Why I Recommend AlpineAire Foods
At a time of considerable concern
about the effects of current events and numerous potential catastrophic
scenarios, many folks have been investing in shelf stable foods. I have
written numerous posts at this site and at my blog Learn To Prepare on
preparedness planning with an emphasis on food issues. Why not? - since I
have been involved in preparedness foods for over 43 years - as a
manufacturer, retailer, innovator, consultant, and teacher.
Here is valuable information about
AlpineAire Foods. Which I highly recommend - and I should know - since I
founded the company in 1979. Read about them, and if you are in the
market for very high-quality food reserves or camping foods please give
them your serious consideration - you will be pleased.
You may purchase the entire AlpineAire line at our product website PrepareDirect, and I am sincere when I invite you to call me personally if you have questions or comments. There is
too much misinformation and blatant deception happening at this time in
regards to food storage. I would be glad to share my experience with
you - that's why I am doing what I do!
Why Choose AlpineAire Foods?
The following list summarizes 14 important points that distinguish AlpineAire Foods:
- Experience and reliability since 1979.
- Regarded
as the finest Food Reserves available, that don't rely on nutritionally
challenged white sugar and white flour, and whose food systems, canned
products and pouched foods provide realistic and quality calories for
proper nutrition.
- Nutritious quality ingredients.
- Facilities are federally inspected daily to ensure compliance with high standards. Food safety is taken seriously.
- One of the largest established companies in the industry.
- The
largest selection of quality, completely blended meals and individual
ingredients, available in special cans and foil pouches.
- Specialists
in Freeze-Dried and specially dehydrated products, and an extensive
variety of "No Cooking Required" meals and Food Reserve units.
- State-of-the-art technology and equipment in a new 80,000 sq. ft. facility.
- In-house testing and quality control.
- Real meat products are used in beef, chicken, and turkey meals.
- Proven nutritional results by record-setting world class and extreme condition expeditions.
- Chosen for use by government, military, firefighters, search and rescue, and demanding adventures.
- Significant value for the cost.
- A very large selection of assortments and Food Systems for a diversity of needs.
AlpineAire Foods (current parent
company Katadyn, Inc.), has been a pioneer in the outdoor recreation and
preparedness marketplace since 1975. These unique foods were first sold
locally, in San Diego California, and then made available nationwide in
1979. AlpineAire is committed to providing outdoor adventurers and
emergency planners with exceptional quality and nutritious shelf-stable
foods, which have constantly been judged the superior brand of choice.
Preferred by expeditions, rescue teams, extreme sports enthusiasts, and
those who know that under demanding conditions the food they eat
contributes to the caliber of their performance and the value of their
experience.
Denis Korn, the founder of
PrepareDirect, also founded AlpineAire Foods in 1979. AlpineAire is one
of the very few recreational and emergency shelf stable food
manufacturing establishments to be federally inspected to comply with
the strictest USDA standards for truthfulness in labeling, ingredient
conformity, wholesomeness, and cleanliness.
Besides the availability of a wide
selection of over 53 entrees, snacks, and individual items in foil
pouches, and over 74 items in shelf stable cans, USDA inspection allows
AlpineAire to utilize real meat products in many of their complete meal
recipes and individual product offerings. Most of their foods are free
of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. AlpineAire produces
both a canned line of dried shelf stable foods called Gourmet Reserves
and a line of products packaged in poly-coated, heavy-duty foil pouches.
In 1997 AlpineAire introduced their "Quick Zip" resealable pouch for
the added convenience of preparation.
Since the founding of AlpineAire,
three vital factors have been the cornerstones of product development -
nutrition, convenience, and taste. Serving sizes that are realistic,
flavors that are satisfying, a source of sustaining energy, ease of
preparation, and value you can trust. AlpineAire uses a variety of
quality non-perishable ingredients in its formulations. These
ingredients are the result of the latest developments in food technology
and are designed to ensure shelf stability, foods that reconstitute
back to their original characteristics, nutritional value, and
convenient preparation.
Few if any food reserve manufacturers
can match the proven success of AlpineAire's experience in exclusively
feeding and sustaining people for a very long term with verified
results! Here are examples of just a few recent expeditions and
adventures:
- The 35th Anniversary Assault of Mt. Everest.
- Kevin Foster's bike trek across the Great Wall of China.
- Official sponsor for Eco-Challenge both in SE Utah and Vancouver, Canada.
- Brad
Van Liew used AlpineAire Foods in his "Around Alone" single-handed 50'
sailboat race around the world, winning each leg as well as the overall
race in 2002/2003.
Comments since the introduction of AlpineAire Foods include:
"AlpineAire is the epitome of natural,
healthy backpacking food." "...the result is better taste and healthier
eating. Our tasters ranked AlpineAire tops ..." Backpacker Magazine
"The leader in producing foods that
are reasonably priced, meet the taste test, and supply nutritional needs
is AlpineAire." "AlpineAire is the standout in the freeze-dried field,
with tasty meals, realistic serving sizes, no additives, and intelligent
packaging..." "Some of the most satisfying meals in our test came from
AlpineAire." Outside Magazine
"Nothing is a better end to a long day
on the trail than a fine meal, and fine is the word for AlpineAire's
offerings. They are rated throughout the industry and by SOG as Numero
Uno for taste in outdoor meals." Serious Outdoor Gear
"I am writing on behalf of the men and
women in our squadron who are working in the Middle East for the Desert
Storm Operation. The people in our unit are aircraft mechanics and they
are keeping planes flying 24 hours a day... I am writing you because your camping meals are the finest I have ever eaten." Robert A. Kowal, Lt. Col.
"We think AlpineAire
freeze-dried/dehydrated foods are the most substantial and best tasting
of any we've had. Their servings are the most generous and are balanced
for good health. That's very important to us as we plan to live on it
for the next 2 1/2 years. We are continually reminded and always aware
that AlpineAire has been a Godsent for this expedition... AlpineAire's
healthy, wholesome and nutritious food has been our mainstay through
North and South America." Verlen & Valery Kruger - Two Continent Canoe Expedition - 21,000 Mile Voyage of Discovery
"The highest quality, best tasting
freeze dried foods we have tried. Well seasoned. Made in the USA. Each
entree feeds about 2 adults." L.L. Bean Catalog
"AlpineAire recreational foods, the
pick of the freeze-dried crop... give AlpineAire a try. We think you'll
agree these freeze-dried foods are everything they're claimed to be." Boy Scouts of America Catalog
"Your products present the palate with
the sumptuous tastes one has come to expect from AlpineAire. The stews,
the chili, and the soups - not to forget the essential maple syrup
granules -were each terrific. If food tastes good at 17,000 feet and
above - you know it's high quality. After three separate Everest
expeditions since 1985, I know where to turn for lightweight quality
meals and ingredients: AlpineAire." Ed Webster
"After 55 days eating AlpineAire Foods I thought I'd let you know they still taste excellent." Chris Townsend - Editor 'Footprints' Great Britain
We discovered AlpineAire Foods
early on in our Adventure Racing days (Eco-Challenge era). When you’re
out there racing for nearly a week straight and you don't have the
luxury of having a support crew waiting at the transition areas with hot
meals cooked in your RV, you really learn how valuable AlpineAire Foods hot meals truly are! Nothing like quickly preparing a hot meal of Black Bart Chili, Chicken Gumbo or Hurry Curry Chicken
while your competitors are over chewing on stale dry energy bars. A hot
meal in the middle of a mountain blizzard can be just what the doctor
ordered to bolster up the energy to head out on a 15-hour trek over a
half dozen mountain passes. If you haven't tried AlpineAire Foods freeze-dried instant meals, you're miles behind your competition!
