The Chia Co. Becomes Official Sponsor of the US Open

The USTA announced that The Chia Co, world innovators in health food, will be an official sponsor of the US Open in a three-year deal spanning 2014 to 2016.

As a Health Food sponsor, The Chia Co will offer Chia Pods, a ready to eat product combining the nutrition of chia seeds with coconut milk and fruit, from a branded promotional space at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.  

Chia Pods will be available in both player and media dining areas. In addition The Chia Co will receive on-court exposure through a branded cooler in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand.

“The USTA proudly promotes healthy choices and an active lifestyle” said Lew Sherr, USTA Chief Revenue Officer.  “Teaming with The Chia Co is a great fit for the US Open. We are excited that our event can provide a global showcase for their new innovative product and their brand.”

This sponsorship marks The Chia Co’s first entry into tennis and expands their existing sports sponsorships, which includes a partnership with 11-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.

According to John Foss, founder and CEO of The Chia Co, “We’re thrilled to be joining the ranks of established partners to one of the world’s most highly respected sporting events. The USTA is highly selective in which brands they align with, and we know our brand and products are a natural fit for the US Open. Our Chia Pods offer vital nutritional fuel for all levels of athletes.”

To support their involvement with this event, The Chia Co will be running a retail promotion in the lead up to The US Open.  One lucky winner will enjoy a trip for two to New York and courtside seats to the 2014 US Open Men’s Semifinals. 

About The Chia Co: The Chia Co is the world’s largest producer of chia seed and was founded in 2003 by fourth generation farmer and CEO, John Foss. He set out to positively change the health of the global community by making the nutrition in chia available to everyone, every day.

The Chia Co farms are located at exactly 15 degrees from the equator, the ideal latitude to provide sufficient sun hours to grow chia rich in omega-3. The Chia Co lets the chia seeds ripen naturally in the sun and use gravity-fed irrigation to ensure the perfect amount of water. All chia seeds produced by The Chia Co are sustainably grown, guaranteed 100% chemical free and each product can be traced back directly to the paddock on which it was grown.

Find more information at http://thechiaco.com.au/  and connect via Instagram and Facebook: @thechiaco.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with more than 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series linking eight summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90-plus Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page facebook.com/usta or follow @usta on Twitter.