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Monday, October 5, 2009
Fresh Summit Draws to a Close
Fresh Summit 2009 is wrapping up and attendees are tearing down booths and heading home. This Fresh Summit looks to be the best so far, judging by the number of attendees and the many positive comments I've heard over the last three days - in fact I've only heard good comments.
There were many new fresh-cut products this year, which may be an indication that produce businesses see a light at the end of the tunnel of this recession, or at least see ways to stay relevant with consumers in a down market.
One way fresh-cuts are differentiating themselves is through innovation. Two companies that stick in my mind are Apio, for the unique Grab and Go Cups, and Del Monte for the technologically advanced fresh-cut vending machine.
Processors have also focused on value, with a number of snack-sized products - Ready Pac, Crunch Pak and others all launched a new snack line or expanded existing lines.
There was a lot of optimism about new products in the exhibition hall, and that was buoyed by the record attendance numbers released by PMA. In past years, the final day of the show was dead, but there was still business being conducted this afternoon, though visibly less than Saturday and Sunday.
If 2010 can match the quality and quantity of this show, then it's already time to start thinking about Orlando next October.
Apio Grab and Go Cups
Apio introduced a full line of innovative convenience items at Fresh Summit. The Grab and Go Cups are designed for meals on the go and contain everything for a meal in one package.
There are 12 products in three categories - soups, salads, melts and noodles. The lower part of the cup contains the fresh-cut vegetables, and the lid has a cup for the sauce, bags for mix-ins and a collapsible plastc fork. The soups, noodles and melts are microwaved and ready in a few minutes - and the cups have a drain built in for easy preparation.
It's fast food without the fat, according to the company. The products will be test marketed at the end of this year and will be rolled out nationwide in January or February. The pricepoint will be around $2.49.
Also new at the Apio booth is the introduction of retail packages for the popular Broccoli Salad and Asian Salad Kits, which have previously only been available in club pack sizes. Apio also has an organics line and party trays with some new sizes and lineups.
Mann Packing
Mann Packing celebrated its 70th year this year with new products and line extensions.
The product the company is most excited about is butternut squash cubes in microwaveable 12- and 20-ounce bags. The new product will hit store shelves soon after the show and the packaging will reflect Mann's new design, which are color-coordinated to product lines, have the Mann logo more prominent and feature Hungry Girl on the bags.
Mann's Simply Singles line was rolled out last August, and this year receives an insert that extends shelf life. The packaging also includes information on the company to build on the trend of consumers wanting to connect with products.
The Snack on the Go line has expanded from 4 to 6 with the addition of a roasted red hummus with veggies and yogurt with fruit.
Lastly, the company's TailGater line has been updated to include other holidays and events. A meat and cheese platter was added, as was a salsa ranch dip. The hummus platter now includes crackers and the spinach dip platter includes pretzel crisps.
Fresh Express
Fresh Express/Chiquita has been drawing people into the booth with offerings from Chef Tony that feature the company's products. This morning he was serving up a delicious smoothie made with Chiquita bananas, Fresh Express spinach, berries, OJ, milk and yogurt.
Fresh Express had some new products to show off this year, including a family-pack size of its lettuce Shreds. Two new salad mixes were added to the lineup - Fancy Greens, with Romaine and Curly Tango with carrots, and Leafy Green Romaine, with Romaine and green leaf lettuce.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sakata Seed
Sakata Seed has had a busy show so far showing off its new varieties. The one product the company is really focusing on is the new Sweet Treats Pink Cherry Tomato.
The plant is strong and vigorous and the fruit is crisp with a rich and sweet taste. Brix is 7-9 and yields were very good in sample plots - 12-15+ fruit per cluster at 20-40 grams each.
Sakata was giving away seed packets, so attendees could grow their own Sweet Treats Pink Cherry Tomato if they stop by booth 2069 and pick up a packet.
Epic Roots
Epic Roots has two new salad mixes at Fresh Summit - Salad Verte and Boston Salad. The Salad Verte is a mesclun mix with sweet and spicy greens, and the Boston Salad has Mache Rosettes with green and red butter lettuce.
Crunch Pak
Crunch Pak had a number of new products at Fresh Summit and the company had even more good news to report.
On the new product front, Crunch Pak had its new Apple Snackers line, which will hit stores in November. The three-compartment clamshell has fresh-cut apples, grapes and cheese.
The company will also be offering seasonal trays of its fresh-cut apples for the holidays and football bowl season.
The grab and go line is new for Crunch Pak. The single serving bags of The popular product mixes have a low price point - around 99 cents, said Crunch Pak's Tony Freytag. The low cost encourages people to try them, he said. It's also led the company to try new things, like putting caramel in small bags.
Another new product catching attendee's eyes is he retail version of Burger King's Apple Fries. The fresh-cut apple slices look lime fries and the bag looks like a FryPod with fries.
On Sunday at Fresh Summit, Freytag said the company was giving out samples of a Waldorf salad, and based on the positive responses Crunch Pak may look at doing its first salad mix.
Other good news, Freytag said, was the organic sector continues to grow. There are even grab and go packs of organics. Crunch Pak also is seeing the Canadian market start to grow, and its new co-pack operation in New York is open.
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