Mike Kloser - Team Nike
Professional Adventure Racer
I am proud to announce my newest sponsor AlpineAire Foods,
which for those of you who don’t know, offer the most innovative,
healthy & delicious camping food on the market. I mean they have
been around forever feeding starving adventurers like myself since the
70’s. My empty belly and nose is what led me to their booth at the trade show. What I found there was tantalizingly delicious and nutritious. From Shrimp Alfredo to Hurry Curry Chicken, desserts, breakfast, soups, you name it these guys make it all.
Isaac Ezekiel Caldiero
Professional Climber
I can't believe it's been almost 10 years since I started the sport of adventure racing, and Alpine Aire Foods
has been there every step of the way. As you know, the food we take
into races has to meet criteria just as challenging as the events
themselves. Alpine Aire
has provided us with meals that have been quick and easy to prepare in
any environment (from the desert sands to the triple canopy jungles to
the high mountain peaks) and with no flavor fatigue!
As the sport
grew, so did your accommodating product line that provides us the great
tasting energy we need at the spur of the moment. (When you've been
awake for three or four days straight, running, cycling, paddling,
climbing, you really look forward to a hot instant meal instead of sugar
shots and bars.)
All my best,
Cathy Sassin
Bend, OR
Ultra-light expeditions require ultra-lightweight yet filling and nutritious meals. AlpineAire Foods fits the bill every time. I've been using AlpineAire Foods exclusively for eight years and it never falls short of any expectation. Nothing ends a long day like a filling, tasty meal. AlpineAire Foods never fails to satisfy.
Ed Nolan
Placer County Sheriff Mountain Rescue Team
I don't think I've spoken to you since our race in Chile in late February. We won by 17 hours. AlpineAire Foods was a Huuuuuuge hit -- especially when it was the only food that any team had AT ALL during our 12 hour hostage crisis at check point #14 with no food/gear. I had to split my coveted Brown Rice & Chicken
entree with 16 drooling South Americans who gobbled their one spoonful
each like it was the best meal they'd EVER had. Then they all passed the
foil pouch around to try to find out what this manna from heaven was
and talked about the incredible flavor for about an hour.
Thanks again for the killer chow....
Robyn Bennincasa
World Champion Eco-Challenge Competitor
I have now spent nearly two years surviving in rugged environments while eating AlpineAire Foods, and still enjoy them.
Thanks for all the support.
Brad Van Liew
Freedom America
During the early fall of 2007, we assembled a team of scientists, journalists and
professional kayakers to attempt the first exploratory kayak mission on
the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. This effort required weeks
of hiking through dense, steep, wet jungle and five days of travel by
whitewater kayak through difficult whitewater and steep gorges. Packing
for this trip and ensuring that we had the appropriate food to fuel our
bodies was a daunting task and one that needed to be planned very
carefully.
The staple foods of Papua New Guinea are taro, caucau and sinapore, root vegetables that are extremely bland and offer very limited nutritional value. For protein, the local people depend on wild and domesticated pig, both of which carry a harmful (to us) bacterial called trichinosis. Our AlpineAire Foods freeze-dried meals though,
were a lightweight, nutritious solution to our food worries. They are
lightweight, compact and durable enough to be packed in our kayaks. We
were burning thousands of calories a day as we hiked and paddled eight
hours a day for weeks on end, hardly able to wait until the end of the
day when we could devour a hot meal.
Our personal favorites were Blueberry Honey Granola with Milk, Chicken Almond Salad with Crackers, Mountain Chili and Chocolate Mud Slide.
Trip Jennings
Professional Kayaker / Adventurer
Epicocity Project
Leonardo da Fettuccine is OUT OF THIS WORLD!
When it came to our attention that members of the NASA Shuttle program were requesting Leonardo da Fettuccine as a part of the menu on their flights what were we to do? We donated it of course!
The Staff at
AlpineAire Foods