PLANNING GUIDE FOR PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING

Contents
1. Salad Crops
2. Bagged Salads
3. Full Meal Salads
4. Single Plants
5. Culinary Herbs
6. Live Plant Juice – EMA
7. Sprouts
8. Herb Teas
9. Medicinal Herbs
10. Essential Oils
11. Products Partnerships and Packaging

1. SALAD CROPS
Please see Products page.

2. BAGGED SALADS - READY TO EAT

Bagged salads are packed in sealed zip lock poly bags. The standard size bag is 9" x 12" containing 10oz (280g). Larger bags will be used for bulk quantities.

Bagged salad varieties to date:

Spinach and Herb Greens and Turnip Beet Tops and Slices
Italian Broccoli Chinese Greens Savoy Spinach and Herb
Chinese Stir Fry Lettuce Leaf Mix Algonquin Mix
High Calcium Greens Greens and Herb Caesar
Mesclun or Spring Mixes Spinach and Basil Winter Spinach
Iron Mine Crucifer Mix Kid’s Mix

Advantages of bagged salads - they will:

• Advertise Saladacres as a brand name, the origin, and the statements on the bag:
• CLEAN WATER used in growing
• PURE: no pesticides, herbicides, or e. coli bacteria found in manures
• NO WASHING required

b. Extend the market 'reach' because bag packaging will enable:
• Longer shelf life (due to stronger plants)
• Packing and shipping in regular corrugated boxes
• Packing of 2 different size: individual (10 oz), and bulk (2lb)
• Easier winter shipping because the bags will insulate the produce from freezing
• Courier shipping
• The harvest and use of entire crops grown in the climate buildings, regardless of the appearance of the whole plant. There is no waste in crop production because everything grown can be sold - regardless of the appearance of the whole plant because they are chopped up.

c. Provide convenience for those who wants fast salads.
• Zipper lock keeps contents fresh
• No cutting, prep time, wash-up, or wasted produce to throw out or compost
• Eliminates rotting of unused salad ingredients, and therefore saves money for the customer

d. Double the cash flow over whole plants

e. Enable the labeling of clear bags to be labeled with labels printed 'in house'. This will permit the labeling of short and long runs, on a daily or weekly basis. It will avoid the problems of ordering 10,000 labels and using only 6,000 because the ingredients or bar code changed.

3. FULL MEAL SALADS

Full, or complete meal salads are a natural extension of bagged salads. They provide a full nutritious meal with all the convenience of fast food. There are no meat products. These salads are designed eaten on the spot when sold and are a full meal in themselves. Creative sales points will include sports events, exhibitions, marinas, summer games, festivals, hockey arenas, multi function rec centers. Sales will be handled by agents.

• Edible utensils such as chard or bok choi stalks; and bread sticks, along with plastic forks, edible wraps
• Packages of chick peas, or beans in zip lock bags and self sealing films
• Thick salad dressings in squeeze out zip lock bags
• Herb flavorings
• Packaged in clear trays inside zip locked bags

4. SINGLE PLANTS

Single plants can be and wrapped in a transparent film, with the label logo on the film. In many cases the plant is sold with some roots left on with the whole plant is still growing. Less emphasis will be placed on the sale of whole plants.

5. CULINARY HERBS

The present annual size of the herb and spice industry in the U.S. is estimated at $2 billion and from that we can
assume $200 million in Canada. In 1984, the demand in the U.S. was on an increase and was not even close to a
plateau. Fresh herb per capita consumption grew from 1.0 lbs in l962, to 1.9 pounds in 1999.

The following herbs and spices were showing increased consumption in 1987: sage, basil, oregano, tarragon, dill, marjoram, and thyme. Almost all herbs crops are grown outdoors in soil. Yet, the amount of fresh herbs produced by Florida (the largest producer) represents only 16% of the national herb product market and only 5.6% of the world market. The world's largest producer of fresh culinary herbs in Florida packs more that 2,000 cases per day of herbs.

As one producer stated, if the supply of fresh herbs triples in the U.S., the demand would still not be met.
The U.S. produces only 35% of the herb products it uses and most of this is (was) from Florida. Canadian supplies are 99% imported and most of this is from the U.S. One wholesaler in Alberta stated that they could take an airplane load per day from California - if they could get that much. In reality, the deliveries are sporadic, many times they're short, and the quality inconsistent.

