April 5/Amsterdam, N.Y. -- Beech-Nut Nutrition and Goya Foods Inc. have forged a partnership to launch a new line of authentic Hispanic flavored baby foods made with Hispanic moms in mind.  The joint announcement was made today by Beech-Nut president Jeff Boutelle and Bob Unanue, president of Goya Foods.

"Our research shows that Hispanic moms have been waiting for just such an offering, which combines the authentic, traditional Latin flavors Goya is famous for with Beech-Nut's nutritious, natural ingredients free of preservatives," said Boutelle. "Our products are as close as possible to home-made, and that's very important to Hispanic families."

"The Beech-Nut/Goya line of baby food offers mom the best of both worlds," Unanue said. "Hispanic moms, influenced by their abuelitas, oftentimes believe that healthy, traditional baby food can only be made at home using fresh ingredients. Their challenge is that they simply don't have the time to cook from scratch the way their grandmothers did, and that's where Beech-Nut/Goya comes in:  Our new line of baby food is the perfect union that bridges Hispanic mothers' desire for healthy, traditional baby food with their need for convenience and nutrition in today's hectic world."

Unanue added that Goya's partnership with Beech-Nut forms part of the company's continued commitment to nutrition and support for the My Plate/ Mi Plato nutritional initiative launched by the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, last year.

Why the emphasis on Latin-flavored baby food? Boutelle explained that "one fourth of all births in America today are to Hispanics, so that any company hoping to grow their business must take their needs and tastes into account." He added that because Hispanic families are also larger than non-Hispanic families, their purchase of baby food is 15% higher than for other demographics.

That said, a study recently commissioned by Beech-Nut revealed that two thirds of Hispanic moms are not satisfied with the choices they presently find in baby food, and wish there were more appropriate flavors from which to choose. The new Beech-Nut/Goya brand offers them 22 specially developed Latin flavors and combinations that support a baby's oral development through the feeding cycle, 19 of which are eligible for WIC.

The full line includes everything from wheat, corn, oatmeal/bananas and rice/mango cereals, to Stage 1 beef and chicken with broth, and Stage 2 jarred baby food in the following flavors:  Guava, Mango, Apple Mango, Banana Strawberry, Peach Mango, Squash, Banana Pear, Apple Guava, Banana Peach, Carrots & Peas, Carrots Corn, Pear Guava, and a Vegetable Medley with Sweet Potato, Carrots & Squash. In the Stage 2½ category with increased texture, the offerings are banana/apple/plum, pear/apricot and rice pudding with raisins.

The new Beech-Nut/Goya line is expected to be available in stores throughout the country by the end of June.