BAKERSFIELD, CA – Thirsty? We are. With PMA Fresh Summit in Atlanta, GA just days away, Grimmway Farms is gearing up for the show with a new initiative to refresh its TRUE Organic juice line and also to introduce four new organic, non-GMO juices to share with buyers and attendees.
To celebrate Grimmway’s 1st anniversary of TRUE Grimmway Farms organic juice, the company is rebranding its organic juices to simply read “TRUE ORGANIC”, placing a greater emphasis on the organic nature of its super-premium juice offerings.
“We received a great deal of positive feedback from consumers and retailers alike praising the flavor profile and organic nature of our juices. With the growing demand for organics and through the feedback of our retailers, we placed a greater emphasis on the organic component of our juices. This was accomplished by incorporating 'Organic' into the name of our product,” notes Kellen Stailey, National Merchandising Director at Grimmway Farms.
The four new TRUE flavors that Grimmway will be debuting are Kaleifornia, Blissful Beets, Citrus Carrot, and seasonal Apple Cherry Harvest. All are available nationwide as part of the TRUE Organic Juice line.
To break down these flavor profiles for you, Grimmway Farms shared these descriptions in a recent press release:
- Kaleifornia is an exciting new green juice, providing a refreshing medley of kale, chard, lettuce, orange, lemon, pear and apple.
- Blissful Beets is packed with Vitamin A and Iron and delivers a juicy, balanced blend of beets, carrots, apples and lemon.
- Citrus Carrot is a thirst-quenching combo of grapefruit and orange citrus juices bursting with Vitamin C, paired with beta-carotene rich carrots and apples.
- Apple Cherry Harvest is a tart cherry smoothie balanced with the natural sweetness of apples and bananas, blended to perfection with our farm grown carrot carrots and beets.
Along with the brand refresh, the new TRUE ORGANIC line brings the recognizable USDA Organic label to the front and center of the bottle allowing for the organic component to be easily identified at retail.
TRUE to their founding flavor principals, the new juices are certified organic, gluten-free, and sweetened only with fruits and vegetables - no sugar added. These juices are produced by the Cal-Organic farming operation producing quality organic vegetables year-round, a division of the family-owned and operated Grimmway Farms.
For more on the company's consumer engagement, you can check out Grimmway's Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Looking to try all 9 flavors of TRUE Organic Juices at PMA Fresh Summit? Check out Grimmway booth #3053. See you all there!
ATLANTA, GA - With PMA less than a week away, AndNowUKnow wanted to take the time to highlight each of the 20 products nominated for PMA’s coveted Impact awards this year. Winners will be announced from the 20 finalists this weekend at Fresh Summit in Atlanta, GA. Check out our second and last installment of the 10 featured finalists below.
Mucci Farms’ Naked Leaf - Lettuce & Herbs Sleeve with Retail-Ready Display Box
Showcased in a high graphic sleeve for 1 living lettuce head and 2 and 4oz herbs, Mucci’s Naked Leaf offering are shipped in a retail ready patented merchandising display box. The products’ pre-printed, high impact, and vibrant graphics feature high quality and easy to prepare recipe imagery to stand out on store shelves and inspire consumers. The products are complete with a convenient handle for consumers and a U-Shape Patent Seal that holds in water and increases shelf life.
“We wanted to create a new sleeve that offered a fresh appeal and aromatic experience for living, as well as being easy to handle,” Mucci says. “These products are shipped with root in-tact and in water, therefore, offering extended shelf-life. We also wanted to offer retailers an easy option for receiving the product as well as merchandising it lettuce and herbs with the collapsible-pop-up display box.”
Mucci Farms’ Hot Shots Mixed Hot Peppers – Re-sealable Tray with Cardboard Pocket Sleeve
This new package for mixed or single variety hot peppers comes in a unique cardboard stand up sleeve with a re-sealable film. Providing re-seal convenience offers the consumer the flexibility for continued use and storage. The product comes with a preprinted pocket, environmentally friendly ink, and recycled paper, with high impact graphics and QR code to link to recipe.
“We’ve focused on a variety of hot peppers and increased trends of consumers looking for spice and flavor,” Mucci says. “Popularity of peppers has increased in Asian populations. We also wanted to create a package with maximal space for branding, with clear visibility of the product.”
