United Fresh Names 49 Finalists for 2016 Produce Innovation Awards

United Fresh has a record 49 new products as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2016 Produce Innovation Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of Best New Product at United Fresh 2016, which will be held June 20-22 in Chicago, where attendees will be able to vote for those winners during the trade show.

“Once again, we have a record of 49 finalists (45 in 2015) for our Produce Innovation Awards—a clear indicator that the fresh produce industry maintains a healthy competitive edge pushing itself in new and creative ways,” says John Toner, United Fresh’s vice president of convention and industry relations. “We’re proud to showcase these innovative products at United Fresh 2016, which continues to be the industry’s home for innovation in fresh produce.”

“Innovative new products like these are an essential element of the success of the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, says Tom Stenzel, United Fresh’s president and CEO. “Produce Innovation starts at United Fresh and these finalists exemplify the ingenuity of our industry to remain on the front lines of creativity.”

The 2016 Produce Innovation Awards finalists are:

Best New Food Safety Solution

Interactive Handwashing Training LGMA Tech (a part of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement) (booth 2548): Hand washing is a critical food safety practice in the production of fresh produce crops. This Apple and Android app provides interactive training for workers on proper hand washing and glove usage. It is available in English and Spanish, free to download and can be delivered anywhere.

Lightning NFC In-Transit Temperature Monitoring System Cargo Data Corporation (booth 1446): Lightning NFC brings smart technology and transparency to in-transit temperature monitoring and arrival quality documentation. As soon as the Lightning NFC temperature recorder is retrieved by Receiver/Inspector, it’s held back to back to a smartphone or tablet for instant data transfer and viewing of the full temperature chart and details.

CloudSlot FarmLogix, LLC (booth 2460): CloudSlot maintains full chain of custody transparency for all participants in the supply chain with a low-cost FSMA-compliance tool for farmers, virtual slot segmentation for distributors and a by-farm online order entry system for customers. Unique SKU-mapping delivers metrics, both nationally and by location, by farm, product, spend and miles. 

GO XL LUX Locus Traxx Worldwide (booth 1614): The 60-day battery life of the GO XL Lux helps monitor the temperature and location of cargo as it travels across the world. This innovative technology senses light, alerts users when products are at risk on the road and records when doors are opened at the dock.

NatureSeal First Step 10 NatureSeal, Inc. (booth 1811): A produce wash comprised of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide for whole and cut fruits and vegetables. Co-developed with the USDA, this patent-pending, FDA-approved solution is an easy to handle alternative to chlorine. It is highly effective against pathogenic bacteria and OMRI listed for use on organic produce.

MyProduce.com RedLine Solutions (booth 2250): MyProduce.com is a web-based tool enabling grower-shippers to achieve supply chain visibility, while increasing productivity. Operated through intuitive multilingual interfaces, which support fast, error free data collection and real time knowledge of inventory volumes and locations. The system addresses labeling needs, manages packing operations and enables order validation.

Best New Fruit Product

Bing Crisp Bing Beverage Company (booth 1447): Made with both Bing Cherry and (three different types of) Apple juices, Crisp is the newest addition to the Bing lineup. Unique and refreshing Crisp is lightly carbonated and moderately caffeinated. Made with natural colors and flavors, 5 B-vitamins, and 100 percent vitamin C. The full lineup of Bing beverages are diabetic-friendly with low sugar and low calories.

Crunch Pak Blendz Crunch Pak (booth 1832): Crunch Pak Blendz is pure fruit puree packaged in a squeezable pouch featuring licensing from Disney, Marvel and Lucas films. The pouches are just fruit and vitamin C, and do not have added juices, concentrates or sugars.

Smuccies Sweet Strawberries Mucci Farms (booth 2232): Smuccies Sweet Strawberries are bursting with  strawberry flavor and are perfect as a sweet snack, in salads or smoothies. The treats are greenhouse grown in Canada.

Pro2 snax Reichel Foods (booth 2226): A combination of fresh sliced apples, nuts, dried fruit, cheese and proteins packaged in single-serve stay fresh trays. Six flavor combinations are available.

