46 finalists demonstrate Innovation in Fresh Produce

United Fresh?this week announces 46 new products as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association?s 2017 Innovation Awards. This year?s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of Best New Product at United Fresh 2017, June 13-15 in Chicago, where attendees will be able to vote for those winners during the trade show. ?Once again, we have 46 finalists for our United Fresh Innovation Awards ? a clear indicator that the fresh produce industry maintains a healthy competitive edge, pushing itself in new and creative ways,? said John Toner, United Fresh?s Vice President of Convention & Industry Collaboration. ?We?re proud to showcase these innovative products at United Fresh 2017, 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,? said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh?s President & CEO. ?Innovation starts at United Fresh and these finalists exemplify the ingenuity of our industry to remain on the front lines of creativity.? The 2017 United Fresh Innovation Awards finalists: Best New Food Safety Solution Edipeel?by?Apeel?SciencesApeel Sciences ? Booth #FTZ3Made from edible plant extracts, Edipeel? allows organic and conventional growers to protect produce with an ultra-thin, invisible barrier, preventing oxidation and water loss ? keeping fruit fresher longer and reducing reliance on pesticides. Apeel's solutions are recognized by the FDA as safe to eat and are approved for use on organics. Arizona LGMA Metrics 101Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement ? Booth #3948 After pioneering a comprehensive food safety training program for the leafy greens industry, Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement and Food Safety Committee has continued to fill voids in education. The most recent manifestation of this is ?Arizona LGMA Metrics 101,? an online, free, interactive training that focuses on ?The Metrics?. FlashLink BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) Wireless SolutionDeltaTrak, Inc. ? Booth #3827 Continuously track temperature, humidity and location in cold storage facilities, and monitor precoolers for maximum efficiency of pallet throughput. View data with a smart phone from 100 feet away without opening doors. No PC, software, infrastructure or equipment needed. Information is archived in the cloud for Food Safety and HACCP programs. FoamClean 317-SPMadison Chemical Co., Inc. ? Booth #4046 FoamClean 317-SP is an alkaline one-step product for removal of oxalate films without the need for acid. It comes in the convenience of a foaming application to reach any area. The thick foam will cling to surfaces, while the low surface tension and proprietary blend penetrate and remove the film. Food Freshness CardNature?s Frequencies ? Booth #4436 The Food Freshness Card? is laboratory and commercially tested to keep fruits, vegetables and breads fresher longer. Naturally extend the freshness and life of your produce and flowers with this new easy to use award winning technology. We guarantee to reduce shrink and spoilage in your supermarket and commercial facility. ? ScanX Technologies Real Time Pathogen and Pesticide Detection InstrumentationScanX Technologies, Inc ? Booth #FTZ18 ScanX?s proprietary spectral fingerprinting technology enables real time testing for pathogens and contaminants, on more targets with less expensive equipment.?By increasing the speed, scope, and simplicity of food testing, ScanX will reduce food bone illness, reduce food waste, protect users brands, and improve the efficiency of perishable supply chains. TracMap Spray Management SystemTracMap ? Booth # FTZ9 A job management system for tractor sprayers that solves the hidden problem of missed rows, wrong rows, double spray and incorrect spray diary records. The result is safer high quality food with reduced risk of product residue, and more production for less cost. ? Best New Fruit Product Crunch Pak Apple RingsCrunch Pak ? Booth #3723 To continue providing convenient, healthy options for the consumer, Crunch Pak has released a new wholesome snack - Apple Rings. Ready-to-eat and perfect for recipes, Apple Rings give people a chance to get creative with their recipes and snacking options. A variety of options - from sweet, tart, and a mixed! YES!BERRIES Your Everyday Snack!?Del Fresco Produce ? Booth #2447 Jam packed full of vitamin C these outrageously sweet strawberries are greenhouse grown in Canada. DelFrescoPure? YES!BERRIES Your Everyday Snack!? are picked at the peak of perfection and crammed full of flavor in every berry bite.? Simply add to your much-loved breakfast smoothie, dessert or salad. Best of all they are delicious on their own! Del Monte? Smoothie KitDel Monte Fresh Produce, N.A., Inc. ? Booth #2211 Del Monte?s new Smoothie Kit line is 100% fresh, healthy, and convenient. With more consumers trying to eat better, these kits give your customers an easy and fun way to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption. All of our kits are ready to blend; simply add liquid and ice! Sonatural Juices - GINGER UP rangeGL, SA ? Booth #2335 Ginger up your life, be healthy and enjoy! Taste the best Fruits and Vegetables from the Mediterranean mixed with all the benefits of Ginger. Whether you need energy for the day or you need to chill out, Ginger UP is the solution! For more info: info@sonaturaljuices.com; www.glsa.pt. Naturipe SnacksNaturipe Farms, LLC ? Booth #3415 Healthy and convenient Naturipe Snacks pair fresh sweet berries and grapes with creamy cheese and crunchy nuts in a variety of tastefully curated flavor combinations ranging from sweet to savory, mild to spicy. 5 River IslandsTM CherriesStemilt Growers, LLC ? Booth #2429 5 River Islands? hand-picked cherries from Stemilt share the unique California Delta region and why it is a world renowned place to farm fresh produce, including sweet Stemilt cherries. Telling the story of the locale with shoppers entices them to act on impulse purchases and drives sales of high-ring cherries. ? Best New Packaging Eat Smart Salad Shake UpsApio, Inc. ? Booth #3051 Eat Smart? Salad Shake Ups? NEW single-serve salad kits come with an interior tray that serves as a lockable lid making it conveniently easy to mix the toppings and dressing.? Mini Mixers? Gourmet Snacking TomatoesDel Fresco Produce ? Booth #2447 Our Mini Mixers? stems from an all in one approach to flavor, texture, and variety. Keeping your taste buds in suspense with every bite, these gourmet snacking tomatoes are a truly unique experience. DelFrescoPure? invites you to explore our new top seal packaging with extra security features. Tamper proof technology gives peace of mind to retailers and consumers. Dole GO Berries! TMDole Food Company ? Booth #2223 Dole GO Berries!TM lets berries go where you go. Fun 3-packs deliver snap, rinse and go convenience of perfect snack portions of berries anytime, anywhere. Increased airflow around berries aids cooling and improves freshness. Made with 70% recycled PET without adhesive labels, offering better recyclability. Sleeve is Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified. Pete's Living Greens Living StripsHollandia Produce L. P. (Pete?s Living Greens) ? Booth #2531 The revolutionary Home Harvest Pack from Pete?s Living Greens in a premium, patent-pending container for housing living salad strips, ensuring freshness, quality and taste for 18 days.? Its key feature is an innovative root compartment that keeps roots contained and countertops clean while consumers harvest their salad at home. ? ?? SUNSET? Minzano? Pasta KitMastronardi Produce/SUNSET ? Booth #3018 Beat the mid-week blues with SUNSET?s all-new Minzano? Pasta Kit, a convenient pack that contains everything you need for a fresh and flavorful 15-minute pasta dinner. The kit combines SUNSET?s fresh Minzano? saucing tomatoes with perfectly portioned pasta and expertly mixed seasonings, hand-selected by Roger Mooking. It?s convenience without the guilt, and it?s only 15 minutes away. Veggies to GoMucci Farms/Mucci International Marketing Inc. ? Booth #3423 Now kids can enjoy their favorite veggies in 1 convenient package! Featuring our new EZsnap top seal packaging, they're perfect for lunches and on-the-go snacking. Comes in 3 tasty varieties. brighthouse organicsTM Vine Ripened TomatoesNS Brands, LTD ? Booth #3652 Introducing New Brighthouse Organics Vine Ripened Tomatoes. Our transparent recycled (and recyclable) packaging protects tomatoes in transport and in-store and helps extend freshness at home.? We merge the best of traditional farming with the latest greenhouse technology to yield simply better tomatoes. Brighthouse Organics - a brighter way to grow! Mini MunchiesPure Flavor ? Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. ? Booth #2611 Mini Munchies are the perfect addition to any kid's lunch or on-the-go snack. It's the perfect mix of Pure Flavor?'s classic, juicy Juno Bites? grape tomatoes, sweet Aurora Bites? mini peppers and cool Poco Bites? cocktail cucumbers. Heavenly Villagio Marzano 5oz ready-to-eat snack bagVillage Farms ? Booth #3251 Heavenly Villago Marzano is an exclusive variety to Village Farm.? This authentic mini san marzano tomato is now being offered in a wonderful snack size 5oz grab-and-go bag.? Item is washed and ready to eat which makes smart snacking more accessible to health conscious consumers. Take Two!Wish Farms ? Booth #2253 This attention-grabbing design stands out from traditional strawberry packaging. Encouraging consumers to buy