United Fresh this week announced 48 new products as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2019 Innovation Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in seven categories for the title of Best New Product at United Fresh 2019, June 10-12 in Chicago, where attendees will be able to vote for those winners during the trade show. “The fresh produce community is constantly adopting new strategies for growth at an innovative pace,” said United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel. “From new varieties, packaging and merchandising solutions, to advancements in automation, growing technologies and more, these awards shine a spotlight on the products and solutions that are driving the industry forward.” Today, FreshPlaza presents the finalists for Best New Fruit product and Best New Vegetable product. Best New Fruit Product
Arctic® Grannys - ApBitz™ Snacks
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. – Booth # 11029 "Not all apples are suitable in size for Arctic® Granny fresh slices. One of our core initiatives is to reduce unnecessary food waste and we didn’t want the unsuitably sized apples to go to waste. Arctic ApBitz® dried apples were the solution and are just as delicious as our slices."
Golden Crush Melon
Frontera Produce – Booth # 13046 "Only a few days before the melon is ripe, the exterior of the melon will begin to transform into a deep golden color; this is the harvest indicator. The melon is non-gmo, disease resistant, non ethylene producer. It will not continue to ripen once picked."
**Honeydude Melon **
Sol Group Marketing – Booth # 10045 "Honeydude SOL’s exclusive variety - more flavor, less netting, and no brown spotting. So sweet, so smooth and sooo cool… it’s a honeydew that will have your shoppers saying “it’s gotta be a honeydude”!"
**Natierra® Organic Freeze-Dried Pomegranate Arils **
BrandStorm Inc. / Na Booth # 5044"We’re taking organic pomegranate arils on a freeze-drying adventure, to deliver the crunchiest and oh so sweet pomegranate arils that have kept all their essential nutrients. We’ve selected the ripest and tastiest pomegranate arils to bring you this delicious snack."
**NatureSweet Comets **
NatureSweet LTD – Booth # 4027 "is our “Out of this World Sweet” Yellow Grape Snacking Tomato. Comets has the highest BRIX in our line of tomatoes and provides an indulgent snacking experience. It has a vivid golden color that adds brightness to your snack or salad."
**Peeled, Diced or Sliced Pears **
Crunch Pak – Booth # 6040 "From America’s favorite sliced apple producer comes the latest in fresh-cut innovation: peeled, sliced or dice pears. With just-pick flavor these tender pears elevate any dish, try on salads, desserts, or even on their own – the combinations are endless! Visit booth 6040 to PEAR up with Crunch Pak!"
WOW™ Berries
Mastronardi Produce Ltd. – Booth # 10040 "Introducing our latest lineup of SUNSET® berries! Ridiculously sweet, incredibly juicy, and bursting with flavor, these premium berries will change expectations for how berries should taste. A healthy snack and a great addition to any dessert, breakfast item, or salad, these better-than-chocolate treats will have you smiling with every bite." Best New Vegetable Product
**Apeel Asparagus **
Apeel Sciences – Booth # 12031"Apeel extends the lifespan of asparagus by slowing the rate of water loss, bringing a new wave of benefits to growers, packers, distributors, and retailers in the category. With Apeel, asparagus that is normally shipped via air freight can now be shipped via sea freight – even without controlled atmosphere."
**BrightFarms Happy Beet™ **
BrightFarms – Booth # 6005 "They are called beet greens, and they are delightfully sweet and juicy at baby size! Beet greens are one of the healthiest greens - packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. mixes beet greens with sweet baby spinach for a delicate balance of flavor and nutrition."
**Cece's Veggie Co. Organic Butternut Shells & Cheese **
Cece’s Veggie Co. – Booth # 10015 "Cece's Butternut Shells & Cheese offers 100 percent organic, fresh-cut butternut squash paired with an organic cheese sauce packet for a heat-and-eat meal ready in minutes. Delivering a full serving of veggie nutrition in every bowl, this is a game-changer for busy families looking for healthy, organic, and delicious meal solutions."
