CHICAGO, IL - Once again, the Windy City blew me away! Returning for my third United Fresh Conference, my trend-hungry palate was not disappointed. Here are some of the standouts 2017 had to offer.
Ready Pac Foods Fresh Prep’d™ Soup Kits
No longer does fresh soup mean that it has to come straight out of the ladle. Consumers looking to have Mama's soup and eat it too can do so with this tasty launch, and the packaged bowl covered in vibrant colors is sure to stand out among the green of the produce aisle.
Pete's Living Greens Living Strips
I'm not sure what shoppers will love more, the lasting freshness of the attached roots without risking dirt on kitchen counters or the decoration value this could serve as an edible, yet attractive, house plant! Suffice it to say, this product serves itself in freshness and finery.
Crunch Pak Apple Rings
Who didn't have fun with food you could wear as jewelry growing up? Apple slices may have to step aside on this one. I can see children having a lot of fun with these rings on their fingers, their wrists, and anywhere else the little tikes might like to hang them before getting their apple a day. It’s no wonder that this won an Innovation Award for Best New Fruit Product.
Sonatural Juices’ One Week Green Shots
Someone finally did it: Shots of produce! I can't think of anything more convenient in the morning, and can easily imagine this riding the coattails of the current juicing trend grabbing consumers.
Double Diamond Farms Baby Eggplant
In the sea of earthy colors that decorate the produce industry, aisles, and plates, eggplant has always been a beautiful stand out. Prior to my being in the industry, I thought this beautiful vegetable more often looked too lovely to be grown. This is a feeling I forgot about until coming across Double Diamond’s carefully packaged Baby Eggplants, with a fun scrawl-style text across the sheer cover that allows that beautiful purple and pearly white to shine through to consumers. These royal babies certainly are princes and princesses of the category.
And while that may be all she wrote for now, that is not all we have! Stay tuned for Jessica's Picks and further insights from the show as we see what's to come for our industry until the next United Fresh.
Crunch Pak Double Diamond Farms Pete's Living Greens Ready Pac Foods SoNatural Juice
