Rosenhayn, NJ – F&S Produce Company Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of fresh-cut produce and other refrigerated value-added products, has introduced a new line of fruit and vegetable snack packs for retail, foodservice and institutional markets, including regional school systems, for consumers throughout the Northeast.
This new line of portion-controlled snacks consists of eleven different offerings. This includes six fruit and five vegetable items all in two ounce portions: Red Grapes, Sliced Red Apples, Sliced Green Apples, Honeydew Chunks, Cantaloupe Chunks, and Pineapple Chunks, each packaged in either a small bag or clear cup; Broccoli Florets, Carrot Slims, Celery Sticks, Sugar Snap Peas, and Cauliflower Florets packaged in a small bag.
“Our new snack pack program was designed to support the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program (FFVP) that has been administered by the USDA,” said Lou Cooperhouse, president & COO of F&S Produce at the New Jersey Farm to School Conference, held recently at the Rutgers EcoComplex in Bordentown, NJ. Conference attendees included school foodservice professionals, as well as growers, producers, distributors, and other farm-to-school stakeholders who met to explore how to integrate more local fruits and vegetables into school meals.
The FFVP became a permanent program nationwide in 2008 and provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to schools that have a high proportion of low-income students. The goal of this program is to increase children’s awareness and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, a strategy that is recognized and encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“F&S services a variety of schools in the Philadelphia region and is actively pursuing additional long-term business partners to help expand its program, commitment and reach in providing healthy food alternatives to our regional school children,” said Barbara Fontaine, director of business development and foodservice sales at F&S Produce, who is responsible for developing these new products. “This new line of snack packs complements our existing foodservice offerings, which includes a wide array of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, blends, as well as a gourmet items such as stuffed portabella mushrooms, sandwiches and wraps.”
F&S services retail and foodservice accounts throughout the Northeast and industrial accounts nationally from its 125,000 sq. ft. operations in Rosenhayn, New Jersey. The company has an extensive quality assurance system in place and is SQF 2000 Level 3 Certified, Organic certified and Orthodox Union Kosher certified. Pipco Transportation is a dedicated in-house distribution company that services the entire northeastern United States. More information about F&S Produce can be viewed at www.freshcutproduce.com.
Source: F&S Produce Company Inc.