Garden Highway Tropical Juicing Kit with Ginger Renaissance Food Group (booth 1226): Garden Highway’s Tropical Juicing Kit is a combination of red and green apples, juicy pineapple, zesty lemon, and fresh ginger. The 15.75-ounce kit features premium labeling and juicing instructions, which suggest pairing with greens. This Kit is one of seven in a family of Garden Highway Juicing Kits.

Best New Packaging

Cherry Pop-Top Lid CMI (booth 1741): CMI’s Signature Sweet cherry pop-top lid offers retailers a unique way to market Red and Rainier cherries. To create an impactful display, simply pop the lid open and lock it in place to reveal sweet, juicy cherries inside. 

Good Foods Grab & Go Snack Packs Good Foods Group, LLC (booth 1653): Good Foods Grab & Go packs are made with simple, real ingredients (like fresh hand-scooped Hass avocados) and are high pressure processed (HPP) to capture flavor and maintain freshness. Four varieties are available: Chunky Guacamole, Avocado Tomatillo Salsa, Mild Salsa and Artichoke Jalapeno Dip. Conveniently packed in single-serve ergonomic cups: PET No. 1 for easy recyclability.

readyripe lite watermelon pouch Maglio Companies/The Fresh Group LTD (booth 1533): The readyripe lite watermelon pouch, based on the company's patented and award-winning technology and design, is made for the in-store production market. It offers five day shelf-life, enables the retailer to reduce production expense, provides the consumer greater flavor, quality and convenience, and increases the retailer’s profits, say company officials.

SUNSET Minzano Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET (booth 1626): SUNSET Minzano is a mini San Marzano, perfect for creating fresh and flavorful pasta sauce, and packed in a sleek resealable stand up bag.

CuteCumbers Reseal Flow Wrap Mucci Farms (booth 2232): This package features a clear, recyclable and stackable tray with resealable flow wrap. The package also features a fresh new look, with kid friendly graphics.

The TomBar & The TomBox NatureFresh Farms (booth 1238): The TomBar creates an interactive shopping experience for consumers who are looking to hand select their greenhouse grown tomatoes, say company officials. Made from 100 precent recycled paperboard, consumers hand pick and pack their tomatoes in to The TomBox.

Naturipe’s Compostable Organic Top Sealed Blueberries Naturipe Farms LLC (booth 1418) Naturipe’s molded, pulp fiber tray is top sealed, compostable, recyclable and made from renewable resources; aligning with Naturipe’s Cultivate with Care program and reinforcing the company's commitment to environmental stewardship. The natural color and feel of the sustainable material also helps retailers differentiate their organic displays and resonates with today’s organic shopper, company officials say.

Fruit Tubes by Buddy Fruits Buddy Fruits (booth 1442): Fruit Tubes by Buddy Fruits bring the tube packaging that revolutionized the kids’ yogurt category to produce, say company officials. The Fruit Tubes are filled with Buddy Fruits’ blended purees, and then sealed fresh in a shelf-stable and freezable tube.

Cloud 9–The Tomato You Can’t Resist! Pure Flavor (booth 1814): This package is an all compostable recyclable paper tray made from tomato plants, filled with the irresistible cherry tomato. 

elevAte Superfood Salads Ready Pac Foods (booth 1852): Made with nutrient-dense organic greens combined with ancient grains, plant-based proteins, nuts, legumes, seeds and antioxidant-rich berries—the eight varieties include Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA organic and certified gluten-free recipes.

Picnic Pak Grape Tomatoes Red Sun Farms (booth 2021): The Picnic Pack offers convenient family size serving. The company's grape tomatoes are perfect for summer picnics, barbeques, and family gatherings. In a 2-by-10-ounce portion; the two pack format allows for traditional family style portions or can be combined to accommodate large celebrations.

Sunkist 1 lb. Meyer Lemon Pouch Sunkist Growers (booth 1521): The convenient newly designed 1 lb. pouch bag features bright, colorful graphics, a handle for easy transport and a flat base that stands up in the refrigerator for easy access.

Frieda’s Adorable Kumquats Frieda’s Specialty Produce (booth 2214): Frieda’s introduced its 8-ounce Adorable Kumquats resealable stand-up pouch in February 2016, to join its lineup of new specialty citrus pouches (Meyer Lemons, Seedless Lemons and Pink Lemons). Frieda’s branded line stands out on the shelf with bold, playful copy, making it easy for retailers to add variety and interest to displays.

