PREPARED: Jan. 15, 2003
FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

Grow Prize-Winning Tomatoes
With The Gardeneer® Tomato Tray™

KNOXVILLE, Tn. – Dalen Products Inc. offers the Tomato Tray™ for enhancing the most popular of all vegetables grown in the backyard garden – the tomato. This product (also known as the Automator®) performs the dual function of protecting the plant and enhancing the size and yield of tomatoes from each plant. The Tomato Tray™ also works great with peppers, cucumbers, melons and other vine crops.

"The popularity of home grown tomatoes makes the Tomato Tray™ the ideal item for early spring" said Christine Taylor, Dalen’s director of marketing. "The key benefits of this product are the protection it offers against droughts, cutworms and weed growth, and the earlier, tastier harvests. In fact it can increase harvests by up to 40%."

This unique and effective tray is placed over tender young plants during planting. Water and fertilizer are distributed to the roots through the four underground spikes that are molded into the tray. The roots grow down to the natural moisture level, which is lower due to the 4" underground spikes.

The tray provides protection in several ways: 1.The tray acts as "mulch" which prevents weed growth and helps retain moisture. 2.The center collar protects against cutworms. In addition, plant growth is accelerated by the black color of the tray. It absorbs heat which warms the ground and helps boost growth.

Tomato Tray™ is packed 16 units per case in a weatherproof display. Each unit includes three 12" x 12" trays and carries a $5.99 suggested retail. "The shelf display features a header detailing the many benefits of using this product with tomato, pepper or vine plants," said Taylor. "In addition, the weatherproof merchandiser and packaging allow retailers to cross-merchandise next to live goods, increasing impulse purchases as their customers shop for tomatoes and other plant seedlings."

Gardeneer® plant protection products are offered by Knoxville-based Dalen Products, a leading manufacturer of landscaping fabrics, garden netting and fencing, scarecrow devices, decorative fencing and edging, birding and other yard and garden products for use by both homeowners and landscapers. For more information, visit www.gardeneer.com or call (800) 747-3256.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Beth Leonard
Marketing Communications Manager
(865) 966-8132 or bleonard@gardeneer.com