The Ball(R) Jar Celebrates 125th Anniversary With Museum Exhibition Opening and Commemorative Jars / Iconic glass jars are more relevant today than ever, helping consumers and foodies alike preserve their favorite fruits and vegetables, and save money

DALEVILLE, Ind., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic Ball(R) jar - named after the five Ball brothers from upstate New York to manufacture a glass fruit jar for home canning - is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2009. A trusted staple in millions of American kitchens, the Ball jar continues to help consumers and foodies alike preserve their favorite foods and kitchen creations and is perhaps even more relevant today than a century ago.

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"It's amazing to take a step back and see the impact Ball has had on millions of Americans - everyday cooks, local growers and many others - throughout its 125-year history," said Chris Scherzinger, Vice President of Marketing for Jarden Home Brands. "The brand clearly has staying power with consumers, especially today with so many people eating locally, focusing on sustainability and food safety, while also looking for ways to save money in tough economic times."

The Ball 125th anniversary is being commemorated with a new exhibit, "Can it! 125 Years of the Ball Jar," which opens this month and will be on display until August 23, 2009 at the Minnestrista Cultural Center in Muncie, Indiana - the home of Ball jars since 1884 and where the Ball products are produced to this day. A snapshot of the exhibit will also be available at FreshPreserving.com along with other historical information and how-to education for consumers who are new to fresh preserving.

This spring, Ball will also release a series of anniversary products for fresh preserving and storage:

-- The 125th Anniversary Collector's Jar is a one-gallon decorative jar that commemorates the original Ball trademark jar of the early 20th century. The jar, designed for bulk storage and decoration, features an 1884-style lid with a push-down sealing feature. The jars will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.99. -- The 125th Anniversary Special Edition Lid, found on all Ball canning jars, features a new brushed silver design with an anniversary graphic depiction. These special lids will be available only for a limited time in the 2009 fresh preserving season. Jars in varying sizes will be available in cases for the suggested retail price of $8.99 to $11.99. -- A newly commissioned Ball Blue Book(R) Guide to Preserving will include new recipes that make it easy for beginner canners to get started, while also stretching the gourmet repertoire for experienced canners. Two thousand nine marks the 100th year of the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. The book will be available for the suggested retail price of $5.49.

In addition to the anniversary products, Ball will also update their lids on all fresh preserving jars which will feature a brushed silver finish for a sleek, new design.

"After a strong 2008, we expect this momentum to continue for our anniversary in 2009," said Scherzinger. "With the challenging economy, we have seen millions of consumers increase their gardening and fresh preserving activity and the full array of Ball products are the ideal solution to meet their needs."

Facts about the Ball Jar -- The Ball brothers' first fruit jars were manufactured in 1884 with a unique "BBGMCo" (Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Co.) monogram. -- Only four amber-colored "Buffalo" jars, made from 1884-1886 in Buffalo, NY, are known to exist today. -- Over 3 million jar lids are produced per day at the Ball plant in Muncie, Indiana. -- Approximately 585,000 jars can be produced in one day. -- The Ball Jar is older than the ballpoint pen, the zipper and the teddy bear. About Ball

Ball is part of Jarden Home Brands, a leader in home food preservation and a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation . Located in Muncie, Indiana, Jarden Home Brands produces a number of well recognized brands including: Ball(R), Kerr(R), Diamond(R), Forster(R), JavaLog(R) and Pine Mountain(R).

For home canning tips, recipes, products and consumer message boards, visit FreshPreserving.com. Recipes and how-to canning tips can also be retrieved by calling 1-800-240-3340.

Ball(R) and Ball(R), TMS Ball Corporation, used under license. (C) 2009 Hearthmark LLC, d/b/a Jarden Brands. All Rights Reserved.

Distributed by Hearthmark, LLC d/b/a Jarden Home Brands · Daleville, IN 47334

Hearthmark, LLC is a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation .

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh//NE98900
PRN Photo Desk, [e-mail]

Jarden Home Brands

CONTACT: Courtney Curzi, [phone], [e-mail]

Web Site: http://www.freshpreserving.com/