Companies plan special activities at PMA foodservice show

Three companies are each planning special events for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Foodservice Conference July 25-27 in Monterey, Calif.

Crunch Pak will feature peach mango flavored sliced apples. These are sliced apples dipped in a solution that infuses the apples with the aroma and taste of peaches and mangos. The company will offer the apples in a 1-pound bag to foodservice customers with several application options.

“Peach FlavorZ are excellent for foodservice operators looking for crunch and texture in salads as well as a fresh addition to beverages,” said Tony Freytag, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Crunch Pak will sample Peach FlavorZ at the Foodservice Fresh Produce Exposition on Sunday, July 27 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in booth #115.

Ocean Mist Farms will host a daylong field and operation tour July 25. The tour will showcase Brussels sprouts, one of the fastest growing cooking vegetable items at retail and on restaurant menus. The tour will start at an Ocean Mist Farm ranch in Castroville, Calif., and continue on to the company’s cooling facilities followed by a visit to the corporate kitchen where Chef Tony Baker will demonstrate multiple applications for fresh Brussels sprouts and serve his popular Roasted Brussels sprout entree.

Baker will also be featured on Saturday, July 26, as part of the chef demo challenge where participating chefs compete to create healthy menu items and compete to win the “half the plate” challenge. A previous winner of the chef competition, this year Baker will make Citrus Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Grilled Florida Shrimp and Lemon-Fennel Vinaigrette.

On Sunday, July 27, Ocean Mist Farms will exhibit its full line of fresh vegetable items in booth #147 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the show floor.

Mann Packing will debut its varietal lettuce testing at the show, present research data and introduce two new lettuce varieties.

Earlier this year, Mann commissioned a study through Technomic, an independent research company, to better understand consumer preference trends in fresh lettuce served at restaurants. The company will share some of the results of the study at the foodservice conference and give foodservice operators a chance to sample all of the lettuces the company grows and sells including Better Burger Leaf, Arcadian Harvest Classic, Arcadian Harvest Emerald and Arcadian Harvest Ruby Blend.

In addition, Mann Packing is introducing two new gourmet whole head lettuces, one of which is a first variety for the foodservice market.

“What we learned from consumers about lettuce is revolutionary and we look forward to gathering information from the conference attendees as well,” said Gina Nucci, director of healthy culinary innovation. “Mann is the new lettuce expert; we have a lettuce product for every foodservice application need and we look forward to showcasing the full line at the Expo and as part of our field tours.”

In addition to the lettuce tasting, Mann will be serving an herbaceous steak salad made with Arcadian Harvest Ruby Blend lettuce in its booth (#139); the recipe has also been entered into the PMA’s Sensory Experience recipe contest.