WASHINGTON, DC – More than 30 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations are up for United Fresh Produce Association’s 2013 New Product Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of Best New Products at United Fresh 2013, May 14-16 in San Diego.
“These products represent the new approaches, ideas and processes that are driving the fresh fruit and vegetable industry forward, said John Toner, United’s vice president of convention & industry relations. “From its very beginnings, the United show has been the undisputed home of innovation for the produce industry, and these awards continue to showcase the best and brightest minds in the produce business.”
It is a vital mission of the United trade show to foster and applaud the latest innovations that are advancing the fresh produce industry,” said United CEO Tom Stenzel. “The foresight and creativity of our member companies in bringing these new products to market undeniably boosts value to the consumer and increases profitability for the industry.”
This year’s finalists will be displayed in the United Fresh Membership Booth, located in Booth 754 on the United Fresh trade show floor. The winner in each category will be determined by total votes received as of 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 16. Winners will be announced at the Membership Booth on Thursday, May 16 at 4:00 pm.
Congratulations to the 2013 New Product Award Finalists:
Best New Food Safety Solution
- ThermoTrace TTI, DeltaTRAK
- FoodLink Item, FoodLink
- Pimware, Pimware
Best new Fruit Product
- CantaBella, C.H. Robinson Worldwide
- Flavorz, Crunch Pak
- Ready Pac Bistro Fruit Salads, Ready Pac Foods
- Ruby Fresh Salad Jewels, Ruby Fresh
- Lil Snappers™, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
Best New Packaging
- Eco-Crate, C.H. Robinson
- Cabo Fresh 100 cal Snack Pack, Cabo Fresh
- Salad Kitz, Crunch Pak
- Folding RPC, InterCrate
- Artisan Series Basket Weave Clamshells with Dometops, JemD Farms – Red Sun & Golden Sun Greenhouse Vegetables
- Sunset Display Ready Box, Mastronardi Produce
- Snack Fresh, NNZ Inc.
- Peel and Reseal Spring Mix Trays, Ready Pac Foods
Best New Packing/Processing Equipment
- •Mango Destoning Equipment, ABL
- •ECM-200 Precision Slicing Machine, Nichimo
- •RayFly Optical Sorter, Raytec Vision, SPA
- •Robag FXIS 3ci rotary polyethylene packaging system, TNA North America
Best New Vegetable Product
- Pumpkin Pie Baking Kit, AMF Farms/Bay Baby Produce
- Tasti-Lee® Tomatoes, Bejo Seeds Inc.
- Italian Greens, Church Brothers
- Grower Pete’s Organic Living Butter Lettuce and Watercress, Hollandia Produce
- Bite-A-Minis, Nature Fresh Farms
- Dippin Stix – Celery, Reichel Foods
The 2012 New Product Award winners were:
- Best New Food Safety Solution: FlashCheck® Real-time Bacterial Enzyme Detection Kit, DeltaTRAK®, Inc.
- Best New Fruit Product: Fresh Fruit Parfaits, Ready Pac Foods
- Best New Packaging Product: Naturipe EarthCycle Packaging for Organic Berries, Naturipe LLC
- Best New Packing/Processing Equipment: Bosch Pack 301 IN Inverted Horizontal Flow Wrapper, Bosch Packaging Technology, Inc
- Best New Vegetable Product: Delano™, Mastronardi Produce
For more information on the 2013 New Product Awards or on United Fresh 2013, contact United’s Exposition Manager Jamie Woodside at 202-303-3420.
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, CA, United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association