Best New Packing/Processing Equipment

Roller Wash Conveyor Palcon Systems, Inc (booth 2310): Used to convey and wash product being loaded in a low-care area and conveyed to a high-care area for further processing. Creates an even-flow product stream to a trim conveyor. Recirculates the wash water while filtering large contaminants. Gently rotates round products to ensure all surfaces are washed.

Internet Fresh-Cut Flowers Flowpack for Home Delivery PerfoTec BV (booth 2450): This new packaging technology is a breakthrough for the delivery of fresh-cut flowers through internet ordering, say company officials. The flowers remain fresh and hydrated inside a special flowpack, and they remain in sleep until the consumer opens the pack and puts them on the vase.

Model XY-RJ VFFS Bagger Triangle Package Machinery Company (booth 2611): Model XY-RJ is a vertical form fill seal (vffs) bagging machine designed to produce a wide variety of bag styles. With an easily rotatable sealing jaw, packagers can run pillow, 3-sided seal, gusseted and Doy bags. Optional Ultrasonic sealing provides additional benefits, such as improved production and product quality.

Automatic Spiralizer Mod. Streamer Turatti SrL(booth 2400): The innovative Mod. Streamer from Turatti transforms fruits and vegetables into exciting products that looks like the famous Italian "Spaghetti" or "Tagliatelle" without the calories, according to company officials. The system brings excitement to the vegetarian plate and thanks to its patented design can process automatically large quantities of fruits and vegetables, officials add.

Volmpack AutoPack Volm Companies, Inc. (booth 1619): The Volmpack Autopack is a fully automated solution for filling paper or mesh bags up to 100 pounds and as small as 10 pounds. The versatile combination machine automatically places the bags to fill, reducing the need for manual labor. One machine for bulk bagging and filling consumer packages.

Best New Vegetable Product

2-ct PERSONAL Spaghetti Squash Bay Baby Produce/AMF Farms (booth 1962): The vibrant yellow personal sized spaghetti squash in a 2-count bag can make a perfect meal in a bowl. The slightly sweet tender meat elevates the flavor in any dish. 

Crunchies Freeze Dried Beets Crunchies Natural Food Company (booth 1441): Crunchies Freeze Dried Beets are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. They are rich in flavor, vibrant in color and have a phenomenal crunch. 

Dole Chef’s Choice Caesar Salad Kit Dole Fresh Vegetables (booth 1800) Dole Chef's Choice Caesar Salad Kit combines fresh mini romaine with traditional toppings for a restaurant-quality salad. The kit includes two heads of romaine, Parmesan Cheese, croutons, Dole’s signature dressing and pepper. With the new Dole Salad Kit, it’s easy to create a grilled or chopped Caesar salad in minutes.

Dolce Mix Double Diamond Farms (booth 1650): The company is now offering a mix of red, yellow and orange sweet long peppers. Superbly sweet and colorful, the Dolce Mix is great for grilling, roasting, slicing for sauces or adding unbeatable flavor and color to any salad.

Sunflower Crisp Chopped Kit Fresh Express (booth 2026): The Sunflower Crisp Chopped Kit features dry roasted edamame, sunflower seeds and toasted quinoa provide 7-grams of protein to a mix of kale, romaine and cabbage. 

Wholly Guacamole Fresherized Foods (booth 1241): Wholly Guacamole has introduced three new products, which combine the classic taste of guacamole with a twist on flavor. From a kick of spicy, to a refreshing taste of lime, Wholly Guacamole is offering a new taste on guacamole.

Windy City Crunch Gotham Greens (booth 1541): Gotham Greens’ Windy City Crunch product is a lettuce variety with crunchy stems and tender leaves that are characterized by the crispness of the traditional Iceberg or Romaine but even more packed with flavor and nutrients. It holds the perfect amount of dressing. Harvested fresh daily from Gotham Greens’ Chicago greenhouse, this packaged salad is a true Chicago original.

