May 2, 2014

United Fresh 2014 New Product Award finalists announced

United Fresh announced a record 40 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2014 New Product Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of Best New Products at United Fresh 2014, June 10-13 in Chicago.

“We’re excited to have a record of 40 finalists for our New Product Awards, which is a clear indicator of the ever increasing ingenuity in fresh produce,” said John Toner, United’s vice president of convention and industry relations. “We’re proud to showcase these innovative products at the United Fresh 2014 show in Chicago, which continues to be the home for innovation and creativity in the produce business.”

The 2014 New Product Award finalists and their locations on the United Fresh trade show floor are:

Best New Food Safety Solution
Produce TMS Solution
ALC Logistics, Software Division of the Allen Lund Company – Booth 1279
This web-based TMS software is designed and customized to fit the needs of the produce industry.
Arizona LGMA Food Safety Training Kit Videos          
Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Committee- Booth 2194
The Arizona Leafy Greens Food Safety Training Kit is now available in a DVD series (English and Spanish), offering another user-friendly tool for food safety training professionals.
FlashTrak Telematics
DeltaTrak – Booth 855
Delta Trak’s FlashTrak Telematics is a complete cloud based solution for cold chain management and temperature monitoring. Used for both mobile and facilities applications, it helps assure the integrity of perishable products.
Fruit Gard, 2 part dry product
Food Defend – Booth 2286
FruitGard reduces spoilage and food safety organisms on produce. FruitGard offers a dry postharvest intervention that leaves no toxic residue and can be safely applied in common processing infrastructure.
FoodLink Fresh
FoodLink – Booth 1052
FoodLink Fresh is a web-based, food safety and quality inspection solution that provides analysis for data collected across the supply chain from harvesting to temperature and handling during transportation to receiving at the D.C. and retail store.
SmartTraxx Go
Locus Traxx Worldwide – Booth 312
The SmartTraxx GO temperature recirder is disposable by design. Pull the tab, and instantly temperature and location data begin streaming in real-time to the cloud. The system offers complete visibility of products in transit and at the dock.

Best New Fruit Product
Crunch Pak with Marvel Apple Snacker
Crunch Pak – Booth 132
Marvel Entertainment and Crunch Pak, the fresh sliced apples specialist, launched an assortment of fresh snack products called Snackers that feature Marvel Super Heroes on packages of fresh sliced apples and other snacking ingredients including grapes, cheese and pretzels. 
Woot Froot
Fresh Fruit Cuts – Booth 140
Woot Froot is fresh-cut peaches and nectarines available in MAP packaging of 3oz and 14oz bags and various tray sizes with a shelf life of 21 days.
Fresh Cranberry Sauce Kit
Naturipe Farms – Booth 645
A first of its kind, this fresh cranberry microwavable sauce kit takes the mystery out of preparing one of fresh produce's most nutritious fruits, according to Naturipe. 
USDA Quality Monitored GOOD 4 U FRESH FRUIT
Sbrocco International – Booth 457
Fresh table grapes and apples in GOOD 4 U FRESH FRUIT brand high-graphic pouch bags with the official USDA Quality Monitored seal to indicate USDA Quality Monitoring Program participation.

Best New Packaging
Josie's Organics Romaine Hearts        
Braga Fresh Family Farms – Booth 1249           
Three-pack of organic romaine hearts featuring Josie's logo and signature polka dot pattern.
Del Monte Fresh Guac          
Del Monte Fresh Produce – Booth 407  
Del Monte Fresh Guac comes in an assortment of flavors in convenient packaging, is preservative free, and is always ready-to-eat. Available in 8 oz. single and two-pack, and a 2 oz. four-pack.
Wholly Guacamole 100 Cal Minis
Fresherized Foods – Booth 623
These 2oz mini cups are designed to eat while traveling, for portion control or for a kid's lunchbox. The mini cup is suitable for squeezing or dipping. These cups also freeze up to three months.
Orchard Valley Harvest Wellness Mixes
John B Sanfilippo – Booth 627 
Three 4oz varieties: Antioxidant Mix; Omega-3 Mix; and Energy Mix. All mixes are Non-GMO Project Verified, contain no artificial ingredients, gluten-free, and packed with nutrients.
Sunset Eco Flavor Bowl
Mastronardi Produce/Sunset – Booth 220          
The Sunset Eco Flavor Bowl is a new packaging format designed with the environment in mind. The unique top seal film locks in flavor while reducing the carbon footprint.
Bouquet Pack – Long Stem Strawberries
Naturipe Farms – Booth 645      
The unique shape and color of Naturipe’s Bouquet Pack gincludes premium long stem strawberries packed in a first of its kind, bi-colored, co-extruded clamshell. 
Wood Look Returnable Plastic Crate
Polymer Logistics – Booth 620 
The world’s first foldable, simulated wood crate brings a fresh look and feel, while offering all the advantages of RPC — including the Polymer Logistics active-lock mechanism.
Ready Pac Ready Snax Refresh
Ready Pac Foods – Booth 1271           
New packaging and design of the Ready Snax Snacking line.
Hacienda Special Reserve Tomatoes with Display Ready Box
Redsun Farms – Booth 637       
This case of tomatoes include varieties such as, Brandy Yellow, Cherokee Green and Purple, Green Zebra, Aurea Big Tiger, all offering a unique appearance and flavor for tomato lovers. 
Dippin' Stix Sweet Gala Apples & Caramel
Reichel Foods – Booth 557
Dippin’ Stix now offers Sweet Gala Apples & Caramel in a five-pack carton. The carton offers a versatile design that can be merchandised two different ways.
Lip Smackn' Grapes – Rinse & Serve Reusable Bowl
Village Farms – Booth 1069      
Village Farms is first to market for this unique and exclusive package. No venting in bowl bottom makes functional for reusing/repurposing, according to the company.
TopLine Creations
Westmoreland – Booth 1275                 
This gourmet product includes flavor-infused olive oil and is for snacking or salads.
LabelBling
Yerecic Label – Booth 965                    
LabelBling uses holographic films, sparkle inks, embossing or a combination of these effects on produce packaging to catch attention while shopping and entice consumers to learn more about the product.
Ready To Eat Single Serve Blueberry
North Bay Produce – Booth 759
North Bay Produce’s Ready To Eat Blueberries offer innovative packaging and portability. This single serve blueberry pack will hold up to the busy demands of on the go eating for young and old alike, said North Bay. 

