Beets

The Fresh Factor: How to pick, prep and store beets

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 20:47:51 GMT

Your average beet boasts a deep scarlet hue — bright and unmistakable amid a sea of root vegetable earth tones — like a flashy sports car that turns heads on the highway.

But the root vegetable is all too often sidelined and forgotten in the produce department, however, there are many reasons to toss these earthy-sweet and nutrient-rich fresh produce staples into your cart.

The Packer has teamed up with Healthy Family Project to share our favorite tips, tricks and produce inspiration about some of our favorite fruits and vegetables in 2023. In June, we’re spotlighting how to pick, prep and store beets.

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Beet recipe MVPs

“The beet is a wonderful vegetable, but people resist it, partly because of its sweetness,” says James Beard Award-winning author Deborah Madison in her seminal cookbook, “Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone.” “When beets are treated to the acidic nip of vinegar and lemon or the warmth of spices, however, many take to them with enthusiasm.”

The humble beet is a chameleon when it comes to flavors. Anyone who’s tucked into a steaming bowl of borscht can attest to beets’ savory properties. At the same time, these ruby red root veggies can lend earthy sweetness to baked goods, salads and smoothies.

Record-braking long-distance runner and athlete Shalane Flanagan relies on beets not only for their delicious flavor, but also because beets are packed with nutrients — they’re rich in antioxidants and minerals, perfect for fueling her intense runs and workouts.

In her three cookbooks that focus on nutritious, whole-food recipes for athletes, Flanagan and co-author Elyse Kopecky tuck beets into dishes across the flavor spectrum and for every eating occasion — from hummus to smoothies to salads to muffins.

Their Can’t Beet Me Smoothie recipe is a vibrant smoothie and go-to breakfast favorite.

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If you’re looking to enjoy your beets straight up, Mark Bittman’s raw beet salad with fennel recipe is a solid choice. The vinegar acid complements the earthy beets wonderfully and makes for visually stunning and bright salad with plenty of crunch.

How to select the perfect beet

Like carrots, beets can be sold with their leafy greens, bunched or loose, or without their green tops entirely.

Red beets are the most common variety to find in the produce aisle, but if you’re cooking up a colorful roasted root vegetable mélange, it’s worth seeking out a few golden beets to toss your cart. And if you’re looking to pull together a dreamy summer salad, the unusual cherry red-and-white-striped chioggia beet variety is a showstopper thinly sliced atop a bed of salad greens.

Regardless the variety, look for unblemished medium-sized beets for ease of handling. Smaller beats can prove tedious to prepare for little payoff and oversized beets can be cumbersome to store, cut and bake.

Storing beets

Tuck your beets into the produce bin for safekeeping. To hold the beets longer, remove any green tops and wrap in a thin produce bag.

Learn more about the health benefits of beets, preparation and storage tips on Healthy Family Project.

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Preparing beets

While these bright red orbs can be intimidating if you’ve never handled them before, a little prep can make them a favorite veggie on frequent rotation. After a thorough washing, the greens can be enjoyed fresh like salad greens or cooked like chard.

Beets can be cooked much like any root vegetable; they’re great steamed, roasted, boiled and baked. If you have a Vitamix blender, you can even puree beets raw — just make sure to peel the skin first!

With red and golden beets, avoid using wood cutting boards and have a sponge handy unless you don’t mind staining from the vibrant juices.

When handling and serving warm beets, use caution!

“The rule when plating beets is: Put them down confidently, and do not move them or they will stain, leaving a messy trail in their wake,” says culinary icon Samin Nosrat in the book “Salt Fat Acid Heat.”

More from The Fresh Factor

What is your go-to beet recipe? Share it on one of The Fresh Factor’s posts or drop us a line at news@thepacker.com.

Stay tuned to learn more about mushrooms in July and check out other Fresh Factor highlights on asparagus , artichoke and kale on Instagram!

Love Beets celebrates 10th anniversary

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:34:48 GMT

Ready-to-eat beet brand, Love Beets USA, celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month.

