Eugene, OR - From the makers of America 's most popular dairy-free ice creams (Purely Decadent® and So Delicious®) comes something new: a coconut milk beverage suitable for daily consumption.   Turtle Mountain 's vision for creating the product was to provide consumers with a tasty alternative to dairy and soy milks.   The company will launch the item at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim on March 6th. Made with imported, organic coconut milk and fortified with essential nutrients such as Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Vitamin B12, the drink is naturally cholesterol free and contains no soy, gluten or dairy.   The refrigerated product is packaged in half-gallon gable-top cartons with a plastic spout and available in the following flavors: Original, Vanilla and Unsweetened ... 

Suggested retail price for So Delicious® Coconut Milk Beverage is $4.49 for one half gallon.   The product will be available nationally at Whole Foods Markets, independent natural food stores and select grocery chains by April 2009.

This is not Turtle Mountain 's first venture with coconut based foods.   In 2008 the company launched a range of products made with coconut milk including ice cream, ice cream novelties and refrigerated yogurt.   "We've made soy based products for 20 years, but our consumers wanted an alternative to soy, so we turned to coconut milk because of its versatility and intriguing health properties," says Mark Brawerman , Founder and President.

Sales growth has been significant.   In less than 8 months, Turtle Mountain's coconut milk based products outsell its market leading, soy based foods and sales continue to climb.

For centuries coconut has been a staple for cultures around the world.   Tradition attributes healing and life-giving properties to the coconut, which is why the palm is often called, ‘Tree of Life'.   In western society, the health benefits of coconuts are just beginning to be understood.   The mystery appears to be in the type of fats found in coconut milk, namely Medium Chain Fatty Acids, which are recognized for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.   Unlike long chain fatty acids, which are stored in the body as fat, MCFAs are utilized as energy by the body.

Natural Products Expo West represents the largest annual gathering in the industry and fills the Anaheim Convention Center with a dazzling array of natural and organic product innovations.   The show begins Friday, March 6th and ends Sunday the 8th.   To learn more, visit: www.expowest.com

Turtle Mountain will distribute samples of the beverage and other new products at booth #2648.  

About Turtle Mountain , LLC
Based in Eugene , Oregon since 1990, privately held Turtle Mountain provides consumers with healthier alternatives to dairy-based frozen desserts. All products are 100% plant based and no artificial sweeteners, trans-fats or hydrogenated oils, and most are made with certified organic ingredients.  For full product offerings and complete nutritional information, please visit: www.turtlemountain.com.

For a preview of the taste, see our unbiased review of So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage.