Fresh Cut Magazine

Food safety, convenience drive innovation in fresh-cut packaging

Packaging in fresh-cut produce can be as important as the product inside. The package not only acts as a preserving agent, often serving as a barrier for a modified atmosphere, it also serves as a marketing tool to attract first-time consumers and build a brand image. Food safety and sustainability are the driving forces behind innovation in the fresh-cut packaging industry, according to industry experts at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, Oct. 25-27 in Orlando. Food Safety In the retail and foodservice environments, food safety is the No. 1 concern, and processors are taking every precaution, from the field through washing and cutting. The final packaging of a fresh-cut product is becoming just as important as the HACCPs and GMPs in the plant – the packaging material has to keep pathogens out while preserving the product for a 14-day or longer shelf life. Flexible packaging…  » Read more

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Presidential Politics

The election cycle has been vicious getting to this point, but now that it’s over the produce industry has to move forward and work with a new administration. How will the Democratic administration affect our industry? Obama hasn’t addressed it directly, but the people he appoints will impact businesses. One of the most important appointments, as it affects the fresh-cut industry, will be the FDA Commissioner. The current commissioner, Andrew Von Eschenbach, is a Bush appointee and will likely not stay on under Obama. One name reported to be on the short list is Steven Nissen, a heart specialist with the Cleveland Clinic. Nissen comes from the pharmaceutical side of FDA’s mission, and he’s riled some pharmaceutical companies because of his stringent view on drug safety. That might be something he carries over into the food side of FDA if he’s approved by Congress, which may…  » Read more

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Stemilt Growers expands unique AppleSweets line

Stemilt Growers Inc. made waves two years ago when it announced a new line of flavor-infused apple slices called AppleSweets. The Wenatchee, Wash.-based company has watched the apples fly off the shelves over the past year and is expanding the AppleSweets line to build on that success. The 2007 launch of the apple slices had just one flavored variety – Wild Berry. The other two products in the line were called Delightfully Sweet and Totally Tart. Added this year were County Fair Caramel and Mom’s Apple Pie flavors. “The flavors are appealing to kids and adults alike, as well as a great substitute to sugary, high-fat snacks,” said Roger Pepperl, marketing director for Stemilt Growers. To encourage using the AppleSweets as an “anytime snack,” the company introduced the fresh-cut apples in a two-pound bag. The bigger bag reduces the cost per ounce, making the product more…  » Read more

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Wal-Mart continues sustainable programs with updates, changes

Wal-Mart caused a stir throughout its supply chain when it announced the creation of a sustainability scorecard that would help the retailer meet its goal of a 5 percent reduction in packaging by 2013. Two years later, Wal-Mart is moving forward with its sustainable initiative with changes to the scorecard and by expanding the program to the global supply chain. In February 2008, Wal-Mart announced that it would push for more efficiency in its stores and from suppliers. “This is not something we’ve just asked our suppliers to do, this is something Wal-Mart is doing itself,” said Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar, packaging director for Sam’s Club and co-director for packaging for Wal-Mart Stores. “Sustainability is about building a better business. This is a business imperative for us as a company.” The sustainability scorecard has been successful so far, with about 90 percent of the items that can be populated at…  » Read more

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