Greenhouse grower Mastronardi Produce is ramping up its award-winning Queen of Greens lettuce brand with a new line of salad kits, set to debut at the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show this month and hit the shelves of top U.S. retailers early next year.
The salad kits feature the brand’s premium crafted lettuce blends and carefully selected toppings that create four SKUs of vibrant flavors and textures, according to a news release.
“We are thrilled to enter this booming category with a top-shelf line of products,” Peppe Bonfiglio, vice president of sales at Mastronardi Produce, said in the release. “Consumers want salad kits that are innovative and flavorful, and Mastronardi Produce is a demonstrated leader in both those domains.”
Salad kits are the largest segment in the lettuce category, generating over $2.8 billion annually and continuing to grow year over year, according to the release.
Mastronardi Produce says its in-house marketing team did meticulous research to source and hand-select gourmet ingredients for the salad kits’ components, resulting in four robust salad kits with generous toppings:
- Superior Caesar — Raging Romaine blend with crumbled croutons, shredded Parmesan cheese and creamy Caesar dressing.
- Mediterranean Crunch — Spirited Spring Mix blend with crispy chickpeas, feta cheese and organic Greek vinaigrette.
- Lemon Parmesan — Unruly Arugula blend with sliced almonds, shredded Parmesan cheese, and lemon basil dressing.
- Southwest Ranch — Raging Romaine blend with crispy corn, tortilla strips, cheddar cheese and chipotle ranch dressing.
Last fall, Queen of Greens launched as the first large-scale brand of greenhouse-grown lettuce that is washed and ready-to-eat. In February, the brand was awarded a prestigious PAC Global Award for Brand Marketing thanks to its eye-catching label design, the release said.
Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce grows and markets products under the Sunset, Backyard Farms, BerryWorld, and Queen of Greens brands. Mastronardi Produce has been family-owned for over 70 years and prides itself on producing consistently flavorful tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, berries and lettuce.
