Hardie's Fresh Foods in Houston has created a new division called Texas Harvest Co. that incorporates Hardie's existing fresh-cut and value-added produce business with a new line of protein-added fresh options, with a planned March debut.
Hardie's Fresh Foods in Houston has had fresh-cut operations for seven years at the Houston Produce Center, said Tony Stachurski, the president of Texas Harvest Co. and Hardie's Houston. He said Jan. 30 that the full-line custom-cut fresh produce business will continue under the Texas Harvest banner.
In March, Texas Harvest will open what it calls a “USDA kitchen” in an adjacent building at the Houston Produce Center. That operation will create protein-added grab-and-go snacks like sandwiches, wraps, parfaits, salad kits and salad bowls.
The facility will pack under the Texas Harvest Co. label and will also have the ability to co-pack under private labels, he said.
U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors will oversee food safety regulations relating to handling meat and other proteins, Stachurski said. USDA inspectors will be in the facility every time the company runs product.
“For the USDA side, we are currently in product development and we are probably going to be opening the business in March with about 100 stock-keeping units to start,” he said. “We will have a very well-balanced line that will offer a lot of value, and as customers come to us we will be able to create custom recipes and packs that meet their needs.”
Stachurski said he sees a lot of potential demand for protein-added packs from current customers and new customers in retail, foodservice, schools and convenience stores.
“This segment of the marketplace is relatively fragmented, so I think we have a great offering for customers to be able to buy through Texas Harvest Co. and have 5,000 other products that could go with it,” he said.
Texas Harvest Co. will have the ability to deliver product throughout Texas, Stachurski said. With about 55 employees in its fresh-cut division, he said that the division may add 10-15 employees by the time production begins in March.