Mucci Farms’ Veggies to Go™ – Double Compartment Tray with Re-sealable Label
Featuring kid-friendly graphic Mucci’s new Veggies to Go™ trays offer a fresh look and clear visibility of product. These trays are re-sealable and easy to peel open for ease of use, promoting convenience and healthy eating options for the on-the-go snacking.
“Our focus is on healthy, on-the-go snacking for kids and parents,” Mucci adds. “This packaging comes as industry and market trend move towards small/snack-sized specialties. It also helps us emphasize or commitment to environmental sustainability and focus on environmentally conscious consumers.”
Mucci Farms’ Natural Organics – Eco-Friendly Tray
Mucci’s new pre-printed kraft tray comes with flow wrap for a more natural, organic look and feel. Fully recyclable and made of 100% recycled content, Mucci’s packaging is both sustainable and bio-degradable. The packaging is pre-printed with organic certification and verified logos, offering consumers increased product knowledge, while the top flap panel and extra real-estate enhances branding and product information.
“We wanted to improve durability, product protection, and freshness with the macro-perforated film,” Mucci says. “This product is in line with the trend of moving from products typically sold in a plastic clamshell or tray and the trend of increased organic products”
Mucci Farms’ eat brighter! – Mini Cucumbers & Bella SweetsTM Mini Bell Peppers - Stand-Up, Resealable Bag
Mucci’s “eat brighter! – sesame street character bags” are clear, flexible, stand-up and re-sealable. They have a re-enforced handle with high-graphic pre-printing offering a fresh look and clear visibility of product with kid-friendly graphics.
“We were very inspired by the eat brighter! campaign and wanted to offer a kid friendly package that has a fresh look and offers good product visibility,” Mucci says. “It was important to us to enhance product shelf life and freshness with this product.”
Naturipe Farms’ New Heat Seal (Peel & Reseal) Fresh Blueberry Package
Naturipe’s Heat Seal packaging hold fresh blueberries in a heat sealed lid container with a peel to open and reseal to close top for easy access. This function allows consumers to take what is needed, while the remaining blueberries are sealed in container that retains freshness, flavor and overall condition.
“First of all, we reduced the amount of plastic in each container to align with our sustainability initiatives and objectives,” Naturipe explains. “This type of seal gives a more secure closure versus larger clamshells, which are more difficult to close and keep closed. The industry has relied on pressure buttons and taping to provide closure, however, this system incorporates convenience and a secure closure to help Farm to Store handling in addition to the improved freshness for consumers.”
Naturipe Farms’ New “On-the-Go” Fresh Blueberry Blends
Naturipe is also introducing two new unique fresh flavor blends to its Ready to Eat Fresh Snacking line—Mango/Blueberry and Grape/Blueberry.
“Creating these new flavor combinations was a natural next step to our already successful Fresh Blueberry Snacks,” continues Naturipe. “The Mango and Grape, both great compliments to blueberries served not only to differentiate our On-the-Go snacks from other similar product but to offer consumers a new innovative combination for their taste buds.”
Ocean Mist Farms: Season & Steam Kalettes
Ocean Mist Farms, has expanded its line new Season & Steam Kalettes, packaged in an innovative Steamfast microwavable pack that gives users the option to open the bag, pre-season the contents to their flavor preference, reseal with the zip lock, and steam by microwave all within the same bag. The SteamFast packaging is gusseted for a stand-up, “face forward: retail shelf presentation” and has a suggested retail price of $3.29-$3.99 depending on the region.
“According to Nielsen Perishables Group FreshFacts scan data; total US sales of Brussels sprouts and Kale continue to grow for the third year in a row,” says Ocean Mist. “Season and Steam Kalettes offer consumers a convenient way to add fresh produce to their diet and a new cooking solution.”
Red Sun Farms’ Organic Grapes in Top Sealed Earthcycle Fiber Base
Red Sun Farms’ Organic Grapes will now be packed in an Earthcycle fiber base. Fully compostable, recyclable, with a biodegradable base, this top sealed package uses a 90% reduction on plastic.
“Our goal is to provide shoppers with an eco-friendly - environmentally conscious packaging option,” Red Sun says. “Organic produce sales have risen and continue to rise in popularity. The Organic shopper is different than the conventional shopper, so we wanted to provide them with an alternative to plastic packaging. Made in North America our bio Earthcycle base satisfies this need.”
Windset Farms & Apio’s BreatheWay® Laminate Pouch for Cocktail Cucumbers
This is the first laminate pouch for Windset with BreatheWay® membranes that are pre-applied during bag manufacture. This sealed package regulates produce respiration, prolonging shelf-and adapting for use on most produce commodities. It is a unique modified atmosphere technology for retail because it can adapt to variable temperatures. BreatheWay® is developed by the Apio Technology Group, and the High WVTR materials and pouch manufactured by Chin-Canada Industries Ltd.
“Windset Farms® was looking for ways to prolong the shelf-life of cocktail cucumbers,” the company explains. “This delicate product can lose moisture during storage in pouches with vent holes. In addition to shelf-life gain, BreatheWay® use results in almost no product weight/moisture loss.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow next week to see who wins big at the PMA Impact awards.
JACKSONVILLE, FL - Bi-Lo Supermarkets has announced that the company has cut prices on more than 1,000 items, including fresh produce, dairy, meat, and more in the company’s New Regular Pricing Program.
“Research consistently tells us that customers are seeking lower prices, wherever they shop, particularly those hardworking families shopping on a budget,” said Ian McLeod, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers in a statement. “We are listening to our customers and helping them reduce the cost of the weekly shop by lowering the prices on over 1,000 items that three out of every four customers have bought in the last month.”
According to a report from the Charleston Post Courier, the change will occur at all 182 of the chain’s stores. Price will be reduced by an average of 17 percent, with some items being reduced as much as 53 percent off the regular price. Officials from Bi-Lo also noted that he items could potentially be marked down further when they are on sale.
The reduced-price items will span every department of the supermarket, according to the Courier, including produce, dairy, meat, and dry, frozen and home goods. Shoppers will see special tagging on the lower-priced items throughout October.
This announcement comes just a few months after fellow Southern grocery chain, Food Lion, lowered prices for its produce, fresh food, and other programs. This took place in all 1,100 of the chains locations.
ATLANTA, GA – Sunkist is gearing up for an exciting showing at PMA Fresh Summit this year with the first of this year’s seasonal citrus crop, as well as a host of tasty citrus dishes and cocktails.
Sunkist Smiles®, seedless, easy-to-peel California mandarins, are one of the most highly anticipated varieties to be showcased at Sunkist’s booth.
Julie DeWolf, Sunkist’s Director of Retail Marketing, said that the easy-peel category is incredibly important in produce departments this time of year.
“Highlighting the convenience and kid-friendly attributes of mandarins to consumers at store level can help retailers build excitement and sales of this popular variety,” she said. “Sunkist offers a variety of highly customizable point-of-sale materials to help convey this messaging and educate consumers about what makes mandarins, and all seasonal citrus, so special.”
Sunkist will also be showing this year’s crop of Meyer lemons at the show, along with other specialty lemons including Seedless and Zebra™. To learn more about Meyer lemons and how to drive sales of these newer varieties, check out our previous story by clicking here.
For retailers looking to take advantage of Lunar New Year promotions, Sunkist will offer the first of this year’s Navel orange crop, along with its 2016 “Year of the Monkey” Lunar New Year carton and 10-pound Navel cartons. Sunkist pummelos are also now in season and can be used in conjunction with Sunkist’s educational display unit to teach consumers how to best enjoy this unique specialty citrus variety.
Sunkist is also ramping up production of organic citrus varieties, including lemons and Navel oranges. This season, Sunkist will introduce organic Minneola tangelos.
Joan Wickham, Manager, Advertising and Public Relations, said she was excited to meet with trade and showcase the company’s current marketing initiatives along with fresh varieties that are growing in consumer demand.
“PMA Fresh Summit comes at an exciting time for us at Sunkist, because the show aligns perfectly with the beginning of our citrus season,” she said.
Chef Jill Davie will sample the latest citrus recipes, such as Orange Bowls with Chicken, Noodles and Peanut Sauce, and Basil Shrimp Cakes with Sunkist® Lemonaise Sauce and Cucumber Slaw.
Lemon-infused water will be served in the morning, along with a Sunkist Spiked Southern Patio-Cooler tea-based punch in the afternoon, recipe courtesy of Kathy Casey Liquid Kitchen®.
To see all this and more, visit Sunkist’s booth #2247 at PMA Fresh Summit 2015 in Atlanta, GA or check out the cooperative’s new website below!
