May 2, 2014

United Fresh 2014 New Product Award finalists announced

United Fresh announced a record 40 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations as finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association’s 2014 New Product Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in five categories for the title of Best New Products at United Fresh 2014, June 10-13 in Chicago.

“We’re excited to have a record of 40 finalists for our New Product Awards, which is a clear indicator of the ever increasing ingenuity in fresh produce,” said John Toner, United’s vice president of convention and industry relations. “We’re proud to showcase these innovative products at the United Fresh 2014 show in Chicago, which continues to be the home for innovation and creativity in the produce business.”

The 2014 New Product Award finalists for Best New Vegetable Product and their locations on the United Fresh trade show floor are:

Roasties
Black Gold Farms – Booth 859
Roasties is a pre-packaged clamshell containing fresh, whole baby red potatoes and an enclosed packet of McCormick Produce Partners seasonings with easy instructions to rise, season and bake.
Wholly Guacamole Layered Bean Dips
Fresherized Foods – Booth 623
Contains a layer of beans and 10oz dips, served either chilled or warmed.
Good Foods Tableside Chunky Guacamole – 4pk
Good Foods Group – Booth 1066
This guacamole is prepared with hand-scooped avocados, and includes garlic, onions and tomatoes. Comes in single-serve sizes.
Organic Beets in an Organic Mild Vinegar
Love Beets – Booth 443
Organic Beets in Organic Mild Vinegar are freshly cooked, certified organic, all natural and gluten free.
Y.E.L.O.
Mastronardi Produce/Sunset – Booth 220
Youth, Energy, Life, Om. Sunset's next tomato.
Mucci Farms CuteCumbers Snack Sized Cucumbers
Mucci Farms – Booth 240
Smaller, crunchier and more convenient than mini cucumbers, bite-sized CuteCumbers make a snack for kids and adults. They are designed to be a handy-sized cocktail snack with no cutting or chopping required.
The Snacking Series – Juno Bites, Bumbles, Sangria and Azuca
Pure Flavor – Pure Hothouse Foods – Booth 864
The Snacking Series features Pure Flavor’s exclusive line of bite-sized tomatoes designed with the consumer in mind.
New Dippin' Stix Flavor – Celery Stix & Ranch Dip
Reichel Foods – Booth 557
Dippin’ Stix expands their vegetable and dip offerings with fresh-cut celery sticks and creamy ranch dip conveniently packaged for healthy snacking on the go.
FreshCooked
Tiffany Gate Foods – Booth 228
Hard to cook vegetables, grains and beans perfectly cooked and ready to use on salads, in soups, as sides or by themselves. Lineup includes quinoa, beets, yams and chickpeas.
Rebellion tomato
Village Farms – Booth 1069
Rebellion is a unique pack container four to six different tomato varieties each with a distinct shape in range of colors from red, orange, yellow, green and brown.
Wholesum Harvest Grilling Squash
Wholesum Family Farms – Booth 454
Wholesum Harvest Grilling Squash features yellow and a zucchini squash combo in self-sealing bags. The bags feature recipes and QR codes to the company grower video and bank of recipes.
Eat Smart Kale & Red Chard Stir Fry Kit
Apio – Booth 1556
Eat Smart’s new Kale & Red Chard Stir Fry Kit is a unique twist on a traditional favorite offering on trend flavors with a gourmet taste. This restaurant-inspired kit includes broccoli florets, red chard, kale, snow peas, carrots and a stir fry sauce infused with soy, garlic and ginger.

New Product Award finalists will be displayed at the United Fresh Membership Booth, at United Fresh 2014 in Chicago. The winner in each category will be determined by total votes received as of 2 p.m. on June 12.

For more information about the New Product Awards competition contact John Toner, or visitUnited’s website.