SA grows herbs of outstanding taste and quality, year round. Production is weatherproof. Herbs are packaged in 1, 5, and 10 ounce zip lock bags to retail outlets, and 2, 5 and 10 lb. boxes of fresh herbs, to food service customers (restaurants, hotels, hospitals, caterers). As well, herbs will be sold as 8” x 10” (20cm x 25cm) mats. Herbs in mats are alive, and can be maintained in a living state by placing them in a pan, and treating like a living plant (light, water, warmth). Mats will guarantee flavor and freshness of the product. Delivery is overnight via UPS, Fed Ex, or Purolator.

The average price per pound of fresh herbs delivered to southern California restaurants was $8.20 per pound. The average wholesale price in Canada was $16 per pound. We would charge $0.80 (Can) per ounce from our facility. Transportation costs would be added to this price. The delivered price to customers would be about $1.00 per ounce or $16/lb. This end price would allow us to deliver competitively to any customer, in any city, in North America. For $5/kilo, we could deliver overnight to Hong Kong. Refer to Table 1 for the top 10 herbs sold in California restaurants.

Our sales agents will sell, and advise customers on the availability of fresh herbs from SA. Agents will be paid a 15% commission for servicing customers and organizing weekly orders. The potential income to our agents is high when selling the production of even one range. Orders from the Agent to SA will be prepaid by credit card, and the herbs will be delivered direct. The agent will be paid a commission by SA. UPS will supply the computerized equipment that will make the individual shipping labels.

6. LIVE PLANT JUICE: EMA (Electrolyte Mineral Antioxidant)

It is a triumph for a person to reach a good income level, achieve lifetime goals, and work and live with strength and vigor well into 'old age'. EMA Juice is the true fountain of youth if used with other dietary recommendations involving whole fresh foods. Its designed to promote optimal long term health and wellness. Green drinks are the most complete, potent, bioenergetic food available. EMA is based on the most powerful liquid nutrient known.

Grain crops such as wheat, barely and rice are grown to the grass stage of about 30cm/12". The plants are then put into a juicing machine and the juice is extracted. Juices are also extracted from the roots and leaves of salad crops..
that would normally be discarded. Juicing what would normally be a waste product contributes to income. Grain and salad juices are combined to form a juice base to which flavors, vitamin E, and antioxidants are added. This is a cold process that retains all the natural enzymes and vitamins in their fresh state, minerals in colloidal form for 99% absorption, and electrolytes. The major electrolytes are calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium; and chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, and sulfate. Electrolytes are required for nerve and brain function, and for the basic metabolism of every cell in the body. Prominent signs of electrolyte imbalance or deficiency include muscle weakness, cramps, swelling, slowed nerve conduction and muscle function, and general weakness and apathy. Minerals are the source of electrolytes and a new supply of minerals must be ingested daily.

This product will be absolutely unique in the market. Anyone who cares about their current and future health is a customer.

Every single day we lose essential minerals from sweat, bodily functions, and ongoing tissue replacement. Our bodies
normally excrete water and electrolyte solutions at an average daily rate of 1,300 mL through urination, 600 mL through perspiration, and 200 mL through feces. 80% of our body tissues are replaced every year. Some tissues such as skin and colon cells are replaced weekly. Because minerals are metabolized and eliminated daily, minerals must be replaced on a daily basis and are measured by the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). The aging process is slowed down when essential minerals and antioxidants are replaced regularly, and aging speeds up in their absence. Humans evolved in habitats that offered a wide range of replacement minerals that were constantly available from plant foods on a daily basis. As a result, human bodies evolved with no specific storage mechanisms for minerals. Our bodies rely on a daily replenishment of minerals to maintain health.

EMA is antifungal, antibacterial, and strengthens the immune system. Its an important blood builder and counteracts anemia. It controls insulin levels, is a natural deodorant and contains essential electrolytes. The anticancer effects of chlorophyll, a component of EMA, are noted in the journal, Cancer Prevention: “Chlorophyll inhibits the metabolic activity of carcinogens, it deactivates carcinogens in the liver, and fights tumors without the use of toxic drugs”.
It’s a treasure trove of bioavailable minerals, and is beneficial to liver function. It removes cellular waste, cleanses the blood, digests toxins in cells, builds the immune system, softens skin, fights tumors, and deactivates carcinogenic effects from charcoal broiled foods and compounds from car exhaust.

