Fresh Cut Magazine

Fresh-Cut Research, Take 2

The food safety pavilion at United Fresh 2010 offered researchers the chance to talk about projects, and some had implications for processors. Charles Forney with the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia, spoke about the impact that packaging films can have on the taste of fresh-cut apple slices. The research group looked at perforated versus solid film bags and looked at the chemical effects of the bags and each treatment was judged by a taste panel. The Gala apple slices in the perforated bags had higher levels of esters, the flavor compounds. The taste panel found apples in perforated bags to have a fruitier aroma, a fruitier taste and were sweeter, despite there being no change in soluble solids.Trevor Suslow from the University of California, Davis, spoke about some of the lessons learned from GAP field research. Some of the findings…

Fresh-Cut Research Projects

A full ballroom at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas heard about two interesting research projects that could have implications for the fresh-cut produce industry.Alan Lefcourt with USDA"s Agricultural Research Service presented his team"s work on a laser imaging system that could one day be mounted to a tractor that would drive through a field and identify fecal material on the soil and plants, as well as areas that animal intrusions. The system will need to be interactive, adjustable, allow for false positives, be able to detect one fecal deer pellet and keep a complete visual record.So far, Lefcourt"s system uses a laser with expansion optics and a gated camera to record the exposure times. The laser system is currently in the lab stage, but the next stage will be to take it out into the field on a cart to see if it works.…

Super Sessions

The United Fresh Super Sessions - with four concurrent tracks for retail/foodservice, grower shipper, wholesaler/distributor and fresh-cut processing - all offered show attendees the chance to learn about their specific market segments and interact with the board members representing their part of the industry.After an introduction from Ron Midyett of Apio Inc. and chairman of the fresh-cut processor board, Ali Leon from Ready Pac discussed the preliminary data from the 2010 United Fresh Issues Scan. The figures appear to have improved over the last two, with convenience still perceived to be higher for fresh-cuts than whole, frozen or canned items. The health and food safety perceptions of fresh-cut items could use some improvements, but there are positive signs. According to the study, affordability perceptions increased 9 percent from last year.Des Ferris from Ireland"s Nature"s Best Limited filled in for Paddy Callaghan and provided some of…

Educational Sessions, Day 2

The educational sessions have wrapped up for the day at United Fresh 2010. This year, there were four educational session areas on the trade show floor - fresh-cut processor, wholesale distributor, grower/shipper and foodservice/retail - plus a traceability demonstration center and a food safety demonstration center.At the first session at the fresh-cut processor track, Drew McDonald from Taylor Farms and Trevor Suslow from the University of California-Davis, discussed new rapid testing techniques and how having a plan that incorporates the right test method will help when a presumptive positive occurs. "People tend to trust the negatives and question the positives, and that"s what we don"t want to do," McDonald said.At the retail/foodservice learning area, Kim Eifler, director of purchasing for Darden, discussed the regulatory pressures on the foodservice industry. Her advice for the industry was to offer all the information on what"s in a restaurant"s…

Two Nevada Schools Welcome Salad Bar Donations

Two Nye County, Nev., schools will receive salad bars donated by United Fresh Foundation, The Vollrath Co. and Cambro Manufacturing Co., at the close of the United Fresh Show in Las Vegas. Both companies are preferred suppliers of the United Fresh salad bar program.J.G. Johnson Elementary School and Manse Elementary School, both in Pahrump, Nev., accepted the donations at the trade show today. Both schools have more than 450 kids in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, which provides each student with a fresh fruit or vegetable snack every day. Lorelei DiSogra, United Fresh vice president of nutrition and health, said the salad bars are "evidence-based strategies" to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in school-aged children.NatureSeal also donated one additional salad bar to a Nevada school, which was called a "godsend" by the school"s principal.

Fresh Produce in NYC Schools

This morning"s breakfast general session began with an introduction of the incoming United Fresh board of directors, with Stephanie Smith, CEO of River Point Farms, Hermiston, Ore., the chairman. She encouraged United Fresh members to become involved in the association to help influence policymakers, and support the association"s school salad bar initiative.Smith"s goal is to raise $3 million in funds over the next three years to donate salad bars to low-income and rural schools, and so far $500,000 has already been donated to fund the first salad bars at schools in Ohio, Washington, D.C., and Nevada. United Fresh also has made a commitment to the New Orleans school system, so that attendees at next year"s trade show can see the program in action. Smith then read a letter from First Lady Michelle Obama, who said she supported the goals of the association and its members…

Jeb Bush Keynotes

United Fresh Las Vegas kicked off with an opening general session this afternoon. The full ballroom at the Venetian hotel heard from a number of industry representatives updating attendees on things like the graduation of the leadership class, outgoing chairman, The Packer Produce Person of the Year and a statement from United Fresh President Tom Stenzel.But the star of the show was former governor of Florida Jeb Bush. His candid discussion of the state of the U.S. economy hit home for many. He discussed a five-point plan for fixing the country, which focused more on American ingenuity and hard work and less on government intervention. His point on immigration reform - creating a guest worker to address the needs of agriculture - drew a round of applause from attendees, which Bush acknowledged as one of the few crowds he speaks to that would respond that…

Fresh Cut booth 720

Fresh Cut booth all set up and ready to go. Visit us tomorrow when it opens at 11. #720-- Post From My iPhone

Las Vegas - T minus 24 hours

United Fresh Las Vegas kicks off tomorrow afternoon with the opening general session featuring keynote speaker Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, son of President George Bush and brother to President George W. Bush.Fresh Cut will be there, posting updates from the educational sessions and trade show throughout the show. You can also follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/FreshCutMag) or on Facebook (search for Fresh Cut).