Innovation at United Fresh 2018
Snacks, spirals, rice and bowls dominated the United Fresh Produce Association's annual conference.
Cece’s Veggies
Cece’s Veggie Co.
Cece’s Veggie Co., a start-up out of Austin, Texas, is shaking up the produce section with “simple but twisted” easy-to-use organic vegetables. The most recent additions are spiralized beets and butternut squash, which join sweet potato and zucchini, and riced broccoli and cauliflower. The company also offers Veggiccini (fettuccini-style noodles butternut squash and zucchini.
Mann’s Veggie Noodles and Rice
Mann Packing Co.
Mann Packing Co., Salinas, Calif., which was acquired by Coral Gables, Fla.-based Fresh Del Monte Produce in February 2018, is introducing a line of standalone vegetable noodles: butternut squash rotini, kohlrabi linguine and sweet potato fettuccine. The company also has a range of new fresh vegetable rice products with blends such as fried rice (carrots, kohlrabi and sugar snap peas).
Good Foods
Good Foods L.L.C.
Good Foods L.L.C., Pleasant Prairie, Wis., is launching Avocado Mash, a blend of ripened avocados and seasonings with no artificial ingredients or added sugar. The mash is sold in four-packs of single-serve containers. Additionally, the brand is introducing three varieties of plant-based salad dressings: apple thyme, Asian ginger and beet balsamic.
Tru Flavors
Truitt Family Foods
Salem, Ore.-based Truitt Family Foods is all about “Foods that make a difference,” its mission statement. The family-owned company creates and delivers products, processes and ideas that make a positive difference for human and planetary health. Its newest product is Tru Flavors, a line of single-serve, shelf-stable bean-based dressings. Varieties are: blood orange poppy seed, creamy Parmesan roasted garlic, Crimson Goddess, lemongrass ginger and Parmesan Italian vinaigrette.
The company also is debuting shelf-stable hummus with dipper snack packs. The hummus comes in traditional, seasoned and blended with Greek yogurt savory and sweet varieties. Crackers range from sea salt crackers to cinnamon crisp cookies.
Wholly Guacamole
MegaMex Foods
Wholly Guacamole, a brand of MegaMex Foods, Orange, Calif., is making snacking easier with a new line of portable snack cups featuring its signature guacamole and crunchy, gluten-free tortilla rounds. The guacamole comes in either mild classic of spicy hot varieties.
Pulp Pantry
Pulp Pantry
Camarillo, Calif.-based Pulp Pantry uses the leftover pulp from fruits and vegetables pressed into juice to make its superfood clusters. The dairy-, egg-, gluten-, grain- and soy-free crunchy snacks are blends of pulp with other natural ingredients, such as flaxseed, coconut sugar, pumpkin seeds and sunflower kernels, along with flavors and seasonings. Varieties are: Cacao Crunch, cinnamon toast and vanilla and sea salt.
Here Dips
Here
Carol Stream, Ill.-based Here is all about locally made, locally sourced and locally distributed juices, dips and salad dressings. The company is adding new flavors to its dips line, including garlic chive, spicy carrot and spinach artichoke. The most popular dip flavor—white basil bean—is now available in four-packs of single-serve containers.
“Each of our products contains Midwestern produce and supports local farmers,” said Megan Klein, president. “We make it here and distribute it only in the Midwest. Every Here product tells an honest story about its relationship to the farmers who grew the ingredients, the team members who made it and the partners who made it possible.”
Green Giant Bowls
Green Giant Fresh
Green Giant Fresh, Salinas, Calif., is introducing six microwavable meal bowls that contain fresh vegetables and a sauce/seasoning packet. The bowls come in six varieties: Buddha, Burrito, Pad Thai, Ramen, Rancheros and Teriyaki Fried Rice. Central to each of the bowls is either veggie crumbles or veggie noodles. The Rancheros Bowl suggests adding two eggs to turn it into a high-protein breakfast.
Ready Pac Foods
Ready Pac Foods
Ready Pac Foods, Irwindale, Calif., is rolling out a Sweet & Spicy Korean Chopped Salad Kit. The new ethnic-inspired kit features a fresh mix of romaine lettuce, Napa and red cabbages, crisp vegetables, puffed brown rice and black sesame seeds, tossed in a slightly spicy gochujang vinaigrette. The company also is growing its popular Bistro Salad brand with limited-edition Green Goddess Salad with chicken and herbed avocado dressing.
Salad Spice
The Salad Spice Co.
Based in Grapevine, Texas, The Salad Spice Co. brings an alternative to clean eating that “spices up” salads while avoiding oils, fats and unwanted calories. “Wet It. Spice It. Eat It.” doubles as the product’s tagline and a simple way to remember the three-step process that retains flavor without all the mess. Salad Spice comes in single-serve and multi-use packages in Asian, honey mustard, Peppery garlic, ranch and sweet Greek varieties.
Mann’s Nourish Bowls
Mann Packing Co.
Mann Packing is growing its Nourish Bowls line with two plant-based protein vegetable noodle bowls intended to be microwaved for a hot meal. New Basil Pesto is made with vegan Chick’n while Tomato Bolognese includes vegan sausage. These are not vegan meals, however, as they both contain Parmesan cheese.
Fresh Express
Chiquita Brands L.L.C.
Chiquita Brands L.L.C., Orlando, Fla., is introducing Fresh Express Saute Kits, which feature blends of vegetables, sauces and toppings to create hot vegetable dishes in less than three minutes. The kits come in four varieties. They are: Bacon and Cider Greens, Lemon Garlic Spinach, Teriyaki Bok Choy and Tuscan Kale with Genovese Pesto.
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