With a robust product line, notable distribution, and beloved branding, they took what was formerly thought of as a polarizing vegetable and created delicious, modern, and versatile offerings that revitalized how Americans view beets.

Love Beets began as a true labor of love by husband-and-wife team, Guy and Katherine Shropshire. Recognizing there was a gap in the U.S. market for tasty, ready-to-eat beet options, they debuted their family’s favorite recipes at the 2010 Fancy Food Show. The response was overwhelmingly positive and virtually everyone who tasted their beets said they, “love beets!”

Though they felt it could be hard to overcome the initial perception of “grandma’s beets” and antiquated canned beets in the U.S., after witnessing the excitement and reaction to their products at that first show, Shropshire said he never doubted the potential of Love Beets.

“It’s a real-life example of success by joining a genuinely great product together with talented, super hard-working people,” he said.

Consumers can now enjoy Love Beets items in more than 15,000 retail locations across the country. Distribution has expanded to many prominent retail partners, including Costco, Whole Foods, Kroger, Wegmans, Sprouts, Target, and many more.

As beets biggest sponsor, Love Beets has had a substantial positive impact on the perception of beets nationwide, and they’ve made a name for themselves in both the produce industry and larger natural foods CPG space.

“We’ve been able to create a well-known and well-loved brand identity within the produce space, a department full of commodity and private label offerings with a lot of competition for shelf space,” said General Manager, George Shropshire.

“Beyond that accomplishment, we’ve also worked hard to grow as a U.S.-grown and produced company. We’re proud of our made in the USA label that stands out among our competitors.”

Looking forward, Love Beets aims to drive growth through innovation, sustainability, and continuing to drive trial and consumption. They will continue to provide consumers with healthy and convenient options that taste good, while working on an enhanced brand identity with updates to packaging and the introduction of new flavor offerings within their marinated baby beet line.

“In addition to growing our product lines and distribution, the last decade has also been full of growth with our retail partners, farmers, consumers, and our team,” said George Shropshire. “We’re so thankful to those who have been a part of our journey and cannot wait for the next 10 years here at Love Beets!”

Cherries inch their way up on Produce Market Guide

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:37:50 GMT

Haitian mangoes maintained their lead on The Packer’s PMG the week of May 18th. Cherries climbed from No. 7 to No. 2. Oranges are also of note, they climed from No. 8 to No. 3 on PMG. Cucumbers stayed in the top 5 on PMG, moving from No. 5 to No. 4. Take a look at all the rest of top searched commodities on Produce Market Guide.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG during the week of May 18.

BJ McCormick joins Love Beets in foodservice role

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:38:29 GMT

Love Beets USA , Bala Cynwyd, Pa, has hired BJ McCormick as director of foodservice and emerging channel sales.

Before joining Love Beets, McCormick was with Pero Family Farms for more than 12 years, including a role as foodservice director.

He’ll support the company’s existing national and regional foodservice distribution partners to expand Love Beets’ offerings of beet products, according to the release.

“I’m passionate about the foodservice industry,” McCormick said in the release. “It’s an exciting time to be joining a team that shares that passion and

look forward to growing the Love Beets brand within the space with our wonderful beet products.”
Other recent Love Beets USA additions include Rob Doolan as director of sales and Jay Zimmerman as sales account manager, according to the release.

George Shropshire, the company’s general manager, said beets are an “on-trend foodservice item” in the release.

Related stories:

Rob Doolan joins Love Beets USA as sales director

Love Beets partners with Genuine Coconut for Fresh Summit

Love Beets wins best savory snack award at Natural Products Expo West

Rob Doolan joins Love Beets USA as sales director

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:24:46 GMT

Love Beets USA , Bala Cynwyd, Pa., has hired Rob Doolan as director of sales.

Doolan was director of sales at Gourmet Garden, which markets herbs in paste and dried forms. He joined Gourmet Garden in 2006, and it was purchased by spice company McCormick & Co. in 2016. Before joining Love Beets, he was director of sales for Gourmet Garden-North America.

With Doolan’s hiring, Love Beets will focus on growing household penetration and retail growth, according to a news release.

