United Fresh selects Innovation Award winners

Seven Produce Innovation Award winners were recognized June 27 at United Fresh 2018. This year’s honorees were selected by show attendees from a total of 36 contestants across seven categories: Best New Food Safety Solution; Best New Fruit Product; Best New Packaging; Best New Packing/Processing Equipment; Best New Vegetable Product; and two new categories for 2018: Best New Indoor Growing Technology and Best New Field Technology.

The winners are:

Best New Food Safety Solution: Nature’s Frequencies, Industrial Size Food Freshness Card

Best New Fruit Product: Apeel Sciences, Apeel

Best New Packaging: Mucci Farms, CuteCumber Poppers

Best New Packing/Processing Equipment: Volm Companies, Volmpack Pouch Bagger

Best New Vegetable Product: Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET, SUNSET Aloha peppers

Best New Indoor Growing Technology: IUNU, Luna

Best New Field Technology: Food Origins, Food Origins Data Collection Platform

“This year’s Innovation Awards winners won from a field of excellent and qualified competitors,” said United Fresh’s Vice President of Convention and Industry Collaboration John Toner. “The exceptional creativity of these seven winners helped them stand out at United Fresh 2018, the home of fresh produce innovation.”

“Innovation starts at United Fresh,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh’s president and CEO. “The innovation of our member companies shape the entire produce industry and show attendees have the unique opportunity to see that ingenuity up close at United Fresh. Congratulations to this year’s winners and thank you to all participants for showcasing your creativity.”