self-help online resource at www.fosterfarms.com remains active throughout the year.

"An annual event like Thanksgiving dinner requires a great deal of organization and planning," said Teresa Lenz, Foster Farms' consumer affairs manager. "Our goal with the Turkey Helpline and Web site is to help Thanksgiving chefs create the perfect centerpiece for their holiday table -- a flawless, wholesome and delicious Foster Farms turkey."

Last year, more than 4,500 consumers contacted the Foster Farms Turkey Helpline during the holidays, with over 1,300 inquiries on Thanksgiving Day alone. The popular service has grown every year, and Foster Farms encourages cooks to call the toll-free number with any question or concern -- large or small.

The Foster Farms Turkey Helpline answers chefs' questions and also provides holiday meal suggestions, thawing times, basting and roasting techniques, cooking instructions, servings-per-pound calculations, step-by-step carving instructions, nutritional information, food safety tips, and even recipes for turkey leftovers.

As part of this free service, Foster Farms also offers informational brochures and recipes for holiday cooks, available both on the Web and by phone including:

--"Savor the Season" Learn from the pros how to cook, carve and dress-up the traditional holiday stand-bys. And, make it all beautiful and easy with easy holiday entertaining tips. (www.savortheseason.com)

--"Ready, Set, Grill" Offers expert instructions on how to barbecue turkey.

Foster Farms is the leading poultry producer in the Western United States. Based in Livingston, Calif., the company has remained a family-owned business since its founding in 1939. Foster Farms branded fresh chicken is always locally grown on farms it owns or operates in each of its markets (California, Oregon and Washington). Foster Farms specializes in producing high quality fresh chicken products that are all natural with no preservatives or sodium-based additives, in addition to a full line of other delicious poultry products. The company produces and delivers premium quality poultry products to retailers, warehouse clubs and foodservice customers throughout the West.