Doolan provided “counsel and expertise” to Love Beets USA founders Guy and Katherine Shropshire, according to the release.

“Rob is constantly bringing new ideas and innovative solutions to the table,” George Shropshire, Love Beets USA general manager, said in the release. “It’s exciting to have someone with such a vast knowledge of the industry back to help us better serve our customers with products they will love for years to come!”

Related stories:

Love Beets partners with Genuine Coconut for Fresh Summit

Love Beets wins best savory snack award at Natural Products Expo West

Viva Fresh’s Gateway awards recognizes innovation

Coosemans has gourmet food box

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:37:02 GMT

Coosemans -Denver is offering Gourmet Premium Food Boxes that Garrick Macek, vice president of operations, expects will become more and more popular as consumers cope with COVID-19.

The company already is selling some, but Macek is in the process of interviewing marketing companies to help promote the boxes and turn the program into a new revenue stream.

For about $30, a consumer can pick up a box of about 10 pounds of gourmet items like Belgian endive, fingerling potatoes, pomegranates, baby heirloom tomatoes and baby beets with tops.

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Behind the 8 ball (squash) on PMG

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:09 GMT

The first week of July brought a lot of shuffling of the top 20 produce items on Produce Market Guide, with some summertime specialties joining the ranks of standard favorites.

Watermelon went from No. 16 to No. 1, and cucumbers moved up a spot to No. 2. Specialty crenshaw melons rejoined the list at No. 3, and blueberries rose to No. 4 from No. 12 the previous week . Peaches gained nine spots to complete the top 5.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG July 1-7.

Beans slipped a spot to No. 6, while beets moved up to No. 7 from No. 18 the previous week. Okra fell four places to No. 8, and specialty manzano bananas rejoined at No. 9. Lemons moved up two places to round out the top 10.

Cherries fell to No. 11 from No. 7 the previous week, and mangoes fell 10 spots to No. 12. Avocados dropped to No. 13 from No. 6 the week before, and yellow plums came back to the list at No. 14. Blackberries slipped five spots to No. 15.

Mini watermelons joined at No. 16, and lettuce fell four spots to No. 17. Eggplant came back to the list at No. 18, while specialty 8 ball squash appeared at No. 19. Apples fell three spots from the week before, landing at No. 20.

It's red, blue ... green and orange in the PMG top 20

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:09 GMT

Although things weren’t all red, white and blue on PMG in the week leading up to the July Fourth holiday, seasonal favorites still stacked the top 20. Specialty melons vaulted into first place, with mangoes rising nine spots from the week before to land at No. 2, bumping cucumbers to No. 3. Okra rose two spots, to No. 4, and beans climbed to No. 5 from No. 8 the previous week.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG June 24-30.

Avocados rejoined the list at No. 6, and cherries rose three spots to No. 7. Broccoli came back to the list at No. 8, and peas rose to No. 9 from No. 15 the week before. Blackberries fell to No. 10 from the top slot.

Lemons fell seven spots to No. 11, and blueberries fell to No. 12 from No. 3 the week before. Lettuce jumped to No. 13 from its previous No. 20 rank, while peaches slipped two places to No. 14. Haitian mangoes gained a spot to complete the top 15.

Watermelon fell nine spots to No. 16, and apples came back to the list at No. 17. Beets also rejoined, at No. 18, bumping oranges to No. 19. Sweet potatoes came back to round out the top 20.

Avocados take No. 1 on PMG

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:34:42 GMT

Avocados bounced from No. 7 the week of Nov. 30 to take the lead spot on PMG the week of Nov. 7. Oranges maintained their No. 2 rank, while organic pears slipped two places to No. 3, bumping lettuce to No. 4. Carrots held on to the No. 5 spot.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG during the week of Dec. 7.

Mandarins moved up to No. 6 from No. 12 the previous week, and cucumbers climbed to No. 7 from No. 14 the week before. Mangoes moved up to No. 8 from No. 15 previously, and pummelos slipped a spot to No. 9. Mushrooms held on at No. 10.

