NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (March 7, 2002) — Acirca, Inc., the maker of Walnut Acres, America’s original organic food brand since 1946, announced today it will transition the Mountain Sun label of certified organic juices to Walnut Acres. Like Mountain Sun, the new Walnut Acres certified organic juices will continue to be hand-crafted, made from real organic fruits and vegetables, with nothing artificial added. Walnut Acres juices will not contain any high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, preservatives, sweeteners or colorings.

In October 2001, Acirca acquired Mountain Sun, the leading brand of certified organic juices in the United States. The new Walnut Acres certified organic juices complement Acirca’s portfolio of Walnut Acres certified organic soups, salsas and pasta sauces.

“For nearly 30 years, Mountain Sun has been committed to a single and simple mission: to produce the best-tasting organic juices,” said Bill Russell, founder of Mountain Sun, who will continue to work with Acirca, making sure the award-winning juices continue to be produced with the hand-crafted quality customers have come to expect. “By joining forces with Walnut Acres, we are joining a family of products that includes ready-to-eat organic soups, pasta sauces and salsas, all of which are leading sellers in their respective categories. We will take advantage of the large advertising investment behind the Walnut Acres trademark to accelerate our growth, bringing better certified organic juices to more people than ever before.” The launch of the re-branded juices will provide Walnut Acres with a leading role in the shelf stable organic juice market, a high growth segment of the $8 billion organic food and beverage category of North America. The organic shelf-stable juice category has experienced a growth rate of 22 percent annually.

“The introduction of certified organic juices under the Walnut Acres trademark substantially expands our product offering in a key growth category and creates efficiencies of scale that allow us to serve more of our customers’ needs better,” said Mark S. Rodriguez, President and CEO of Acirca.

Beginning in June 2002, Walnut Acres certified organic fruit and vegetable juices will be available in 17 delicious flavors: Concord Grape, Blueberry, Wild Cranberry, Lemonade, Peach, Apricot, Limeade, Apple, Cherry, Mango Nectar, Pink Lemonade, Raspberry, Orange Carrot, Pear, Pineapple, Vegetable and Spiced Cider. An interim label will appear on select flavors of Mountain Sun juices beginning in April to inform current purchasers about the transition.

Like other Walnut Acres products, the new juices will carry a call-to-action to encourage purchasers to join Walnut Acres in the fight against hunger with Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s leading anti-hunger, anti-poverty organizations. The company has committed to donate more than $500,000 over 5 years to the fight against hunger.

Walnut Acres certified organic juices will be sold in supermarkets, natural supermarkets and independent health food stores nationwide and will be available in recyclable and reusable, easy-pouring glass quart carafes, as well as in recyclable PET quarts in limited distribution. All Walnut Acres products meet or exceed the strict USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) standards for certified organic foods and beverages. Walnut Acres products never contain synthetic preservatives, artificial sweeteners, sulfites, extenders, stabilizers, MSG, artificial flavors or colorings.

Established in 1946, Walnut Acres is America’s original organic food brand and is owned by New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Acirca, Inc., makers of fine certified organic foods and beverages. The name Acirca is inspired by the phrase “a circle of life” and reflects the company’s commitment to the development of products that help consumers obtain better health and are good for the environment. Acirca is a privately held company owned collectively by company employees and independent investors. The company strives to bring convenience in packaged certified organic foods to health-conscious consumers wherever they shop.