CARPINTERIA, CA- Always evolving, Hollandia Produce, L.P., has been honored by the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) with the its Food and Beverage Innovation (FABI) award for the company’s newest foodservice product: Grower Pete’s Organic Living Baby Butter Lettuce.
“We are thrilled and honored to earn this award,” CEO Pete Overgaag, said. “Early customer feedback on our new Grower Pete’s Organic Living Baby Butter Lettuce has been very positive. This award really validates this offering as a progressive product that will make a significant impact within the restaurant industry.”
Grower Pete’s Organic Living Baby Butter Lettuce is a nutritious, versatile and mildly sweet, new lettuce variety that offers foodservice operators and chefs, an easy wash-n-serve option that fits the one or two serving need or dish, according to a press release. This item is hydroponically greenhouse-grown and harvested with its roots attached for longer shelf-life and freshness, like many of the company’s offerings.
The FABI awards are selected prior to the NRA’s annual tradeshow and convention each year, with the 2016 show to be held on May 21 – 24 in Chicago. Only 26 products received FABI awards. Honorees are selected based on achievements in taste, marketability, creativity and profitability potential in the foodservice industry.
Hollandia, along with other FABI Award recipients, was chosen by an independent panel of expert judges, who represent some of the industry’s most well-known brands and organizations. The 2016 FABI judges include:
- Timothy J. Dietzler, Director of Dining Services, Villanova University
- Lori Estrada, Senior Vice President of R&D, Wendy’s
- Christopher Koetke, CEC CCE HAAC, Vice President, The School of Culinary Arts, Kendall College
- John Li, Senior Vice President of RD, Bloomin' Brands
- Jennifer Pollhammer, Global Procurement Director, Aramark
- Robin Rosenberg, Vice President, Chef de Cuisine, Levy Restaurants
Congratulations to Hollandia on its ongoing innovation and this most recent honor!
