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Innovation Awards, as recognized in the Produce Business November issue, including Bonduelle Fresh Americas (Ready Pac Corn Salad with Pulled Pork & BBQ Drizzle); Empacadora GAB (Mr. Lucky Peeled Garlic Blister Pack); Mann Packing Company (Nourish Bowls: Fresh Veggie Pastas with Plant-Based Proteins); Mastronardi Produce (Sunset Shazam! Shishito Peppers) and Monterey Mushrooms (Let’s Blend Finely Diced Mushrooms).
One of the other honorees, The Little Potato Company, Edmonton, AB, was thrilled to receive a glass Edison-inspired lightbulb trophy for its convenient and tasty Microwave-Ready and Oven/Grilled Ready Potato kits.
“To be recognized in this part of the country in the U.S., winning the award is a big deal for us; it means a lot,” said Angela Santiago, chief executive. “I am
Harry Tsai and William Cheng of High Wide Interna- tional with their innovation award and samples of their award-winning dragon fruit during the trade show.
always attered, honored and humbled when I’m honored by innovation because it often looks like chaos behind the scenes. So, when the nished product comes out
and people are like, wow, it’s always a nice tap on the shoulder that you did something good.”
The push to bring unique and conve- nient offerings to market was a differentiator during this year’s judging. Good & Ugly fruit and nut bites from Great Lakes Inter- national Trading Company, Traverse City, MI, raised the bar for on-the-go, healthy snacking.
“Our concept is unsightly snacks for sharing,” Great Lakes president Verne Powell said. “And they’re wholesome. There’s nothing bad in the bag.”
Added Patrick Batcheller, sales, “It’s vali- dation that snacking is important and that all-natural foods are important. Customers are moving in this direction, and we’ve listened to them.”
Giorgio Fresh Company, Blandon, PA, raised eyebrows at recent trade shows with its avor- lled Savory Wild Portabella Mushroom Jerky, bringing a new twist to a once-unhealthy treat.
“We think that having a plant-based snack food is going to encourage people to try mushrooms in different ways and think outside the proverbial box,” said Bill Litvin, vice president of sales. “We’re looking for the opportunity to feature it in venues beyond just the supermarket — conve- nience stores, sporting good shops, because it is an item that has so many opportunities to be used.”
High Wide International, Etobicoke, ON, knows about pushing boundaries. Its Lavite-branded Soft-Dried Dragon Fruit and Mango products sourced from Vietnam, are freeze-dried, but not crunchy. Their soft, real-fruit taste and texture makes them truly unique.
“I think people think the produce industry is an old industry,” said Harry Tsai, vice president of marketing. “There is a lot of innovation in it, year after year. So, being able to bring some innovative products to the market, we’re bringing a new way of fruit consumption and also helping farmers to deal with an excess amount of fruits. I think it’s a win-win situation for us, for the farmers and also for the consumers.”
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JANUARY 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINESS
‘I think people think the produce industry is an old industry. There is a lot of innovation in it, year after year.’
— Harry Tsai, High Wide International