Best New Packing/Processing Equipment
Bosch SVC 4020 Vertical Form-Fill-Seal Bagger          
Bosch Packaging Technology – Booth 2053           
Built for today's hygienic requirements and for tomorrow's regulations, the new SVC vertical packaging platform is designed for the fresh food industry.
Super Batch Centrifuge           
FTNON BV – Booth 2461          
Unique centrifuge that can handle all kind of products with different capacities. It is designed to be easy to operate and maintain and be energy efficient.
STRAWBERRY CAPPER Mod. Frazer  
Turatti S.R.L – Booth 2249        
The new Frazer capper was developed to remove the strawberry calyx and to cut each fruit in half if required increasing capacity and yield. This patent-pending system can be used also to top radishes.
Forklift Inflator
West Coast Supplies – Booth 1956       
The Forklift Inflator is easily installed on any forklift and is powered by the forklift battery. Once installed, simply flip the switch to fill air bags anywhere inside the trailer or container.

Best New Vegetable Product
Roasties
Black Gold Farms – Booth 859 
Roasties is a pre-packaged clamshell containing fresh, whole baby red potatoes and an enclosed packet of McCormick Produce Partners seasonings with easy instructions to rise, season and bake.
Wholly Guacamole Layered Bean Dips
Fresherized Foods – Booth 623
Contains a layer of beans and 10oz dips, served either chilled or warmed.
Good Foods Tableside Chunky Guacamole – 4pk        
Good Foods Group – Booth 1066
This guacamole is prepared with hand-scooped avocados, and includes garlic, onions and tomatoes. Comes in single-serve sizes.
Organic Beets in an Organic Mild Vinegar       
Love Beets – Booth 443           
Organic Beets in Organic Mild Vinegar are freshly cooked, certified organic, all natural and gluten free.
Y.E.L.O.       
Mastronardi Produce/Sunset – Booth 220          
Youth, Energy, Life, Om. Sunset's next tomato.
Mucci Farms CuteCumbers Snack Sized Cucumbers      
Mucci Farms – Booth 240         
Smaller, crunchier and more convenient than mini cucumbers, bite-sized CuteCumbers make a snack for kids and adults. They are designed to be a handy-sized cocktail snack with no cutting or chopping required.
The Snacking Series – Juno Bites, Bumbles, Sangria and Azuca        
Pure Flavor – Pure Hothouse Foods – Booth 864    
The Snacking Series features Pure Flavor’s exclusive line of bite-sized tomatoes designed with the consumer in mind. 
New Dippin' Stix Flavor – Celery Stix & Ranch Dip       
Reichel Foods – Booth 557       
Dippin’ Stix expands their vegetable and dip offerings with fresh-cut celery sticks and creamy ranch dip conveniently packaged for healthy snacking on the go.
FreshCooked   
Tiffany Gate Foods – Booth 228           
Hard to cook vegetables, grains and beans perfectly cooked and ready to use on salads, in soups, as sides or by themselves. Lineup includes quinoa, beets, yams and chickpeas.
Rebellion tomato         
Village Farms – Booth 1069      
Rebellion is a unique pack container four to six different tomato varieties each with a distinct shape in range of colors from red, orange, yellow, green and brown.
Wholesum Harvest Grilling Squash     
Wholesum Family Farms – Booth 454    
Wholesum Harvest Grilling Squash features yellow and a zucchini squash combo in self-sealing bags. The bags feature recipes and QR codes to the company grower video and bank of recipes. 
Eat Smart Kale & Red Chard Stir Fry Kit         
Apio –  Booth 1556                       
Eat Smart’s new Kale & Red Chard Stir Fry Kit is a unique twist on a traditional favorite offering on trend flavors with a gourmet taste. This restaurant-inspired kit includes broccoli florets, red chard, kale, snow peas, carrots and a stir fry sauce infused with soy, garlic and ginger.

New Product Award finalists will be displayed at the United Fresh Membership Booth, at United Fresh 2014 in Chicago. The winner in each category will be determined by total votes received as of 2 p.m. on June 12.

For more information about the New Product Awards competition contact John Toner, or visit United’s website.





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