New product showcase entries vie for recognition at CPMA Fresh Week

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Week features a New Product Showcase for 2021. The showcase, promoted on Twitter with the hashtag #2021NPS, has four categories: New Technology Award Category; Packaging Innovation Award Category; Snackable Product Award Category; and Organic Product Award Category.

The April 12-16 event, presented by Canadian Grocer, includes these entries as of March 20, according to CPMA, with product descriptions provided by the entering companies:

New Technology Award Category

• Emerson Canada — GO Real-Time 4G/5G Trackers: Using cellular technology, GO Real-Time 4G/5G Trackers provide temperature and location alerts as shipments moves through the supply chain, according to the company. Connectivity and access to data is further enhanced so that visibility to temperature, humidity and location data will be available.

• INO — Hyperspectral Imaging Station: The mobile hyperspectral imaging station facilitates access to annotated data that was previously hard to obtain, according to the company. Data generated combines spatial and spectral information (data hypercubes) with annotations by your experts to enable you to explore a multitude of applications.

Packaging Innovation Category

• Big Marble Farms — Simply Marbleous Cocktail Tomatoes on the Vine: Joining the Simply Marbleous line of snacking tomatoes is the 1x8 count Cocktail Tomatoes on the Vine. These on-the-vine tomatoes are 365 Alberta-grown, according to the company, and retail in 100% plastic free, highly recyclable paperboard boxes. Alberta’s Hamburger Pack: New to the Big Marble First sustainable packaging program is the must-have burger barbecue companion, Alberta’s Hamburger Pack. Two juicy, 365 Alberta-grown, vine-ripened beefsteak slicers paired with a 100% plastic free, highly recyclable paperboard box with a recipe on the bottom of package.
• Canadawide Frescadel brand— The Frescadel brand has been redesigned with a fresh, clean and minimalistic look to put the product in the limelight. Conventional and organic produce are packed in eco-friendly, recyclable, and often recycled material.
• Cascades — New Cascades Fresh Generic Design: For convenience and consumer appeal, the Cascades Fresh generic design offers many packaging types such as trays, vegetable boxes and baskets.
• Catania Worldwide — Paper basket – figs: Catania Worldwide figs, grown in California from June to October and in Mexico from October to June, are available in a plastic-free basket.
• Crawford Packaging — Trayless Anti-Fog Shrink Film: GrowPack Anti-Fog shrink film is a packaging solution for production applications where keeping freshness is vital. No trays are needed, and benefits include reduced packaging costs, increased shelf life, enhanced shelf impact and reduced plastic waste.  Paper Top Seal: GrowPack Paper Top Seal is a sustainable solution for produce Top Seal needs. The material is 100% recyclable, suitable for a variety of produce applications, and offers great print quality, moisture-resistance and improved pack ventilation.
• EarthFresh —100% Compostable Packaging: EarthFresh offers environmentally friendly, compostable paper packaging that is naturally light-blocking to avoid premature greening reducing food waste.

• First Genesis Inc./Sunflowers — HDPE HiCR2 Produce Pouch with Biodegradable Option: A HDPE high-clarity produce pouch that can be manufactured with a new biodegradative additive. The additive does not compromise the bag’s clarity, strength and recyclability. This technology is non-oxodegradable, which makes it compatible for standard municipal landfills and recycling plants.
• Fresh Direct Produce Ltd. — Earth Friendly Simply Fresh Specialty Products: Fresh Direct Produce’s Simply line of quality produce is packaged in 100% recyclable tray and clear foil.
• Houweling’s Group — Top Seal Paper Board Packs: The new one-pound trays offer a sustainable tray and a easy-pull tab top. 
• Martin’s Family Fruit Farm Ltd. — The Apple Jacket: The Apple Jacket is the latest innovation from Martin’s in sustainable apple packaging. A 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard sleeve gently encases 6 premium apples. The Apple Jacket offers a plastic-free option for packaged apples that greatly reduces bruising.
• Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET — BerryWorld Blueberries Snack Pack: BerryWorld blueberries are now available in a convenient single-serve snack pack, perfect for on-the-go.
• Mucci Farms Naked Leaf Living Basil — Mucci Farms Naked Leaf Living Basil reduces plastic by 50%; this sleeve is made of 50% paper with a compostable growing pot and a re-usable exterior pot.
• Ocean Mist Farms’ Season & Steam Product Line — Ocean Mist Farms’ Season & Steam product line has recently expanded to now offer 10 shelf-ready options — all with the convenience, customization, bilingual packaging available for most and exclusive resealable bag technology.
• Red Sun Farms Recycle Friendly Labels — This new washable label adhesive avoids labels contaminating the recycle stream.
• The Little Potato Co. Ltd. New Packaging — Less Plastic & See More Potatoes — Visually more appealing with less plastic and a focus on proprietary varieties.