OXNARD, CA - "Back before kale, bok choy, and Brussels sprouts came to be coined as ‘Super Greens,’ and before the ANDI scale carried the force that it is known for today, there was San Miguel Produce.
"Early on in my career after I had started AndNowUKnow, Jan Berk, COO of San Miguel Produce, pulled me aside and offered a few insights into a category that would come to be known, and widely harnessed across the culinary and health and wellness landscapes, as Super Greens. Years later, I watched this category explode at foodservice and retail, and with consumers and chefs alike. Now you can buy a t-shirt from Whole Foods with thick, green font exclaiming ‘Kale.’ How far we have come, and how much I appreciate the woman who saw the trend before it was one. Jan joins us to discuss the Super Greens surge and the evolving architecture of the category."
- Robert Lambert CEO and Founder of ANUK and The Snack Magazine
Check out the full article in The Snack magazine by clicking here, or continue reading the full piece below.
To request a copy of The Snack magazine, click the green button below.
San Miguel Produce was founded in 1975, with its beginnings in staple commodity California produce items like celery, broccoli and lettuce. In 1990, the company began to shift its focus to the dark leafy greens commodities, offering a direct store delivery bunch greens program to Southern California retailers like Ralphs, Vons, Stater Bros., and Albertsons. We went on to launch Cut ‘N Clean Greens in 1995, the original fresh-cut packaged dark leafy greens, and by 1999, as consumer buying behaviors began to transform, our team shifted 100 percent of our focus to specialty greens. Staying ahead of the greens curve, our Cut ‘N Clean Greens line launched the first full line of organic specialty greens in 2007, when greens were rapidly transitioning from trending niche to mainstream demand.
Though I officially joined San Miguel Produce in 2001, I’d been involved behind the scenes with the marketing team and lending my support since the early 1990’s. Prior to joining San Miguel Produce, my other career was in newspaper/marketing. I have always loved the fresh produce business, often having said the newspaper business is much like fresh produce in that both have a short shelf-life; nobody wants old news or old produce. In 2000 the L.A. Times was sold and I started moving more into produce, joining my husband and Co-Founder Roy Nishimori at San Miguel Produce full-time in 2001.
But where did this surprising trend start? What does ‘bitter’ have to do with their power, and how did the category evolve dark leafy greens to Super Greens?
Super Greens - A Cultural Beginning
For decades, spinach was the king of the dark leafy greens, though the category historically has had a place among many cultural cuisines. Take bok choy in Asian cooking, chards and escarole for Europeans, and collards and mustards in Southern comfort, for example. These flavor profiles tended to grow out of only regional or cultural preferences and didn’t mark national or international mainstream trends. In fact, it wasn’t until the early 90’s, when kale suddenly became a recognizable choice for garnishes, that I really saw the door begin to open for the greens category. And San Miguel Produce was, quite literally, right on the cover.
Kale replaces parsley as the garnish of choice at Market
In 1991, San Miguel’s kale fields were featured in the L.A. Times article titled ‘Kale Replaces Parsley as the Garnish of Choice.’ This was what I would call the first real boost for kale, although it wasn’t until about 2006 to 2007 that the initial shift for the consumption of kale itself began.
As I said previously, spinach had been the king of the dark leafy greens for years. But when there was a recall due to e-coli for the category, consumers needed to find a replacement. That year, kale enjoyed a notable 79 percent increase.
The trend climbed slowly after this initial jump, only about 15 percent year-on-year, until 2010 when America made health its number one focus.
The ANDI Scale helps the category emerge
Suddenly, nutrient density became the popular focus for nutritionists and dietitians, with the new trend of plant-based diets emerging. Seeing the need for a new scale to match this trend, Dr. Joel Fuhrman designed one of the first scales to center around produce as the most nutrient-rich foods to eat. He introduced the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) Scale to promote healthy eating.
Another popular acronym Dr. Fuhrman promoted in the growth of leafy greens, in collaboration with Dr. Oz, was “G-BOMBS”: Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, Seeds. These are the produce items that these doctors recommend should be eaten every day.
Together, with trendsetting retailers like Whole Foods, which Dr. Fuhrman partnered with to promote the ANDI scale, these parties contributed to boosting what I would say was once a niche into the produce mainstream. Safeway also which jumped on board early on, creating a nutrient-dense greens destination in its produce department.