SA feeds its EMA crops with 52 minerals. These minerals are taken up by the roots and combined in the plants to form organic compounds. When combined with organic compounds, the minerals are now bioavailable minerals, meaning they are easily and naturally absorbed by those who consume the plants. Minerals in their raw, or elemental form cannot be readily absorbed by humans. We must rely on plants to combine minerals with organic compounds so we can digest them. This is the primary difference between plants and animals. Plants ingest elemental minerals, and combine them to form organic compounds, and animals ingest minerals in an organic form derived from plants.

The extraordinary wide range of minerals in EMA provides the immune and enzyme systems with all the minerals required to operate at an optimum level. The two functions of the immune system are to combat infection, and kill cancer cells. Thus, a tuned up immune system will stop infection and cancer growth.

More information on EMA is available in a separate description.

EMA Juice is packed in 200 mL/7 oz. and 1 liter / 34 oz. pouches (form and fill). The 200 mL pouches will be packaged in lots of 10, in sealed zip lock poly bags, labeled with a best before date and cooled. The market outlets for EMA identified so far are: 1) personal - sold on the internet and shipped by courier, 2) health food stores, 3) naturopaths, 4) juice bars. Juice bar franchises are expanding rapidly.

EMA Juice Data:
Flavors Mint, tarragon, lemon basil, and others
Color Green
Freezing No effect on nutrients
Heating (over 60C/140F) Will denature enzymes but not antioxidants
Packaging 200 mL and 1 liter pouch packs
Transport Courier, air, truck: cooled
How used Drink cool and fresh, on a daily basis for maximum benefit

Exclusive SA Process

Only SA can grow juice crops year around, with consistent, pure quality, because our production methods are unique. The big selling features of EMA are: purity, good taste, organic, and health giving. We can guarantee a full range of minerals in EMA because we add these minerals to our pure irrigation water and monitor the concentrations.

EMA Variations

Regular EMA: Produced from the juice of roots and whole plants
EMA Antioxidant: Regular EMA with 5 additional carotene antioxidants
EMA Cardio: Regular EMA with garlic oil and capsicum for the clearing of arteries including heart arteries

7. SPROUTS

Sprouts have the highest natural vitamin content per serving of any food available. B and C vitamins are abundant in sprouts. Sprouted legumes are rich in proteins and minerals, and can serve as a meat substitute. They are attractive,

delicious, and nutritious, and can be used in many imaginative ways. Sprouts will be sold alive in containers, ready to eat, and as an ingredient in full meal salads.

8. HERB TEAS

Starting crops are mint, chamomile, sage, and mate. We will also blend teas for variety.

9. MEDICINAL HERBS (HEALTH FOOD SUPPLEMENTS)

Dramatic growth is happening in the medicinal herb industry. Value estimates of herbal medicinals are up to $10 billion per year. Because herbs are in so many products its hard to estimate the total value. Some large chain stores have called herbs "the fastest growing commodity in history." The U.S. medicinal herb market relies on domestic production for 35% of its needs and imports 65%. Canada imports from the U.S. Imports to both the U.S. and Canada are known to contain pesticide residues and heavy metals.

Processing medicinal herbs to the final product is the key to good profits. The end product is often worth 200 times the raw product. Our products will be sold as health food supplements in accordance with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules. Under these rules we cannot make any medicinal claims on the packaging linking health benefits and the product. If we did make claims we would be required to have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) but this takes time and is expensive. Some herbal preparations (ex. feverfew for migraine headaches) have been given a DIN designation so it can be done. We may apply for a DIN for some of our products in the future.

Advertising Herbs

We will have regular mineral assays done on our products to confirm the presence of a wide range of minerals, and the absence of contaminants. Its important for us to emphasize the purity of our products and compare them to imports which are of questionable bioactive value. This will be advertised because purity is in demand. As a rule imports contain contaminants such as heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium), insecticides, industrial pollutants, and other harmful chemicals (ex. paints and solvents, hormones, pharmaceuticals).

For now, we will conform to CFIA and FDA rules and verbally inform health store operators and naturopaths of the benefits of our products. Under federal law, a web page or pamphlet cannot advertise the health benefits of any of our products. However, we can legally advertise by quoting testimonials from others as to the benefits of products. Also, we have a separate website explaining the benefits of the products we provide and this is linked to the main website. SA has a market advantage because we are the growers and processors, so we can keep the price of a superior product with the reach of everyone. We combine high quality and ‘bioactive’ performance at a low cost.