more, there will be a natural gravitation toward its eye-catching graphics and convenient, sturdy handle. The marketing and promotional possibilities are endless and its versatility allows retailers to easily convert to 1lb units, if desired. ? Best New Packing/Processing Equipment? VeTrac e-Drive Planting / Harvesting RigBrimaPack BV?? Booth #4043 The VeTrac is a self-propelled, electro driven, caterpillar tracked rig. This multifunctional platform can carry and support harvesting, packing, bundling or planting equipment for a wide range of vegetables, salads and herbs. The innovative e-Drive system delivers very low fuel consumption, low noise emission and is uniquely precise on driveability. FTNON CoreTakrFTNON USA, Inc. ? Booth #4215 Robotic de-coring for iceberg lettuce. This innovation combines intelligent gripper technology with the?latest robotic techniques, advanced data management and 3D cameras. This combination results in high productivity and efficiency. It de-cores up to 1,800 heads/h, with a yield up to 96%. The CoreTakr is designed to stringent hygienic standards. Full HarvestFull Harvest ? Booth #FTZ15 B2B online platform connecting farms to food & beverage?businesses to sell discounted surplus and imperfectly shaped produce that would have otherwise gone to waste.?Our mission is to eliminate food waste at the farm level, while bringing additional revenue to farmers and lowering the cost of healthy food production. AW-5600FXNew Brunswick International ? Booth #3726 The AW-5600FX from NBI Digi is our latest integrated weigh-wrap-labeler.?It is designed to wrap?fragile trays, irregular shapes, and will even wrap items with no tray at all.?Targeted for use in produce, cheese, and seafood departments, the Digi AW-5600FX packs efficiency and ease of use into its small footprint. Self Propelled Water Jet Automated Harvesting MachineRamsay Highlander, Inc. ? Booth #4043 All stainless steel self propelled automated harvesting machine using ultra high pressure water jets (water knifes) to cut lettuce at the ground. So there is no need for workers on the ground performing step over labor. This machine reduces the labor required to harvest lettuce in the field by more than 20 people. Automatic Spin Dryer Mod. Vortex?Turatti Srl ? Booth #4411 The new model Vortex? from Turatti, is a fully automatic spin dyer combining high capacity de-watering with gentle handling of the product. The system features an innovative patented basket with revolutionary external fins to enhance water evacuation even at very low rotations. Vortex? is coming in different configurations and sizes. ? Best New Vegetable Product? The Garden PackAMCO Produce ? Booth # 2431 AMCO Produce is introducing The Garden Pack, a new line of veggie kits with mini cucumbers, mini sweet peppers, and grape tomatoes. This would be a good solution for salad or veggie lovers, who want the convenience of a kit. The Garden Pack comes handy for lunch and dinner occasions. Eat Smart Vegetable Salad KitsApio, Inc. ? Booth #3051 Eat Smart is the first brand in the non-organic salad kit and tray category to commit to clean ingredients and labeling, with plans for all products to contain a "100% Clean Label" by 2018. Products will be free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated fats, and artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners. Dole Chopped Caesar Salad KitDole Food Company ? Booth #2223 Dole Chopped Caesar Salad Kit brings together a winning product combination -- Caesar and Chopped!? This product delivers layers of craveable crunch and flavor that define Dole's leading Chopped Salads. It features Crispy Quinoa, Crumbled Garlic Bread Croutons, Black Pepper, Parmesan Cheese, Romaine and Dole's Signature Caesar Dressing. Sonatural Juices - ONE WEEK GREENGL, SA ? Booth #2335 Feel better every day! One Green Shot per day will help you to get the benefits of the vegetables in a very easy way. Avocado is a good protein source, beet has anti-inflammatory properties and cucumber & celery with all their benefits are low in calories. For more info: info@sonaturaljuices.com; www.glsa.pt. Ugly GreensGotham Greens ? Booth #2824 By growing locally and year-round in NYC and Chicago, Gotham Greens significantly reduces the food waste that results from long-distance transportation. But sometimes, even their highly-pampered greens get blemished during harvesting and packaging. Gotham Greens is diverting food waste by selling these local greens at a discount to local retailers. Green Giant ? Fresh Vegetable Noodle LineGrowers Express/Green Giant Fresh ? Booth #3031 Not one to be left out of a fabulous and flavorful food trend, Green Giant? Fresh introduces five exciting new fresh vegetable noodle items?Beet Noodles, Butternut Squash Noodles, Carrot