Super Greens become a produce destination for demand
To give a better understanding of how far the category has come, you have to understand that nutrient dense greens were often pushed aside as too bitter and better used as garnish or food for livestock and pets. While they are historically rich in tradition as a comfort food or isolated to specific ethnic cuisines, greens have now found their way into exciting new popular, multi-cultural food preparations.
Suddenly, dark leafy greens were becoming “Super Greens,” and the kale trend was rapidly taking center stage. We saw nutritional excellence, with weight-loss as a convenient by-product, become the new focus of consumers. The cultural niche past of dark leafy greens began to move rapidly into the Super Green mainstream, and now I expect they are less of a trend and more of a healthy lifestyle food that is here to stay.
Where "Bitter" fits into the Super Green category
Calorie for calorie, dark leafy greens are perhaps the most nutritious foods you can eat. But they have a naturally bitter taste that has contributed to them being overshadowed by more mild produce, like lettuce and spinach. What many don’t understand is there is a direct link between bitter and health, including plant-based phenols, flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenes, glucosinolates, and other compounds reported to have antioxidant, anticarcinogenic properties, and a wide spectrum of tumor-blocking activities. These compounds, known as phytochemicals or phytonutrients, hold major promise for the dietary prevention of chronic disease.
Although cancer researchers and some studies have proposed heightened bitterness could be very important, consumer and marketing studies invariably showed that taste, as opposed to perceived nutrition or health value, has historically been the key influence on food selection. And when it comes to bitter phytonutrients, I think you’ll find it’s safe to say that the general demands of good taste versus good health have always been incompatible.
But more and more new applications are being found as compliments to that “bitter” eating experience. The dark leafy greens’ bitterness naturally pairs well with stronger flavors, for example, and is easily balanced and enhanced when a little acidity like vinegar or citrus are added.
Now we know very well that compounds that make foods taste bitter, like carotenoids in spinach and flavonoids in kale, also make them good for us.
Some of the health benefits of bitter foods include helping to absorb food nutrients, curbing the appetite, boosting the metabolism, cleansing the body, anti-inflammatory benefits, fighting free radicals in the body, and stimulating immune functions.
Delving into varietal differences
Even with all this information on the healthful benefits of “bitter” and in dark leafy greens, there is still so little data. Even the USDA’s current information on the category is very generic, treating different varieties of one green, such as red, green, or lacinato kale, equally among the rest as far as its nutritional values.
Without this data, consumers have been asking us questions such as ‘do baby and mature leaves provide the same nutritional values?’ and ‘what is the nutritional value to the stem versus the leaf when wanting to remove the stem for food preparation?’
Though kale and other greens are ranked at the top of the nutrient density chart, it was important to answer these very important questions. So this past year, San Miguel Produce embarked on an in-depth study with third party labs and university labs to delve deeper into these nutrient questions. While the study is not 100 percent completed, so far our findings show that greens have unique and different nutrient qualities that are specific to variety. In addition, many people consuming baby versions of these greens due to their milder taste are getting nutrient value but perhaps not what they expect. Plus, they are missing that “bitter green” benefit which aid in the absorption/digestion of food nutrients.
This study will be completed in the near future, and the findings will be shared with both the industry and USDA so that they can update any databases.
Looking to the future
The entire greens category enjoyed a significant growth of 34 percent in 2014, which indicates there is growing interest in many varieties. Depending on the study/source, however, spinach and kale both have the highest consumption volume of all greens varieties, significantly outranking all the rest by a wide margin of over 300 percent. But even with this large gap, there are numerous varieties of dark leafy greens, and even blends, that are starting to grow in new popularity.
As they continue to become more mainstream, there is no question the classic heritage and traditions of cooking greens will continue as well. They may, however, take on some new twists with young home cooks, especially the 64 percent of Gen Y’ers who tend to cook more meals at home. This young consumer group enjoys bolder flavors, chooses healthy performance foods, and tends to experiment more with ethnic cuisines.
Over time, I expect this will all lead to new, innovative products on the market. Some will succeed and some will not. But kale still has some room to grow, and there is no doubt in my mind that consumers will be looking for something new and exciting that meets both their healthy lifestyle and their evolving taste buds.
