Dole Adds Country Ranch Offering to Line of Salad Kits

Dole has introduced its Country Ranch Salad Kit, which is an extension of its Premium Salad Kits that combines indulgent new ingredients and toppings with the overwhelming public demand for ranch dressing, say company officials. 

The exclusive recipe blends savory cornbread croutons and artisan-cut white cheddar cheese with nutrition provided by crisp Romaine lettuce, crunchy carrots, red cabbage and roasted sunflower seeds, and then tops it with Dole’s Country Ranch Dressing made with real buttermilk. The kit will start shipping to retailers nationwide on June 14 with nationwide retail availability expected by August 2016, for a suggested retail price of $3.99. 

According to CarrieAnn Arias, vice president of marketing for Dole Fresh Vegetables, the kit offers a new twist on the traditional ranch salad. “Up until now, there haven’t been many kit options available for salad lovers to satisfy their craving for ranch dressing," Arias says. "Our new Dole Country Ranch Salad Kit delivers an exclusive new combination of indulgent tastes, textures, toppings and ingredients, plus added nutrition from fresh vegetables and an unmistakable buttermilk ranch flavor payoff. The result is taking one of America’s favorites to a whole new level.”

The kit is a good source of vitamin C and manganese, and an excellent source of folate, and vitamins A and K, officials add. Arias says it received high marks during extensive taste tests with salad and salad kit lovers, who said they preferred Dole’s Country Ranch Dressing made with real buttermilk to sour cream-based and other ranch dressing options.

Offering salad lovers everything they need to toss and enjoy a complete salad, the Dold Country Ranch Salad Kit was created for lunch and dinner occasions, either as a side salad or a main dish or entrée with the addition of protein. It is packaged in the same easy-open design Dole Salad bags which offer product benefits, nutrition and other information, and joins nine other Dold Salad Kits.