Last week’s top 20: Citrus interest big on PMG

Apples gained a couple of spots to land at No. 11, and bell beppers rejoined the list at No. 12. Pomegranates also reappeared, at No. 13, and specialty burro bananas came back to the list at No. 14. Navel oranges gained four places from the week before to complete the top 15.

Seville oranges also gained four spots from the previous week, landing at No. 16, and sweet potatoes fell to No. 17 from No. 11 the week before. Beets made a comeback at No. 18, and lemons fell to No. 19 from No. 4 the previous week. Manzano bananas completed the top 20.

Love Beets USA announces expanded portfolio of brands under new venture Offshoot Brands

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:41:14 GMT

Industry leader of value-added beets, Love Beets USA , has today launched their new venture, Offshoot Brands.

The evolution reflects their expanding portfolio of exclusive healthy lifestyle brands of not only Love Beets, but further brands including Genuine Coconut, Veggie*Confetti, and The Happy Snack Company.

Offshoot Brands is focused on promoting the wellbeing of consumers by partnering with these innovative and plant-forward brands around the globe to grow and scale in the North American market and beyond.

“We revolutionized the way consumers think about and eat beets in the US,” said George Shropshire, Offshoot Brands’ General Manager. “We took something time-consuming and intimidating to prepare and created a no mess, no fuss solution. Our mission now is to grow other better-for-you brands that make healthy eating as easy and fun as possible.”

With decades of cross-channel experience in the fresh category, the Offshoot Brands team boasts a proven track record of launching products from concept to consumer.

“We offer strong industry relationships, deep produce and CPG knowledge, a passion for growing branded products, and a hands-on approach,” said Rob Doolan, Director of Sales. “We’re not ‘one size fits all’ and love to collaborate with brands and entrepreneurs to create a strategy that’s customized to each brand’s unique needs.”

Offshoot Brands first partnered with premium Spanish manufacturer, Genuine Coconut, in 2018 to sell and distribute their organic drink-and-eat coconuts. The product line now also includes organic raw coconut chunks and toppings, which can be found in Costco, Publix, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Lidl, and more. The distribution of Genuine Coconut items has grown to over 6,000 stores in the US and Canada.

Veggie*Confetti is an emerging brand of convenient, ready-to-eat pickled vegetables with a six-month refrigerated shelf-life. The line includes pickled red onion, jalapeño, carrot, and cabbage, and is currently distributed in Whole Foods and other Mid-Atlantic region retailers.

“From the vibrant pop of the packaging on store shelves to the bold color and big flavor they add to meals, Veggie*Confetti delivers on both look and taste,” said Natasha Lichty, Offshoot Brands’ Marketing Director. “Perfect to sprinkle on salads, toasts, tacos, bowls, and more, they’re a versatile refrigerator staple to quickly make any dish look and taste restaurant-quality.”

Most recently Offshoot Brands completed an exclusive deal with The Happy Snack Company, an Australian-based category leader who specializes in whole-food roasted chickpea and fava bean snacks for everyday families. The product lines are allergen-friendly and free from gluten, nuts, and dairy.

“The Happy Snack Company items are nutrient-dense and contain four times the fiber of brown rice, making them a satiating snack that’s perfect for on-the-go families” said Shropshire. “Their products are a hit with both kids and adults alike.”

Offshoot Brands’ foundation brand Love Beets items are sold in over 17,000 stores across North America, transcending channels from club partners like Costco, to natural food retailers such as Whole Foods and Sprouts, as well as mainstream grocery retailers coast-to-coast.

Based in Rochester, New York, Love Beets is the country’s largest organic beet producer and processor and their range includes vacuum-packed cooked beets, marinated baby beets, organic beet juice, topped and tailed raw beets, and beet powder. Love Beets’ Perfectly Pickled Sliced Beets, launched in October 2020, has rapidly ascended to becoming their fastest-selling beet innovation.

Figs at the fore (and more) on PMG

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:29:03 GMT

There were more shake-ups on PMG the second week of July, with cucumbers moving up to No. 1 and beans climbing from No. 6 the previous week to No. 2. Okra likewise rose from No. 8 to No. 3, while figs rejoined the top 20 at No. 4. Blackberries vaulted 10 places to wind up at No. 5.