ATLANTA, GA - With PMA less than a week away, AndNowUKnow wanted to take the time to highlight each of the 20 products nominated for PMA’s coveted Impact awards this year. Winners will be announced from the 20 finalists this weekend at Fresh Summit in Atlanta, GA. Check out our first 10 featured finalists below.
Mann Packing’s Culinary Cuts®
Some of Mann Packing’s signature vegetables, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash have a new look and unique way of cutting with the Mann’s Culinary Cuts® line. Including distinctive shapes like Sweet Potato Ribbons and Butternut Squash Zig Zags, the vegetables are washed and ready to cook. Versatile enough for multiple uses like as salads, stir-frys, soups, and casseroles, all Mann’s Culinary Cuts® are natural, preservative free, and gluten free.
“The company spent over two years developing the Culinary Cuts product line through extensive consumer research, an isolated test market with two major retailers, professional recipe development and online research,” the company says. “Mann’s Culinary Cuts® inspire creativity in cooking. This product line encourages the everyday home cook who’s looking for new ideas for dinner and creative ways to escape their “recipe ruts” with fun, attractive and clever shaped vegetables.”
AJ Trucco Inc.’s KiwiStar Organic Kiwifruit Pouch
This 1 lb. pouch of KiwiStar organic kiwifruit is made of recyclable plastic and seeks to use up to 65% less material than a clamshell. It highlights the antioxidants and Vitamin C content in kiwifruit and three easy steps to eat kiwifruit.
“We decided to design this pouch because we were looking to create an eye-catching and earth friendly packaging option for our organic kiwifruit,” the company explains. "We also wanted to educate consumers on the health benefits of kiwifruit and highlight how simple kiwifruit is to eat to the consumer.”
Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc.’s 12 oz. Fast & Fresh! Microwave-Ready Potatoes with Olive Oil & Seasoning
Alsum Farms’ Fast & Fresh! Microwave-Ready Creamer and Fingerling Potatoes come in a pre-packaged steam tray with spice and olive oil packets. These fresh potatoes can go from the microwave to the dinner table in 6 minutes or less.
“Alsum’s vision is to provide the consumer with a ready-to-serve healthy potato offering,” writes the company. “By utilizing the U.S. Potato Board’s market trends data, the 12 oz. Microwave-Ready Potatoes with Olive Oil & Seasoning are part of the growing trends for fresh foods fast.”
Botanical Food Company Inc./Gourmet Garden’s Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Herbs & Spices
Gourmet Garden has added a new offering for busy cooks—Lightly Dried herbs & spices. Offered in a prep-bowl package, the click n’ stack bowls fit together for easy storage or taking out of the fridge. The bowl can fit in the palm of your hand while the concave inside allows easy access with a spoon or fingertips, making it easy to sprinkle onto a meal.
“We conducted 5 years of consumer and trade research across the globe with surveys, focus groups and home-user tests. It uncovered a latent consumer desire to be more experimental with herbs & spices and feel like a chef at home,” says Gourmet Garden. “They are recyclable and reusable which sits well with consumer trends desiring more sustainable packaging.”
SUNSET®’s Peel and Reseal Eco Flavor Bowl
SUNSET®’s peel and reseal Eco Flavor Bowl™ is a new sustainable packaging solution that uses a clear plastic bowl, heat-sealed with a high-graphic, peelable film that can be resealed. The Eco Flavor Bowls are packed in specially branded eco-friendly boxes that double as displays, offering a complete packaging system. Instead of a traditional label design, the company uses a multilayer film, which allows the consumer to reseal the package.
“At SUNSET®, we encourage healthy eating habits. With the peel and reseal Eco Flavor Bowl™, tomatoes can be washed and set out in the same sleek bowl to encourage snacking throughout the day or used as a quick solution to entertaining,” SUNSET® says. “The bowl can be resealed until further use. Some of SUNSET®’s offerings allow the proper storage of the product is the portion is unable to be consumed in one application. We provide optimal storage in the packaging to ensure extended shelf life.”
Earthbound Farm’s Organic Flavor Blends (Spicy Spinach & Sweet Kale)
Earthbound Farm introduced new Organic Flavor Blends this year—the Spicy Spinach & Sweet Kale blends. The first marrying organic mild and meaty baby spinach with organic nutty and peppery baby Asian mustard greens, while the second blends organic earthy and slightly bitter baby kale with organic sweet and silky butter lettuce leaves.