We maintain optimum growing conditions in our greenhouses and therefore our herbs are the best in terms of flavor and appearance. Advertising our products with color pictures will emphasize the "fundamentals" which are:

Clean Irrigation base is pure water
Healthy Strong biotypes, high strength, consistent quality, guaranteed potency
Pure No pesticides, herbicides, no harmful bacteria from manures
Competitive Realistic budget pricing
Grown year round Fresh ingredients

Production Locations
Many if not all medicinal herbs will be grown in locations that have high, and intense sunlight levels. These locations are nearer the equator than in Canada. Processed medicinals can be shipped anywhere, easily by air freight.

SA is selecting popular, known medicinal herbs with proven records. We do every step of production – seed selection, seeding, growing, and harvesting. Then we process the herbs. The result is a strong, reliable, herbal medicine component. Our goal is to provide a superior product that works, at an affordable price.

Starting Lines (in alphabetical order)

10. ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are oils extracted from the stems, leaves, flowers and roots of plants. They are valued as fragrances and pharmaceuticals and are added to many products.

SA will incorporate oils into a number of products for flavors, active ingredients, or both. To source oils, SA can:

• Grow the crops, process them, and extract the oils
• Collect wild crops, and extract the oils (ex. tree oils)
• Have crops grown under contract, then extract the oil (ex. prairie grown herbs)
• Buy already extracted oils (ex. citrus)

A selection of essential oils to grow is as follows:

Oregano Lavender Peppermint Bergamot Patchouli Rosemary Lemon Grass Chamomile Clary Sage Anise Citronella Coriander Ginger Root Hyssop Marjoram Sweet Tarragon Monarda Thyme Sage Sea Buckthorn Geranium Jasmine

The oils will be sold to another division of SA or to a joint venture partner, to be incorporated into a number of products. These products will include personal hair and skin care, and pet care. The pure, organic oil is the 'essence' that will sell the product. For example, lavender shampoo where lavender is the pure essence.

11. PRODUCTS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND PACKAGING

The following is a list of products SA has developed, is developing, and wants to develop. We invite individuals who want to operate their own businesses to form partnerships with SA. SA will grow the raw materials, and the partnership will package and sell the products.

The recommended packaging is also noted. The packaging types are selected for their low impact on land fills, and where possible, biodegradeability.

Potential Products

AROMATHERAPY PERSONAL CARE
Tree oils (1) Lip balm (7) Massage gels (1) Liquid soap (7) Mouth wash (8) Shampoos and conditioners (7) Skin creams and lotions (7)
COUGH LOZENGES(2)
FLOWERS
Contract growing
PET CARE
Flea and tick gels and shampoos (8)
ESSENTIAL OILS
Aromatic oils
PROCESSED FOODS
Jams - sugar Free (4)
CULINARY HERBS
Frozen pestos (4) Generic types fresh and frozen (3) Pastas (4)
SUGAR SUBSTITUTES (4)
SALAD DRESSINGS (9)
PURE BABY FOOD (5)
TEAS - HERB (10)
Contract growing
MEDICINAL HERBS
Over 10 health food remedies
SUGARLESS COOKIES (4)
UNPOTTED PLANTS
Live potted herbs and flowers (6)

Packaging Key:

(1) Clear or tinted squeeze tubes (28 - 280g); wide
caps for vertical standing
(2) Lozenges in zipperlock bags
(3) Zipperlock bags: 50g, 100g, 500g and ‘live mats’
2 oz / 60 mL to 34 oz / l L
(4) Zipperlock bags: 50g, 100g, 500g
(5) Individual transparent pouch packs
(6) Grown and sold without pots
(7) Clear or tinted squeeze tubes (28 - 280g); wide caps for vertical standing
(8) 1L plastic bottles
(9) Form and fill pouch packs; 2 oz / 60 mL to 34 oz / l L
(10) Individual transparent pouch packs

Boxes

Shipping boxes are made from high density polyethylene. They are stackable, come with snap lids, available in different colors, and are inexpensive.

Boxes will permit the safe delivery of produce from SA to Agents and from Agents to individual customers. They will be returned to SA for recycling. Cooling packs in the boxes, will protect produce from high heat. During the winter the addition of heat packs and insulation matting will prevent the produce from freezing.

Boxes will come in 3 sizes: 20L, 36L, and 56L. The 56L size will ship the produce from SA to the Agents. The Agents in turn will ship produce to customers in the same size boxes. The boxes will also act as advertising. Labels on the boxes will state 'Saladacres' plus the motto 'Fresh Delivery' and the 800 phone number.