Salud De Paloma Extra Virgin Olive Oil Now Available To The Public

Salud de Paloma, owned by nonprofit Business & Community Lenders of Texas, promotes access to local, healthy foods during National Nutrition Month. Currently offering extra virgin olive oil at local farmers markets; looking for more retailers.

Austin, TX (I-Newswire) March 14, 2013 - Salud de Paloma Extra Virgin Olive Oil is now available to the public, and Salud Corporation is seeking wholesalers and retailers throughout Texas to carry this new product. Salud de Paloma proudly bears the Go Texan seal, signifying membership in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s program that promotes food that is grown, raised, and produced in the Lone Star State.

Salud de Paloma is featured at Texas farmers markets such as HOPE Farmers Market in Austin and the Main Plaza Farmers Market in San Antonio, as well as independently owned grocery stores such as Uncommon Fare in San Antonio.

The co-founders of the label are also Texas homegrown: David Brennan is a bank vice president in Waco, Andres Garza Jr. is the current city manager of Wharton, Rosa Ríos Valdez grew up in Seguin and currently serves as president of a nonprofit in Austin, and Jose “Pepe” Treviño is the retired city manager of Pearsall.

“Food products that contain locally grown ingredients and are locally produced – such as Salud de Paloma extra virgin olive oil – are going to be fresher and more nutritious,” said Rosa Ríos Valdez, president of Salud Corporation and Business & Community Lenders of Texas.

Studies have shown that true extra virgin olive oil offers numerous health benefits, such as improving cardiac health, lowering blood pressure, protecting against certain common cancers, and lowering the concentration of “bad” cholesterol. In January of 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 13.2% of Hispanics have diabetes, compared to 7.6% of Non-Hispanic Whites.

“With Hispanics experiencing a rate of obesity and diabetes higher than ever, it’s critical to market healthy options to the Latino community,” said Ríos Valdez. “Salud Corporation puts health first.”

Salud Corporation has begun to work with The Texas Diabetes Council, the Texas Diabetes Institute, and with public schools and nutritionists across Texas to promote healthy food and healthy lifestyles.

The National Council of La Raza recently published “The Food Environment and Latino’s Access to Healthy Foods” as part of their 2010 Profiles of Latino Health. Findings showed that Hispanic families are less likely than non-Hispanic White families to live in neighborhoods where healthy food is available and sold at affordable prices. Salud de Paloma Extra Virgin Olive Oil is available at an affordable price, making it accessible to lower- and moderate-income households.

At the beginning of February, Ríos Valdez was invited to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Conversation on Improving Access to Healthy Foods, hosted by the Food Trust and The Reinvestment Fund. Across the U.S. there are several nonprofit organizations, such as Salud de Paloma’s parent organization Business & Community Lenders of Texas, which are taking the lead in offering healthy foods to communities lacking access to grocery stores and fresh foods.

“Healthy foods generate healthy economies,” said Andres Garza, Jr., chairman of Salud Corporation. “The foods we eat play a major role in the health of our minds and bodies, and the healthier people are, the more productive they can be in their communities.”