ORLANDO, FL - ‘Tis the season! As October nears its end, the produce department is gearing up for a few months of increased traffic as the fall and winter holidays prompt an expansion of shoppers’ grocery lists. With innovative offerings like the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ and SUNSET® Bombs®, Mastronardi Produce® is helping its partners take hold of this increased momentum.

“From Thanksgiving through New Year’s, people host more, graze more, and put out snacking spreads more than at any other time of year,” shares Amanda Orr, Communications Manager for Mastronardi Produce. “Fresh produce, especially tomatoes, is an easy addition to any gathering, with nearly endless versatility for snacking, charcuterie boards, jams, and more. Tomatoes bring flavor, freshness, and color to the holiday table, and balance all the cozy, savory meals of the colder months.”

As shoppers seek out flavorful and shareable snacks during the holiday season, Mastronardi Produce is meeting seasonal demand with its SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ and SUNSET® Bombs® lineup:

• SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ brings visual appeal, with its beautiful on-the-vine presentation of micro-grape tomatoes, creating a natural centerpiece that looks as good as it tastes.
• The SUNSET® Bombs® lineup—including Flavor Bombs®, Sugar Bombs®, Lolli Bombs™, and Honey Bombs™—leans into the growing demand for fresh snacking with vibrant flavor.

“From classic sweetness to bright and bold, each of these snacking tomatoes on the vine delivers a unique explosive flavor—perfect for snacking on their own, adding to holiday appetizers, or for building a charcuterie or snack board,” Amanda adds. “Both offerings provide consumers an easy, convenient way to elevate snacks and meals, while still making holiday entertaining feel special.”

The options for holiday entertaining and fall and winter snacking with SUNSET® tomatoes are endless. Amanda shares some examples of how these offerings are fitting into the festivities:

• As a host gift: “Bring the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ to a gathering. The unique, premium triangle packaging and elegant tomato presentation make it a fresh, thoughtful gift that the host can add to the table.”
• On the board: “Tomatoes on the vine stand out among cheeses and cured meats. Place the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ right on the board for a grand centerpiece or use a variety of SUNSET® Bombs® to add color and bold flavors, without any extra effort.”
• On a skewer: “Skewer snacking tomatoes with mozzarella and basil for easy, ready-to-serve bites.”
• Pair with a dip: “Set a bowl of SUNSET® BOMBS® next to hummus or a favorite dip.”

“Retailers can build eye-catching displays around the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ or Bombs® lineup, making it easy for shoppers to find fresh, flavorful options for holiday dishes and winter snacking,” Amanda continues. “Positioning these SUNSET® offerings near complementary items can inspire shoppers and ultimately drive impulse purchases.”

Another winning strategy is to think of the tomato as the anchor of a “build your board” display, pairing SUNSET® tomatoes with:

• Cheeses, charcuterie meats, and crackers
• Dips and spreads
• Fresh herbs

“A secondary display in the deli or cheese department puts tomatoes in front of shoppers who are already planning their snacking spread,” Amanda adds. “Retailers can also position the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ near wine and entertaining items with a 'bring something special' message, so shoppers see it as a host gift.”

With this flavor-forward lineup, the SUNSET® brand is creating more opportunities for fresh produce to be the star of this year’s seasonal gatherings.

“Greenhouse grown, year-round, shoppers can expect consistent freshness and flavor from the SUNSET® Tomato Branch™ and SUNSET® Bombs® line, including through the winter months,” Amanda concludes.

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