LAS VEGAS — The Packer news-editorial staff members Tom Karst, Dan Galbraith, Ashley Bentley and Dawn Withers compiled these news briefs April 21-22 from the show floor at United Fresh 2010:
Andrew & Williamson
Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, San Diego, Calif., carries cucumbers in packs of threes in new plastic bags for retail, said Tom Lyons, director of global sales. The company is launching the product at Costco locations in Mexico in May, Lyons said. The cucumbers, grown in Mexico, are priced from $1.79-$1.99.
Apio
Apio Inc., Guadalupe, Calif., is conducting three-month trials for a consumer version of its commercial plastic packaging with a special membrane designed to extend shelf life and ripening conditions, said Cali Tanguay, director of Apio technology and business development.
The zipper style plastic bag will help extend produce freshness by up to 50%, Tanguay said. Depending on test marketing results goes the plastic bags would be sold at grocery stores.
C.H. Robinson
Company representatives of Eden Prairie, Minn.-based C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. and Rosemont Farms Corp., Boca Raton, Fla., handed out fruit kabobs at the convention and exposition to promote its new Tropicana Tropicals line of products.
Tropicana Tropicals includes limes from Mexico; mangoes from Mexico, Central America and South America; pineapples from Mexico, Central America and South America; and kiwifruit from the U.S., Chile, Italy and New Zealand.
Among the benefits of the brand: quality consistency, enhanced product traceability through co-packer identification codes on every package, and a toll-free number for consumer feedback, said Paul Klutes, director, brand sales, for C.H. Robinson.
Calavo Growers
Calavo Growers Inc., Santa Paula, Calif., is promoting avocados for May and Cinco de Mayo through a partnership with California-brand cheese, said Mike Angelo, director of fresh sales. The promotion gives consumers 55 cents off California-brand cheese with a purchase of a bag of Calavo avocados, Angelo said.
Cenergy
Cenergy Power, a solar energy company, exhibited for the first time at United Fresh, said Chad Chahbazi, lead project developer for the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company.
“Solar energy is a viable way to reduce operational costs and we are already doing cold storage work for (Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc.),” he said.
The company helps its ag value chain customers realize savings by locking in incentives for them, designing customized solar energy systems and installing, monitoring and supporting those systems, Chahbazi said.
Charlie’s Machine & Supply
Boulder, Colo.-based Charlie’s Machine & Supply Inc. launched several new products designed to trim labor costs.
The company’s new product mix included a dual blade carousel slicer for fresh fruits and vegetables, a carrot and cucumber peeler that can cut preparation time by up to 85%, and an orange ring cutter, said Charlie Boggs, owner.
Many of the company’s offerings are simple and available at low costs. For instance, the peeler has a list price of $260 and the orange ring cutter sells for $89.
Chiquita
Chiquita Brands International, Cincinnati, will have two new seasonal blends in its line of artesianal salads in June, said Robert Stallman, director of marketing and business management for retail salads. The salads are also packed in bags that use 90% less plastic than clamshells and 50% less than plastic salad bags.
Church Bros.
Church Bros. LLC, Salinas, Calif., has new “Teen Green” whole lettuce leaves designed to fit sandwiches, burgers and other deli items, said Ernst Van Eeghen, director of marketing and product development.
The leaves come triple-washed in 2-pound bags for foodservice. The company plans to add two processing lines to its San Juan Bautista, Calif., facility this summer, doubling processing volume, Van Eeghen said.
Colorful Harvest
Colorful Harvest, Salinas, Calif., debuted its snack pack line of its rainbow carrots for institutional and retail consumers, said Doug Ranno, chief operating officer and managing partner. Though still in development, the snack carrots will come in 96-count for larger institutional customers including schools, and two or three packs for retail, Ranno said.
Crunch Pak
New variations of the Crunch Pak Apple Snacker line were rolled out at expo by the Cashmere, Wash.-based fresh-cut apple marketer.
Six new offerings were unveiled at the Las Vegas show, adding to the three Apple Snacker packs already available.
Tony Freytag, marketing director for Crunch Pak, Cashmere, Wash., said the Apple Snacker pack, with a weight of about 5 ounces, is an outgrowth of the popular Foodles snack pack.
“Foodles have been very popular and we’re moving significant amounts to convenience stores,” he said.
Adding to the momentum of the Foodles, Apple Snackers feature combinations of apple slices with cheese, caramel, grapes, granola and pretzels.
The company also resized its “Grab and Go” cups of apples for a retail price of $1.99-2.29, which is also the suggested price range of the Snackers line.
Daumar Corp.
Miami-based Daumar Corp. at the United Fresh convention introduced a new design for its automatic wicket bagger. The CB-34 V.2 offers faster, more reliable bagging capability (up to 30 bags a minute) and contains fewer moving parts for easier upkeep, said Trey Cady, technical director.
Additionally, within months, Daumar plans to introduce a new economical pack, soft-net bag with a film handle, that seals with heat instead of staples, to enhance food safety for commodities such as citrus, onions and potatoes.
Del Monte Fresh
Del Monte Fresh Produce NA, Coral Gables, Fla., plans to offer a Del Monte Gold Extra Sweet pineapple cylinder in a flexible resealable pouch later this year nationally, said Dennis Christou, vice president of marketing.
Edible Software
Launched in January, Houston-based Edible Software’s Edible PAL (Pick and Load) product allows personnel in produce warehouses to verify products and quantities to make loading and inventory easier, said Henri Morris, president.
The company’s Edible Software delivers instant traceability in an additional interface.
Eurofresh Farms
Mark Cassius, vice president of sales for Willcox, Ariz.-based Eurofresh Farms, showed off the company’s new vegetable packs. The packs, based on the company’s new “Fresh Idea” approach, feature usage information and photos of children popping the vegetables into their mouths.
The company displayed checkered boxes it plans to use in conjunction with a summer Campari tomato picnic promotion and introduced a new tray pack of miniature cucumbers, Cassius said.
FoodLink Online
Torrance, Calif.-based FoodLink Online discussed the Hot Buys Marketplace, a tool offering benefits for both suppliers and buyers that is just about ready to launch.
Billed as a unique, online marketplace for perishable items such as fresh produce, Hot Buys allows sellers to unload excess or quick-to-expire items and buyers the chance to access competitive prices in real time.
“What we offer is an order management system and inventory management system that eliminates invoice discrepancies and is a platform designed specifically for produce and perishables,” said Ryan Schneider, vice president of sales and marketing.
FoodLink Online’s customer base includes buyers Ahold, Supervalu and U.S. Foodservice, and suppliers Dole, Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., A. Duda & Sons, Ocean Mist Farms, Sunkist Growers Inc. and logistics company C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., according to a company news release.
FoodLogiQ
Durham, N.C.-based FoodLogiQ, introduced a traceability and mobile messaging software service for on-demand traceability, audit and lab testing, supplier verification and quality management, said Kerry Farrell, vice president of sales.
GlobalGAP
GlobalGAP, Cologne, Germany, the global standards organization, is planning on opening a U.S. office in Bethesda, Md., this summer, said Kristian Moeller, managing director for GlobalGAP. Moeller said GlobalGAP is involved in the North American effort for harmonization of good agricultural practices.
“We have been active doing North American national interpretation for GlobalGAP,” he said.
HarvestMark
HarvestMark offered an updated white paper on its VoiceCode software. VoiceCode is the designed to help receivers meet milestone seven of the Produce Traceability Initiative.
VoiceCode allows cases to be selected in distribution centers without the need for scanning. It is being offered free of charge to the trade, said Elliot Grant, founder and chief marketing officer for Redwood City, Calif.-based YottaMark, creator of the HarvestMark traceability system.
Idaho Technology
Salt Lake City-based Idaho Technology Inc. showcased its R.A.P.I.D. LT Food Security System, offering pathogen detection in a matter of hours.
It is part of the company’s Industrial Product Security Line, said Tiffany Colton, product marketing manager of food security.
IFCO
IFCO Systems NA, Houston, announced the installation of continuous water recycling equipment at the firm’s Atlanta, Ga., service center.
