Following a lettuce-related food safety outbreak involving another supplier, Fresh Express highlighted its efforts to address broader consumer concerns at the 2026 International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show in Orlando, Florida
Fabian Pereira, vice president of marketing and innovation at Fresh Express, joined The Packer to discuss how the company responded to industrywide concerns through consumer education and transparency while continuing to invest in product innovation.
Pereira said consumers wanted greater visibility into where their salads come from and how they are handled. In response, Fresh Express emphasized its growing, harvesting, washing, packing and distribution practices, including maintaining the cold chain throughout the process.
“Transparency helped us a lot. And it’s not just helping us, it’s helping the entire produce industry,” Pereira said.
Alongside its food safety messaging and education, the team introduced two new restaurant-inspired chopped salad kits: Roasted Poblano Caesar and Fire-Roasted Queso Crunch.
The new offerings reflect the company’s focus on bringing familiar restaurant flavors into convenient, ready-to-prepare salads.
“You can’t step away from innovation just because the category is down,” Pereira said. He emphasized that introducing new products is one way Fresh Express can reengage shoppers and encourage them to return to the salad category.
Pereira also discussed changing consumer habits, including growing interest in salads as complete meals rather than traditional side dishes. The company is looking to capitalize on those trends by offering convenient meal options and reaching younger consumers while shifting the mindset of salad as a main dish.
Looking ahead, Pereira remains optimistic about the salad category’s recovery. “If we can bring these shoppers back and keep it exciting, we’ll be seeing growth very soon again,” he said.
