18 th Annual Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference

1. 18thAnnual Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference Thank you for letting us be a part of it all!

2. BUSH BROTHERS & COMPANY • Family-owned, privately held company celebrating 104 years • 4th generation management • Bush Brothers & Company – Knoxville, Tennessee • Corporate Headquarters • R&D Facility • Pilot Plant • Dandridge, Tennessee • Production Facility • Augusta, Wisconsin • Production Facility

4. It begins with the bean…. “…a plant that gives back to the earth and supports the body, a seed that can be dried to eat or plant again, an emblem of both earth and life cycles.” - The Omnivore’s Dilemma “the vegetable with more”

5. …sustaining society • for over 10,000 years, beans have played a central role in the development of civilization - nearly every culture on earth has depended on beans • beans are grown across almost every continent – every culture has it’s own bean species • beans are high in plant based protein and increasingly important to meeting the world’s food needs. beans are a significantly more economically efficient source of protein vs. other alternatives “With double or triple the protein content of other field crops, pulses are one of the few ways that the world can meet the protein needs of those extra human beings while leaving a minimum environmental footprint. Pulses are one of the most sustainable, low energy-input, low water-input, and low greenhouse gas emission sources of protein in the world.” united nations population forecast, 2007 - Pulse Canada, 2008

6. from the field... • beans return (“fix”) nitrogen back to the soil and are a vital part of crop rotation cycle. other major crops such as corn, wheat and rice require added nitrogen (which is highly fossil fuel dependent) • beans require less pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers than many other major crops which are highly dependant on fossil fuels • beans require far less total water, less frequent irrigation and are more drought tolerant than many other major crops • beans are dried naturally, requiring no external drying saving vast amounts of fossil fuel

7. …to the table • beans and legumes have more protein and fiber than any other vegetable • beans, unlike other protein sources, are naturally low in fat and cholesterol free • beans contain many other essential nutrients (often lacking in our diets) like potassium, magnesium, folate and iron • beans digest slowly, promoting satiety (that full feeling) and providing a low glycemic load, making them great for almost every diet • oh yeah, they’re versatile and taste great, too

8. …demonstrating our commitment… • invest in Culinary Conferences – Our 4th year in sponsoring Tastes of the World. • participate in CIA “Pantry Loading” • invest in product development, menu applications, and recipe creation. • commitment to be socially responsible – Second Harvest supporter for last 20 years. • support the US economy. All beans domestically sourced • …and did I mention that beans are a great flavor carrier, healthy and nutritious.

9. …our pledge Your community has the ongoing support of Bush’s Best to be at the forefront of nutritional and culinary innovation

10. Thank You! Your support in making Bush’s Best your bean of choice is greatly appreciated! Have a Great Week!