Noodles, Sweet Potato Noodles and Zucchini Noodles. A variety of versatile options that?s sure to satisfy everyone?s palate preferences. Chef Inspired SoupKitchen22 LLC ? Booth #2928 Our chef-inspired soup blends deliver maximum nutrition as well as a genuine homemade taste. Complete with delicious varieties from all over the taste spectrum, Kitchen22?s soups offer convenient and healthy options for every palate. This leaves you with only one decision to make: ?spoon or sip?!?. SUNSET? Dill It Yourself? Pickle KitMastronardi Produce/SUNSET ? Booth #3018 Not your typical pickle! This sandwich-topping favorite gets a fresh facelift that's quick and easy to make. Each pail contains fresh SUNSET? cucumbers and a packet of spices to create dill-icious homemade pickles overnight. It's the real dill! "Cherto" Gourmet Tomatoes on the VineMucci Farms/Mucci International Marketing Inc. ? Booth #3423 These vibrant, deep red cherry tomatoes are kept on-the-vine to achieve traditional tomato flavor and freshness. This irresistible bite-sized variety is the perfect portion for snacking, boasting a high flavor profile and brix reading of 10+. New to the fresh produce category, this product is available in a 1.5lb re-sealable top seal container. TOMZ? Snacking TomatoesNatureFresh Farms ? Booth #3231 Every flavor provides a sensory experience that distinguishes itself. A tomato's flavor is a consumer's most immediate and visceral experience with the variety. NatureFresh Farms developed its TOMZ Snacking Tomatoes to meet consumer expectations that when they enjoy a snacking tomato in July, October, or February, that the flavor is plentiful and consistent each and every time.? Leafy FreshPure Flavor ? Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. ? Booth #2611 Crisp. Refreshing. Invigorating. Leafy Fresh lettuce is the newest addition to Pure Flavor?'s unique product line. Available in 5 varieties in multiple combinations, Leafy Fresh satisfies all flavor enthusiasts. Fresh Prep'd? Soup KitsReady Pac Foods ? Booth #2615 Ready Pac Foods Fresh Prep'd? Soup Kits - a quick and convenient soup that?s truly fresh!? Each soup is packed with crisp vegetables and lean protein. Ingredients are kept separate to maintain freshness, taste and texture.? Just add water, heat and enjoy a soup that tastes more like homemade!? Red Sun Farms Organic GrapesRed Sun Farms ? Booth #2444 A deep rich red, organic grape tomato that delivers a burst of juiciness with a nice crunch. Available year round, this tomato is sure to provide an excellent experience. PRO2snax to the max Baby Carrots, Turkey Sausage Bites, Mild Cheddar Cheese & AlmondsReichel Foods, Inc. ? Booth #2529 The next generation of PRO2snax has arrived! The ?Snax to the Max? product line offers protein-packed meals, made-up of snacks. These new items are targeted towards consumers that are looking for a healthy and convenient protein-packed meal solution. These products will be an excellent addition to your produce section. Garden Highway Veggie NoodlesRenaissance Foods Group ? Booth #2811 Veggie Noodles are a healthy alternative to traditional pasta, available in four varieties ? Zucchini, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato, Butternut/Sweet Potato blend ? and feature a clear label with colorful graphics, highlighting product freshness. Packed in a tamper-evident clamshell, Veggie Noodles are trending amongst consumers for their versatility, health benefits, and convenience. Stir Fry Meal KitsTaylor Farms ? Booth #3451 Taylor Farms? line of vegetable Stir Fry Meal Kits come in four delicious varieties ? Teriyaki, Ginger Garlic, Sesame Chili and Mandarin Orange. Each kit includes authentic stir fry sauce and a unique combination of ?on-trend? vegetables including Brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy, and peas. Veggie Noodle Co. Veggie Spirals; Veggie Noodle Co. VeggiccineVeggie Noodle Co. ? Booth #2241At Veggie Noodle Co.?, we believe in simple nutrition. That?s why we?ve pioneered the first pre-packaged all organic spiralized vegetables! Available in Zucchini, Sweet Potato, Butternut and Beet, our spirals are a healthy alternative to grain-based noodles. Less prep work. Less clean up. More veggies. More fun. Simple but twisted.? ? The 2017 United Fresh Innovation Awards finalists will be displayed on the trade show floor at United Fresh 2017 in Chicago, where attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite new and innovative products on Wednesday, June 14 and Thursday June 15. The winner in each category will be determined by total votes received as of 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 15. United Fresh will announce winners at the Innovation Awards Area in the center of the show floor on Thursday, June 15 at 3:00 p.m.