Green Giant Fresh Vegetable Blends Green Giant Fresh (booth 1641): New Green Giant Fresh Vegetable Blends make quick, healthy meals a snap. Now available in three mixtures of premium, fresh vegetables: Asian, Italian and Southwest blends. The ultimate in versatility, these new Vegetable Blends offer an infinite number of quick and easy cooking and usage options with virtually no prep, say company officials.

Live Gourmet Living Baby Romaine Lettuce Hollandia Produce, L.P. (booth 1711): Young plant sweetness combined with the crunchy goodness of dark, vitamin-rich leaves is the secret to this variety. With no heart, there’s no bitterness, because it’s harvested with roots-on for longer lasting freshness. Plus, it’s portioned and priced perfectly for one- or two-servings, so there’s no waste.

2 pack tomatoes (Vine Ripe or Hothouse), 2-pk red peppers, 2-pk green peppers, and 2-pk red and yellow peppers Market Fresh Produce (booth 1862): The new line is a pre-portioned and overwrapped vegetable line with breathable film to preserve the quality and shelf life of the product. Each item includes its own individual tray with a recipe and nutrition facts.

Sunset Tomato of Yore Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET (booth 1626): The tomato is draped in red, ripened on the vine and bursting with fresh, classic flavor.

Roterno: Tomato on the Vine MightyVine (booth 1256): The Roterno variety is a high flavor slicing tomato that can be used for burgers, sandwiches and salads. It is a great cut-and-eat tomato, full of vibrant flavor, color and taste and is available all year long, say company officials.

Naked Leaf Living Lettuce and Herbs Mucci Farms (booth 2232): Naked Leaf Living Lettuce and Herbs is crisp, refreshing and alive. The company leaves the root on to maximize flavor and prolong shelf life. Grown in state of the art greenhouses, Naked Leaf Living Lettuce and Herbs are great for salads, soups, sauces and sandwiches.

OhioRed Tomatoes NatureFresh Farms (booth 1238): OhioRed Tomatoes are grown exclusively in Delta, Ohio. The new product is being grown year-round in Ohio for the first time ever in the new state-of-the-art greenhouse complex built by NatureFresh Farms. The product was 100 percent sold out before the first crop was picked and received rave reviews from customers.

NatureSweet Constellation NatureSweet LTD (booth 1209): New NatureSweet Constellation includes a colorful blend of premium NatureSweet tomatoes grown to meet the top four consumer usage occasions—salads, sandwiches, snacking and cooking. Constellation is available in both the retail and club channels, and comes in a resealable and 100-percent-recyclable package.

Living Lettuce Pure Flavor (booth 1814): Pure Flavor is setting foot into the living lettuce category with this all-new product, debuting in two varieties: Boston Green and Spring Mix. Everything from the lettuce to the growing medium is 100 percent compostable, while the innovative bouquet-shaped packaging is recyclable. Consumers can continue watering the lettuce to keep it fresh and nourished until it is consumed.

Ready Pac Bistro Salad Kits with Grilled Chicken Ready Pac Foods (booth 1852): Restaurant-quality salads packed with up to 30-grams of protein per bowl and serves four. It includes premium grilled white meat chicken strips, savory cheeses, creamy dressings and crunchy toppers over a bed of fresh greens.

Love Handles snacking bags Village Farms (booth 1838): There are five Village Farms Love Handles series snack bags. Each is packed with an exclusive Village Farms variety for convenience in  grab 'n go bags. 

OUTRAGEOUSLY FRESH Snacking Tomato Jar Bag The Oppenheimer Group (booth 1557): Greenhouse grown grape, cherry and mixed medley tomatoes packed in a unique "mason jar" bag. Ideal for kitchen counters and more, re-sealable OUTRAGEOUSLY FRESH jar bags deliver healthy snacking with grab-and-go convenience that's changing the greenhouse display. They come in 10.5-ounce by 12 per case, or in eye-catching shipper units.

The 2016 Produce Innovation Awards finalists will be displayed at the United Fresh Membership Booth, on the trade show floor at United Fresh 2016 in Chicago where attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite new and innovative products on Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday June 22. The winner in each category will be determined by total votes received as of 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. United Fresh will announce winners at the Membership Booth on Wednesday, June 22 at 3 p.m.