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(Kitchen and Bath Show) -- The new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary guidelines* released in late April strongly suggest that Americans position fruits and vegetables more prominently in their daily diets. Today, Sears introduces a new Kenmore Ultra Freshâ„¢ refrigerator with a "Fresh-n-Ready bin" that not only brings fruits and vegetables to the refrigerator door for the first time, but also extends the life of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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"The Fresh-n-Readyâ„¢ bin protects delicate fruits like berries," said Tina Settecase, vice president and general manager of Home Appliances at Sears, Roebuck and Co. "And it's located in the door to provide easy access to healthy snacks. Consumers told us they don't like reaching into the refrigerator for a peach or a head of lettuce, only to find it spoiled. The combined features of this new Kenmore model address those issues in big way."

According to Chris Filardo, registered dietitian with the Produce for Better Health Foundation, diets high in fruits and vegetables help reduce the risk of some types of cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. "Fruits and vegetables are living things. They are nutrient-rich, low-fat foods with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients. They are also low in calories and can help maintain a healthy weight.

When storing fruits and vegetables, avoid extreme temperatures that cause deterioration -- not only to preserve the nutritional value, but for great taste and quality, as well. One of the best ways to protect the freshness of nearly all fruits and vegetables is to refrigerate them as quickly as possible and maintain a refrigerator temperature range between 38 and 40 degrees," Filardo said.

The Kenmore Fresh-n-Readyâ„¢ bin holds food at the FDA recommended 40 degrees or lower. Its location on the door keeps fruits and vegetables two to three degrees warmer than the rest of the refrigerator compartment, which helps provide proper temperatures to maintain quality and extend shelf life. The bin is composed of three separate compartments and is complete with a berry basket that's perfect for rinsing and storing delicate fruits like grapes. It tilts outward and can be removed for easy access.

The Kenmore Ultra Freshâ„¢ system has independent electronic controls. Setting exact temperatures offers more control in proper food storage while having separate thermostats in the frozen and fresh food compartments effectively regulates the temperatures to within +/- one degree.

Different types of fruits and vegetables respond better to different humidity levels, which is why the Kenmore Ultra Freshâ„¢ refrigerator also has humidity-controlled crispers. For optimal freshness, select a high humidity level for leafy vegetables and low humidity for produce with skins, such as apples or oranges.

For frozen fruits and vegetables, the Kenmore "Pulse Defrost" works to minimize temperature changes that occur during automatic defrost cycles in the freezer. The "Pulse Defrost" minimizes temperature swings, the primary cause of freezer burn, up to 45 percent. This helps maintain quality, taste and texture of frozen foods.

Kenmore's thoughtful design extends to the exterior of the refrigerator as well. Only Kenmore has the PUR Ultimateâ„¢ (1) water filtration system that removes more contaminants than any other leading brand to provide bottled water-quality taste, through-the-door.

The new Kenmore UltraFresh Fresh-n-Ready refrigerator will be available Memorial Day weekend nationwide at local Sears stores and Sears Hardware and Appliance stores. It is available in white (model #56662), stainless (#56663), bisque (#56664), Ultra Satin (#56666), and black (#56669.) The 25-cubic foot model will be promotionally priced in white at $1,399.99. The 22-cubic foot model will be promotionally priced in white at $1,349.99.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at .

   (1) PUR is a trademark of the Procter & Gamble Company and is used under
       license to Sears, Roebuck and Co.

    *  See 

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Media - Larry Costello, Sears PR, +1-847-286-9036,
lcoste5@sears.com; Marlene Tsareff of MRA, Inc., +1-317-769-7600,
mtsareff@tds.net, for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

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