**Dole Bountiful Kits™ **
Dole Food Company – Booth # 8000 "introduces a more satiating salad that delivers the fresh ingredient experience of grains & vegetables currently only available at a deli counter or restaurant. Features plant-based proteins in a Dole Bountiful Blend™ Fresh Pouch. Four flavors include: Sweet Thai, Lentil Cucumber, Fiesta Ranch and Triple Quinoa."
**Garden Highway Chef Essentials Fresh Slaws **
Renaissance Food Group– Booth # 8040 "provide a fresh convenient solution for consumers, while presenting the produce industry with an innovative new product line. Recognizing a consumer demand for healthy convenience, our chef team created a lineup of Fresh Slaw products highlighting the current Southwestern flavor trend."
**LivingCube™ - Microgreens: Basil **
Del Fresco Produce Ltd.– Booth # 12027 "With 12 times the nutrients of mature leaves, LivingCube™ microgreens are a small way you can add health benefits to food! We offer varieties and customized packaging combinations. Our packaging comes in 2 sizes (50g, 100g) making them easy to buy, store and use. No need to chop, just sprinkle!"
**Nourish Bowls Breakfast **
Mann Packing – Booth # 2000 "Mann Packing has added two new flavors to its award-winning Nourish Bowls(R) product line, this time tackling the most important meal of the day. Nourish Bowls(R) Breakfast Denver Scramble and Fiesta Scramble are chock-full of fresh vegetables and flavor, and high in protein with the addition of 1-2 eggs."
**Plant Based Dips **
Good Foods Group – Booth # 6029 "Good Foods developed a cold pressure plant based dip product line for consumers striving to find better-for-you foods that are vegan, low calorie, low carb, no sugar added, gluten free, and Paleo friendly… all with clean simple natural ingredients and no preservatives."
**Raw Wraps Kale Tacos **
Green Leaf Foods – Booth # 3044 "Kale tacos blend together kale, apples, onion, celery to create a dehydrated bread that is soft, pliable and flexible. Ready to eat. Shelf stable for one year, preservative free. Non GMO verified, grain free, paleo, vegan, raw, keto and only 25 calories with very low sodium. Retail and food service."
**Ready Pac Foods Fresh Picked Protein Snacks **
Bonduelle Fresh Americas – Booth # 12006 Power-packed snack with vanilla Greek yogurt, sweet red grapes, crisp apple slices, Monterey jack cheese, and crunchy trail mix made with banana chips, cashews, raisins, and almonds. They're an excellent source of protein with ½ cup of fruit per serving to help tide you over until your next meal!
**Southwestern Tortilla Vegetable Meal Bowl, Korean BBQ Vegetable Meal Bowl **
Growers Express – Booth # 5015 "Perfect for the time-starved consumer, Green Giant™ Fresh Vegetable Meal Bowls are satisfying as packaged or customizable. Each plant-based bowl is made with the company’s first-to-market Cauliflower Crumbles® or Vegetable Noodles, and paired with flavorful sauces. Two new flavors are coming soon - Korean BBQ and Southwestern Tortilla."
Sugar Bombs™
Mastronardi Produce Ltd. – Booth # 10040"Following the fame of SUNSET® Flavor Bombs®, these bright red grape tomatoes are taking their turn in the spotlight. Ripened and packed on the vine for optimal flavor and freshness, these beauties rock the flavor charts with their sweet taste, pleasant aroma, and crunchy texture."
**Sweetpops Tomatoes **
Red Sun Farms – Booth # 10011 "A combination of refreshing sweetness and perfect snack size. This bite sized tomato will release an explosion of juicy flavor that you just can’t stop snacking on! The intense flavor is best enjoyed as a snack, but will deliver a sweet tomato pop to any recipe."
**Taylor Farms Avocado Ranch Chopped Salad Kit **
Taylor Farms, Inc.– Booth # 4031 "Our clean is free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Delicious bright veggies including romaine, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onion come together in this mouthwatering salad. Complete this meal with our creamy avocado ranch dressing, crispy corn, and taco seasoned cheese."
For more information:Mary CoppolaUnited Fresh Produce Association Ph: +1 (202) 303-3425[email protected]