“If it doesn’t taste good, the consumer won’t be coming back for more. Today, what people deem as tasty and are willing to try is broader and more diverse than ever before. According to market researcher Mintel, 57% of Americans consider themselves adventurous eaters and 82% are open to trying new flavors”
Fresh Solutions Network’s Side Delights® Roastables
New Side Delights® Roastables are petite potatoes seasoned with Montana Mex seasoned salts to deliver a burst of flavor in its own roasting tray. Available in Rad Little Reds, Awesome Little Yellows, and a Combo Pack with both Red & Yellow potatoes, the 1 lb. metal tray is specially designed for oven roasting or grilling.
“It's about convenience! The Metal tray is the cooking vehicle for either grill or oven and the tray size provides just enough room to add oil to coat potatoes before roasting. The tray is sturdy enough to serve from, and after potatoes are eaten, the tray could be washed and re-used or recycled without any clean-up required in the kitchen,” Fresh Solutions told PMA in its submission.
Maglio Produce’s readyripe Watermelon Pouch
The readyripe Watermelon solution-a sliced watermelon in a patented pouch that can extend shelf life up to 11 days, compared to 2 days for the overwrap method. The readyripe watermelon pouch solution maintains the sweetness, firmness, and taste throughout the company says, and no preservatives are used.
“We believed there was an emerging market need and that we had the innovation and capability to solve this. Specifically, there is growing demand for high quality and conveniently packaged sliced watermelon,” Maglio explained. “This design innovation can also extend to other types of cut melons. Based on our industry expertise, we were convinced we could increase shelf life, enhance the food safety characteristics and improve consumer convenience.”
Mucci Farms’ Cutecumbers - Flow-Wrap Re-sealable Tray
The new Cutecumbers clear tray is flexible, clear, re-sealable, and plastic with high-graphic pre-printing.This recyclable tray with re-sealable technology offers the consumer the flexibility for continued use and storage. Using flow wrap made from Modified Atmosphere Plastic (MAP), the Flow-Wrap Re-sealable Tray provides strong breathability.
“The focus is on healthy snacks in an easy and consumer friendly package. The trays are great for merchandising and easy to stack for retail displays,” says Mucci. “We wanted to create a new look that offered increased convenience for consumers, with clear visibility of product and no ribbing of plastic tray. This is part of Mucci’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Mucci Farms’ Prova, Top Seal Tray
Mucci Farms’ Prova, Top Seal Tray is a clear, smooth container with an ultra-clear top-seal plastic. The top-seal allows for high impact graphics to feature easy-to-prepare recipe imagery. Mucci’s top-seal film uses 25-30% less plastic than traditional clamshells, and is easy to peel and open.
“Our team was conscious of creating a package that offered clear visibility of the product,” adds Mucci about the Proca Top Seal Tray. “Our tray was created with little to no ribbing of the plastic, as this package uses 25-30% less plastic than traditional produce clamshells.”
Mucci has another 5 products in the running for awards as well, so keep watching for more from the company in part two.
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow later this week to see the other 10 PMA Impact Award Finalists.
Michael P. Maddan, Sr., a friend to all and a devoted member of the produce industry, has sadly passed away earlier last week at the age of 65.
Mr. Maddan, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Maddan & Company, Inc., will be remembered and admired in the industry for the many years to come. Known for his warm, generous nature, his friends and family say that he had a way of making each day special.
“Our father was the type of person who would help someone if he could and it didn’t matter who that person was,” said Michael Maddan, Jr. “Helping people was the right thing to do and he touched a lot of people over the years by living his life like that.”
Over the past 45 years, Mr. Maddan worked at the family food brokerage that his father founded in 1947. Food was his passion, and as such, he cherished every moment developing close relationships with several members of the produce industry. He looked forward to welcoming the fourth generation into the family business and having Maddan & Company, Inc. celebrate its 100-year anniversary.
In 1982, he served as the President of the Northern California Food Brokers Association. He was an active member of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and the Produce Marketing Association. He was also involved within the City of Hope Northern California Food Industries Circle.
Mr. Maddan cared deeply about this family every day. He was married to Lynn Maddan for nearly 40 years and will be remembered as a loving father of four and grandfather of six.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, at St. Cecilia’s Church, 2555 17th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94116 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the Maddan family asks that a donation be made to the City of Hope.
AndNowUKnow would like to offer our sincere condolences to Michael’s family and friends during this difficult time.