The PMG platform connects produce buyers and sellers. Below, find the top 20 searched commodities on PMG July 8-14.

Yellow plums shot up eight spaces to land at No. 6, while crenshaw melons fell to No. 7 from No. 3 previously. Peaches fell three spots to No. 8, and mangoes climbed to No. 9 from No. 12 the week before. Beets fell three places, rounding out the top 10.

Blueberries fell to No. 11 from No. 4 the week before, and lettuce rose to No. 12 from No. 17 previously. Oranges rejoined the list at No. 13. Apples claimed the No. 14 spot this week, from No. 20 the week before. Cherries came in at No. 15, falling four spots.

Manzano bananas likewise fell to No. 16 from No. 9 the week before, and mini watermelon slipped a spot to No. 17. Watermelon fell to No. 18 from the top spot the previous week, and cauliflower made a comeback at No. 19, bumping 8 ball squash to No. 20.

SunFed’s Texas beets, onions ready soon

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:38:25 GMT

SunFed , Rio Rico, Ariz., will be shipping red and gold Texas beets in early February, followed by the aptly-named Candy Stripe red and white beets a few weeks later.

The company plans on having Texas beets into May. They’re clipped and topped and available in 25-pound poly bags, 50-pound bags and 60-inch bins, for retail and processing customers, according to a news release.

Beets made the top superfoods of 2019 list, chosen by more than 1,300 registered dietitian nutritionists in a Pollock Communications and Today’s Dietitian survey.

“SunFed is always looking to expand our offerings and beets made perfect sense to us this year in Texas,” Gretchen Kreidler Austin, director of marketing and business development. “The fact that beets made superfood stardom is just kismet!”

Also in early February, the company’s Weslaco, Texas, division will begin is second season of Mexican onions. Yellow sweet onions are the first varieties shipping, and then white onions, both available in 50-pound net sacks, according to the release.

The onion program transitions to Texas onions, with a short overlap in April. The Texas 1015 sweet onions and red onions are also in their second season for SunFed.

SunFed’s Texas onion program will follow on the heels of the Mexico program with a little overlap in April.

Love Beets wins best savory snack award at Natural Products Expo West

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:43:11 GMT

Love Beets took home a NEXTY Award in the Best New Savory or Salty Snack category at the 2019 Natural Products Expo West.

The Bala Cynwyd, Pa.-based company’s Golden Beet-o de Gallo won one of 32 awards among more than 3,600 exhibitors at the March 5-9 event in Anaheim, Calif., according to a news release.

Beet-o de Gallo is a twist on fresh salsa, combining diced golden beets with green peppers, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and spices. It’s a snack that pairs well with tortilla chips, as a toping to tacos, nachos and salads, and as a topping for meat and fish.

“We continue to use innovation and creativity to get even more consumers excited by beets,” Love Beets USA general manager George Shropshire said in the release.

New Hope Network’s NEXTY Awards honor products that display integrity, innovation and inspiration within the natural products industry, according to the release.

“We love being seen as the beet experts and innovators and will continue to work hard to develop items in the fresh produce category that make healthy snacking convenient and fun,” Rachel Brown, Love Beets USA product creation and development manager, said in the release.

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Love Beets rolls out resealable packs

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:46:09 GMT

Love Beets, Rochester, N.Y., relaunched its marinated baby beets and other beet offerings with resealable packaging that double the products’ shelf life.

According to a news release, products now have a 36-day shelf life.

“Our new 36-day shelf-life makes our products more appealing to retailers because it allows for wider distribution, the ability to carry more items at one time, and will greatly reduce shrink,” George Shropshire, general manager of Love Beets USA LLC, said in the release.

“It also allows more time for the consumer to enjoy his or her beets once they get them home.”

Products with the new “peel and reseal” packaging include the company’s five-flavor line of marinated baby beets, its Sweet & Smoky Shredded Beets, Beet Salsa, and Honey + Vinegar Golden Beets, according to the release.