Snackable Product Category

• Bard Valley Date Growers Chocolate Covered Dates — Combine Medjool dates, dark chocolate, and a bit of sea salt. Bard Valley uses ethically sourced cacao and sustainably-grown medjool dates.
• Bolthouse Farms Wunderoots — Introducing Bolthouse Farms Wunderoots, a line of carrot-based innovations, in the form of Carrot Dogs, Noodled Carrot kits and Riced Carrot kits. 

• Driscoll’s Berry Big — Larger in size and great quality, Driscoll’s Berry Big Strawberries lend themselves to more versatile uses. With a bounty of flavor in every bite, they offer naturally more to share.
• Global Citrus Group Bananitos — Bananitos are a delicious, healthy, sweet, natural snack, perfect size for snacking and lunch boxes.
• LOOP Mission Probiotic sodas — 58% of food produced in Canada is lost or wasted, and about a third of that wasted food could be rescued. LOOP is introducing a new line of Probiotic Sodas, containing 40% fresh pressed juice from rescued fruits and veggies and 2+ billion probiotics, the company said;
• Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET Sprinkles Multi-Pack — These micro-grape tomatoes serve on-the-go convenience with our new Sprinkles® Multi-Pack, now in a banded 3-pack format.

• Nature Fresh Farms Strawberries — Nature Fresh Farms greenhouse-grown signature strawberries are picked at their freshest peak and offer superior quality and are unmatched flavor.
• naturSource Uncroutons — Uncrouton is a gluten-free crouton alternative, and comes in three flavors: Teriyaki, Garlic & Herb and Vegan Caesar.
• Pure Flavor — Cloud 9 Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes — The award-winning Cloud 9 tomato makes life’s sweetest moments even sweeter.  Uno Bites Nano Cucumbers — Uno Bites Nano Cucumbers are a fun way to power up for recess or post-work workout. Shishito Peppers — A savory, bite-sized pepper with an elusive bite that ignites the senses.  RedRoyals Sweet Cherry Tomatoes in Paperboard Packaging — Nurtured on the vine for perfectly balanced sweetness and a distinct crunch, RedRoyals are a noble garnish for your entrée or a tasty treat on their own. Now available in recycled paperboard packaging.
• Sunkist Growers Sunkist Gold Nugget mandarins — Sunkist Gold Nugget mandarins are in season now. Bumpy on the outside, super sweet on the inside, this unique variety is easy to peel and a good source of vitamin C.
• The Wonderful Co. Wonderful Pistachios No Shells Sea Salt & Vinegar and BBQ — Treat your taste buds to a tart, tangy snack with the right amount of sea salt and vinegar and savor summer all year with an explosion of sweet, hickory-smoked barbecue. Wonderful Pistachios Roasted Lightly Salted — Wonderful Pistachios Roasted & Lightly Salted are easy on the salt, and even easier to enjoy.

Organic Product Award Category

• DelFrescoPure Organic Sweet Rainbow Peppers — DelFrescoPure greenhouse-grown Organic Sweet Rainbow Peppers are vibrant and deliciously sweet. Organic Mini Cucumbers — DelFrescoPure Organic Mini Cucumbers are rich in texture and despite their size, pack a big crunch.
• EarthFresh Organic Golden, Red & Russet Potatoes — Available in eye-catching 10-pound paper bags.
• Equifruit organic Fairtrade bananas — Equifruit’s new organic boxes and bands have the bold statement: “The only banana you should buy.” Equifruit is dedicated to 100% Fairtrade sourcing.
• Highline Mushrooms Organic Simple Sides — Highline’s new organic simple sides come with delicious and complementary fresh ingredients sauce to bring out the savory flavor of mushrooms.
• Mucci Farms Natural Organics: Your favorite Mucci Farms cucumbers are offered in different sizes and pack styles. Mucci Farms Natural Organics lineup is Certified Organic by Pro-Cert.
• Oppy Powerful Peruvian Ginger: From Peru, Oppy’s Peruvian ginger is available year-round in bags, clamshells and bulk.