BELLINGHAM, WA - More Haggen drama surfaced again last week, with the company’s Delaware bankruptcy court now approving Haggen’s request to liquidate or sell that majority of its stores.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross has ruled that store closing sales are in the best interest of the struggling company and creditors, explaining that Haggen offered “sound business reasons” to go ahead with closing sales as an “efficient means” to raise money.
This move came despite objections by Haggen's workers unions, which argued that the sale process was moving ahead too fast, according to The Seattle Times, which published that the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) had said deciding on liquidation sales before thoroughly marketing them was “putting the cart before the horse.”
Also last week, the union filed documents with the court opposing a potential deal between Haggen and Smart & Final offering $56 million in cash for 28 Haggen stores in California and Las Vegas. The union claims that Smart & Final does not have collective bargaining agreements, and disagrees with the fact that its contract for the Haggen stores would establish no obligation to hire existing employees or assume existing collective agreements.
One company the Seattle Times offers up in contrast to the Smart & Final deal is Gelson’s Market, a higher-end chain that proposed a $36 million for 8 Haggen stores. Gelson’s has agreed to extend offers to “substantially all” current employees while still respecting terms negotiated with the unions. The deal would also credit employees with their service time with Haggen.
This announcement comes less than two weeks after Haggen officials announced they would be adding six more stores to its portfolio of locations to sell.
Continue to watch AndNowUKnow for all the latest on Haggen’s developing bankruptcy proceedings.
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ELGIN, MN – Honeybear Brands is ramping up its proprietary apple program with a couple new additions to its repertoire.
First and foremost, the company is launching this year’s Pazazz apple crop, an all-new proprietary varietal that has earned “rave reviews from retailers and customers alike” in market testing over the past two years, the company said in a press release.
Speaking with Don Roper, Honeybear’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, this unique, open pollinated Honeycrisp cross is said to offer the “perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors, as well as exceptional crispness and great texture.”
Roper tells me, “Pazazz is a fantastic apple. It has that great crunch you want in a big apple and the flavor profile is second to none out there right now. The delicate cell structure of the apple provides that crunch and high brix and the flavor profile has customers coming back for more. One of its key attributes is that it has the delicate cell structure that comes from the Honeycrisp parent, but it has its own unique sweet and tart flavor profile.”
Doug Shefelbine, a Honeybear grower from Holman, WI, originally developed the Pazazz apple about 10 years ago. For the past 20 years he has been planting the Honeycrisp seeds taken from his cider mill to find the next great variety. Doug had discovered the apple out of the tens of thousands of seedlings he planted.
A great apple really needs to have three key attributes to be successful, Roper tells me. First and foremost it must possess great flavor, it has to have a great appearance, and lastly, it needs a great name. Pazazz, Roper says, embodies all of this. “Its name reflects the eating experience you have when you eat it. “Wow, this apple has Pazazz!” he tells me.
This will be the third year Honeybear will roll out the Pazazz apple to retailers this winter. The variety will be introduced and sampled at more than 300 retail store locations this year including Publix, HyVee, Coborns, Wegmans, Kroger, Central Markets-HEB, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, King Soopers, Cub Foods and Loblaw.
Pazazz will also be offered in grab-and-go 2 lb. pouch bags.
Honeybear will be ramping up volume very quickly in the years ahead. The company projects it will be shipping approximately 30,000 cases this year, 125,000 the next year, and then 350,000 the following year.
“We’re growing Pazazz in Washington State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, and Nova Scotia, so not only is it a great national apple, but its grown locally in those key markets to focus on mitigating food miles and being first in that market in that geography,” Roper tells me.
RiverBelle, another new proprietary, sweet and tart apple variety from Honeybear, was also launched recently in the Midwest. RiverBelle is an early season variety with a “delicately crisp and juicy texture.”
The company will also be promoting its Honey Cubbies Honeycrisp apples during PMA Fresh Summit this year.
TruEarthTM, Honeybear’s exclusive grower sustainability program in the Midwest, supports these apple programs by helping farmers focus their attention and resources on growing fruit with limited environmental impact. The program sets strict protocols designed to protect the land, grow healthy, premium apples, and support the economies of local grower communities.
To learn more about Honeybear’s exclusive programs, visit them at booth #3247 at the PMA Fresh Summit expo in Atlanta, GA.