Latest News From Value-Added

Value-added produce grows with consumers’ need for convenience and safety
Value-added produce grows with consumers’ need for convenience and safety

“Everyone is time-starved; so to have something that’s washed, prepped and ready to cook is the key driver," Mark Munger, Ocean Mist senior director of marketing, says of value-added produce's significant growth.

Giorgio extends stuffed mushroom line
Giorgio extends stuffed mushroom line

Temple, Pa.-based Giorgio Fresh Co. has added a new flavor — Garlic Parmesan — to its line of stuffed mushrooms, said Bryan Shelton, vice president of sales and marketing. 

F&S Produce Co. introduces Green Giant Fresh Stir-Fry Kits and Little Green Sprout’s organic vegetables
F&S Produce Co. introduces Green Giant Fresh Stir-Fry Kits and Little Green Sprout’s organic vegetables

Two new products from F&S Produce Co., Green Giant Fresh Stir-Fry Kits and Little Green Sprout’s Organic vegetables, offer even more ways to satisfy shoppers and boost category sales as well.

Southern Specialties sees demand increase for value-added packages
Southern Specialties sees demand increase for value-added packages

Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Southern Specialties has handled Peruvian asparagus since 2001 and has year-round supply to offer customers, said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development.

Fresh Express rolls out new packaging 
Fresh Express rolls out new packaging 

Orlando-based Fresh Express is introducing new clean and refreshed packaging for its Garden, Premium Garden, Crunchy and Tender Leaf salad blends products, according to a news release.

Fresh Farms adds value-added items
Fresh Farms adds value-added items

Fresh Farms offers cucumbers, soft squash and cantaloupes. Fresh Farms is adding new items every week.

Fresh Texas buys Austin plant of CeCe’s Veggie Noodles

San Antonio-based value-added produce marketer Fresh From Texas, doing business as Fresh Texas, has purchased the production facility of Austin-based CeCe’s Veggie Noodles.

Ocean Mist Farms introduces Season & Steam line extension

A Season & Steam product line extension was the headline news at the Ocean Mist Farms digital booth at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo.

Conversations at United — Nelia Alamo with Renaissance Food Group
Conversations at United — Nelia Alamo with Renaissance Food Group

Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based Renaissance Food Group added some people-centric elements to its booth at United Fresh Live! to give its virtual presence more personality.

Braga Fresh bringing new products to United Fresh Live
Braga Fresh bringing new products to United Fresh Live

Soledad, Calif.-based Braga Fresh plans to introduce several new items, including for its Josie’s Organics line, at the United Fresh Live virtual trade show June 15-19.

Value-added options abound from Salinas grower-shippers

As consumers continue to seek out time-saving options at mealtimes, grower-shippers in California’s Salinas Valley continue to offer them a wide range of convenient alternatives.

Value-added produce checks consumer, retailer boxes
Value-added produce checks consumer, retailer boxes

As long as there have been produce departments, there has been value-added produce, Bruce Peterson says. But the sophistication and breadth of value-added produce sales has never been bigger.

Power of Produce shows growth in value-added
Power of Produce shows growth in value-added

The power of value-added produce sales speaks for itself.For value-added items, the dollar share of total produce sales rated 9.8% in 2019, according to the Food Industry Association’s (FMI) Power of Produce report.

Retail 101: Part Five with Mike Mauti
Retail 101: Part Five with Mike Mauti

With more than 20 years of experience in the North American supermarket industry, Mike Mauti has learned “Retail 101” firsthand.

Agrow Fresh adds season-and-steam potatoes
Agrow Fresh adds season-and-steam potatoes

Chicago-based Agrow Fresh Produce Co. is “blanketing the marketplace” with a new product — Simply Season and Steam — said Ed Romanelli, vice president of sales and marketing.

Patagonia adds organic label

Patagonia Orchards LLC has launched a new label — Organic Goodness.

Fresh Farms adds value-added deal
Fresh Farms adds value-added deal

Fresh Farms, Rio Rico, Ariz., has launched a new value-added program for one of its retail customers.