The new equipment is projected to reduce the facility’s use of water by 75% — 12 million gallons annually, the company said in a news release. The Atlanta facility is one of IFCO’s four reusable plastic container service centers. The equipment is scheduled to be installed at IFCO’s other three service centers in the next 12 months.
Key Technology
Key Technology’s Oncore system was a finalist for the United Fresh 2010 New Product Awards.
The system, part of its Optyx machine, removes foreign material and lettuce cores from pre-cut lettuce through the use of weight sensors, lasers and cameras.
“You save money because there’s not labor involved in coring,” said Bret Larreau, product marketing manager for optical systems. “Instead of pre-coring, you take the whole head plus the core and put it through. This separates the core at a later stage.”
Kwik Lok
Representatives from Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok Corp. talked to potential customers about packaging designed to enhance field traceability.
The company’s new bag closing tags can come printed with information to ensure traceback, including packing crew information, Global Trade Item Numbers and 2-D bar codes, said Bill Klancke, western division sales manager.
The company’s automated bag closing system can switch from regular closures to closure labels that can be geared to specific promotions.
Megaplast
Heraklion, Greece-based Megaplast SA introduced its AirOFilm stretch film with ventilation as a cost-saving replacement for corner boards and strapping on a pallet.
At the time, AirOFilm was double the price of regular stretch films. The AirOFilm line’s cost is closer to traditional stretch films.
“We’re hoping this is really going to change things,” said Marc Garibaldi, U.S. sales manager. “This is our first product to be at that low, competitive price.”
The company researched the properties of AirOFilm Flex for two years, Garibaldi said. The film looks like a standard stretch film that has identical holes punched throughout it. The film is 40% holes, Garibaldi said.
“This can wrap a pallet for seven ounces,” Garibaldi said. “With perishables, you can’t use solid films because they need to breathe.”
Mexican Pineapple Board
The Mexican Pineapple Board is turning its focus toward the U.S.
In response to a demand from the U.S., the board is promoting its product in the U.S. for the first time, said Pablo Jiménez, exports manager.
“Fresh consumption is growing fast,” Jiménez said. “People are switching to fresh.”
Consumption is growing even more quickly in Europe than the U.S., he said.
The board, which represents about 3,000 growers, has opened offices and distribution facilities in McAllen, Texas, and San Antonio. Mexican pineapples can be in the U.S. within three days of harvest, Jiménez said.
Mission Produce
Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., is collaborating with chef Rick Bayless, owner of Frontera Grill, to create a new guacamole mix sold under the Frontera brand, said Dave Austin, director of marketing at Mission.
It is a liquid mix with a tomatillo and green tomato base that’s added to fresh avocados to make guacamole mix, Austin said. The product has been available about a month nationwide and Austin said it will be in nearly all major supermarket chains within a year.
N2N Global
Longwood, Fla.-based N2N Global is promoting the firm’s open source software designed to help companies meet milestone seven of the Produce Traceability Initiative.
A white paper addressing the firm’s Voice Pick Code system is available by e-mail request at us@n2ngloba.com, said Angela Paymard, chairwoman of N2N Global.
“I think the most important thing for people to know is that there are open source solutions out there,” she said.
Naturipe Farms
On-pack cross-promotions are part of the 2010 marketing plan for Naples, Fla.-based Naturipe Farms, said Robin Doran, director of communications.
Using 75-cents-off coupons, Naturipe has already partnered with companies such as Rubbermaid, Dannon and Marzetti Co. this year and plans to unveil similar promotions with Ziploc and Bisquick later this year, Doran said.
Pandol Bros.
Delano, Calif.-based Pandol Bros. plans a May launch of a patented Quick Rinse Cube that could revolutionize grape packaging.
Tristan Kieva, director of business development and marketing, explained the product to retailers on the expo floor, although it’s so new, a sample wasn’t available at the Las Vegas show.
“We were originally just going to call it ‘The Cube,’ but we really wanted to stress the value-added aspect of it,” said Kieva, who said the product will pilot test with a single retailer in the west and one in the east.
“It’s a grab-and-go convenience clamshell-type package that we think will be an exciting option for grapes, allowing consumers to simply rinse, shake and serve the grapes,” she said.
Kieva said detailed information about the Quick Rinse Cube will be available in May or June, after the company officially launches it on a large scale.
Primary Package
Primary Package has nailed down a company to make its biodegradable punnet machine.
The Visalia, Calif.-based company introduced its line of paper punnets at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in Anaheim, Calif., last October. At the time, it had the product design, but had not yet acquired a machine that could make the punnets.
Sacmi USA Group, a Des Moines, Iowa-based packaging and equipment company, has signed a deal with Primary Package to build the machine.
Since it introduced the punnets, which are more popular in Europe than in the U.S. at this point, it has started working with customers for asparagus, grapes and stone fruit, said Scott Cernosek, president of Primary Package.
With the punnets, which are wrapped in Flowpack films, shippers can display high-graphic messages and logos on each side of the product, something that doesn’t work with clamshells, Cernosek said.
“We’ve been working on this for a long time, but it’s been coming together in pieces,” he said.
Purfresh
Fremont, Calif.-based Purfresh hopes to take traceability to a higher level with its update of Intellipur, including enhanced tracking, additional alerts and the concept of “intelligent traceability.”
The upgrades include geo-fencing — imaginary borders around specific locations — allowing users to find out when a shipment has arrived or left a specific location, said Andy Smith, vice president of products.
Intellipur offers real-time monitoring of containers, notifying users about power-offs/outages, open doors and communication glitches.
This can help users become more active in assuring produce reaches its destination with the proper shelf life, and, if something goes awry, alert them they might want to adjust freshness dates.
Ready Pac
Ready Pac Produce Inc., Irwindale, Calif., is expanding its line of Bistro Bowls with two new blends for summer, said Ali Leon, senior director of strategic business development. The new blends are barbecue ranch style dressing salad with chicken, spicy cheese, on romaine, and cherry almond salad with dried cherries, feta and almonds over parisenne lettuce.
Ready Pac is also offering yogurt parfaits under its Ready Snax brand in five varieties in June. Those varieties include pineapple, apple mango, apple granola, mango granola, and blueberry granola.
RedLine Solutions
Newly updated traceability technology from RedLine Solutions, Santa Clara, Calif., allows customers to sign up for alerts by cell phone and/or e-mail, and the information transmitted through the alerts may be segmented for customized privacy on a case-by-case basis, said Todd Baggett, chief executive officer.
Rocket Farms
Salinas, Calif.-based Rocket Farms’ line of living organic herbs has been redesigned and with more varieties available, said Clint Bishop, sales and marketing.
The basil, parsley, mint, sage, thyme, rosemary, and oregano packs have a suggested retail price of $2.50-2.99 and are sold in potted soil that extends freshness and shelf life.
Rocket Farms is launching a product called Simply Salad, which comes in different organic varieties and is also sold in pots with soil at retail stores, Bishop said.
Tracegains
Tracegains is emphasizing its ability to analyze traceability data to help companies make profitable business decisions, said Marc Simony, director of marketing for Tracegains, Longmont, Colo., Simony said the data from traceability can help identify what suppliers are creating the most yield, customer satisfaction and profitability.
World Variety Produce
World Variety Produce, Los Angeles, under its Melissa’s brand is offering herbs from France for retail customers, said Robert Schueller, director of public relations. The fresh herb varieties include thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, and are available now, Schueller said.
Yucatan Foods
Los Angeles-based Yucatan Foods announced the hire of sales and marketing coordinator Jessica Brown, a 2009 business and marketing graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Zumasys
Zumasys, Irvine, Calif., to potential customers how it can help fresh produce companies in disaster recovery situations, as well as helping to prevent potential information technology disasters from happening to produce companies.
Zumasys’ expertise as an information host could allow produce companies to reduce or eliminate IT department functions, said Paul Giobbi, president.
“It’s smart to move your systems to a centralized data center and outsource your IT because you can have remote access to everything and the data center is as secure as you can get. It’s bulletproof.”