Fresh produce companies introducing broccoli chips in schools
Vegetables by Bayer and DNO Produce are partnering to promote healthy eating habits among school-aged children by introducing a new broccoli chip product.
The collaboration also aims to aid processors and consumers while creating new market opportunities for growers, according to a news release.
“It’s incredibly exciting to bring a new snacking vegetable to consumers that truly has it all — sweet-tasting flavor, snackable crunch and responsible roots. This is the kind of innovation that gets people excited about eating more vegetables,” Jenny Maloney, Bayer Vegetable Seeds director of industry relations, said in the release. “We are collaborating with DNO Produce to provide nutritious snacks to schoolchildren, making healthy habits more accessible for every student.”
Columbus, Ohio-based DNO Produce is the exclusive provider of FRESHEALTH fresh-cut produce. Founded in 1989, DNO provides ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables in 17 states.
The research and development team at Seminis, a brand of Vegetables by Bayer, produced long-stem High Rise broccoli series featuring tall stems, uniform heads and few large leaves. The stems are processed by FRESHEALTH to create ready-to-eat products for K–12 schools.
The chips have received a positive reception in early in-school pilots, according to the release.
“There’s no better place to launch a new vegetable variety than in a school cafeteria. Kids are honest, adventurous eaters and their feedback is second to none,” Alex DiNovo, DNO Produce president, said. “Our mission has always been to increase access, exposure, education and excitement around fresh fruits and vegetables. We know the green vegetable subgroup can be one of the hardest to fill, and these broccoli chips help create a crunchy, creative, compliant option for school foodservice operators.”
The stems can be used processed into chips or other shapes or rice and noodles or used in slaw and other dishes, according to the companies. With harvest and supply timing still being finalized, details are the product release are still being finalized, according to the release.