Holiday pairings boost Side Delights 

Plant-based meals are increasingly popular, and San Francisco-based Side Delights is offering shoppers ideas for festive pairing with potato dishes.

Tasteful Selections Small-Bite campaign touts comfort theme

Arvin, Calif.-based Tasteful Selections is bringing consumers the “Comfort in a Small Bite” marketing campaign.

Braga Fresh purchases Pure Pacific Organic facility
Braga Fresh purchases Pure Pacific Organic facility

Braga Fresh Family Farms, Soledad, Calif., has purchased a processing facility from Pure Pacific Organics LLC, Gonzales, Calif.

Bolthouse debuts functional shots, CBD beverages at Fresh Summit
Bolthouse debuts functional shots, CBD beverages at Fresh Summit

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bolthouse Farms sampled multiple new product lines at Fresh Summit, from keto-friendly protein beverages to CBD drinks to carrot-based functional shots.

Finding quality, flavor in previewed products
Finding quality, flavor in previewed products

Over the span of a few days recently, my colleague Amelia Freidline and I tried more than 30 new items that will be featured at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Bolthouse launching more than two dozen new products at Fresh Summit
Bolthouse launching more than two dozen new products at Fresh Summit

Only a few months removed from its acquisition this summer, Bolthouse Farms plans to debut more than two dozen new products at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit.

Fresh Summit New Product Preview — More salads!
Fresh Summit New Product Preview — More salads!

The Packer's copy editor and designer Amelia Freidline and Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle test out new products coming to Fresh Summit, with this segment focusing mainly on salad kits.

Fresh Summit New Product Preview — Brussels sprouts, dips and more
Fresh Summit New Product Preview — Brussels sprouts, dips and more

Produce Retailer editor Ashley Nickle and The Packer's designer and copy editor Amelia Freidline review new products ahead of Fresh Summit, from Brussels sprouts to baby food to plant-based dips.

Fresh Summit New Product Preview — Snacks Edition
Fresh Summit New Product Preview — Snacks Edition

Ashley Nickle and Amelia Freidline tested out more than a dozen new products that will be featured at Fresh Summit, and this report focuses on three items that can be used as snacks.

Side Delights Adopt a Potato Farmer program promotes local produce
Side Delights Adopt a Potato Farmer program promotes local produce

Side Delights’ Adopt a Potato Farmer program has brought awareness to food bloggers and their audiences.

The Giorgi Cos. invests in 'functional mushroom' company

The Giorgi Cos. Inc. has invested an undisclosed amount in FreshCap Mushrooms Ltd., which sells functional mushroom extract powders.

Boston-area produce professionals work smarter to survive and thrive
Boston-area produce professionals work smarter to survive and thrive

BOSTON — This Northeast U.S. region marked by wealth, smaller independent retailers, ethnic diversity and high-end foodservice keeps adjusting to today’s challenges to feed its people and those beyond its borders.

Side Delights supports top five 2019 food trends
Side Delights supports top five 2019 food trends

Side Delights is offering fresh potato products to meet the top five 2019 food trends of convenience, organic, plant-based, regional flavors and foods for sensitive stomachs.

Russ Davis adds new products
Russ Davis adds new products

Chocolate Avocado Delight and several new salsas are on the way from Russ Davis Wholesale, Wadena, Minn., said vice president Pat Miller.

Twin Cities thrive on produce
Twin Cities thrive on produce

Minnesota, sometimes known as “The Bread and Butter State,” may be better known for its wheat, flour and dairy products than its fresh produce, but Twin Cities residents have a penchant for fruits and vegetables.

New Naturipe Snacks feature fruit, nuts, cheese

Naturipe’s new snacks feature berries, grapes, nuts and cheese, focusing on health and convenience.

Blended burger concept may spark retail sales, marketers say
Blended burger concept may spark retail sales, marketers say

The James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger Project has called attention to the practice of combining mushrooms with meat at foodservice, but it seems it could have a positive impact on mushroom sales at retail also.