NEW ORLEANS, La. – Attendees to the United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and expo in New Orleans cast their votes Wednesday and recognized this year’s New Product Awards in six categories. A record 34 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations competed in the categories of Best New Packaging Product, Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New Processing Equipment, Best New Fruit Product, Best New Packing and Packaging Equipment, and Best Vegetable Product.
The 2011 New Product Award winners are:
- Best New Packaging: MIXIM Classic 5×5 6oz. Bushberry Packaging System, Sambrailo Packaging
- Best New Food Safety Solution: SmartWashTM, New Leaf Food Safety Solutions
- Best New Processing Equipment: Primus Gemini – New and Improved Fresh Berry Sorter, Best Sorting
- Best New Fruit Product: Sun DropsTM Grape Tomatoes, Mucci Farms AND Naturipe® Berry Quick Blueberry Snacks, Naturipe Farms, LLC
- Best New Packing/Packaging Equipment: Volmpack Ultrek 320 Vertical-Form-Fill-Seal Bagger, Volm Companies, Inc.
- Best New Vegetable Product: Pure Flavor Grill Ready Vegetable Mix, Pure Hot House Foods Inc.
“These seven innovations represent thousands of man-hours of hard work, foresight, dedication, risk and reward,” said United Fresh Vice President of Convention and Industry Relations John Toner. “The unveiling of new products is a vital part of the United show, and we’re proud to honor these winners and congratulate all 34 finalists in this year’s competition.”
In the Best New Fruit Product category, two winners were selected. Sun Drops Grape Tomatoes from Mucci Farms and Naturipe Farms’ Berry Quick Blueberry Snacks were both honored as best products.
“Because there was some confusion among voters about tomatoes being judged in the fruit category, both of these outstanding products are recognized as category winners due to the widespread voting support they received in the balloting,” Toner said.
The finalists in each category were on display for the two days of the United Fresh 2011 trade show, and the winners were selected by votes cast from show attendees.
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Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association
