As National Salad Month approaches, here are a few updates from brands around the country.
Dole adding two more SKUs to chopped salad line this summer
The extensive salad portfolio of Charlotte, N.C.-based Dole Food Co. continues to grow, with more additions coming this summer and others scheduled for later in the year.
“While we were able to launch a number of new packaged salad lines and line extensions last year during the pandemic, thanks to the efforts of employees at Dole and throughout the industry, we also pushed some products to this year, making 2021 another busy year for Dole Salads product introductions,” said Bil Goldfield, director of corporate communications.
July will be the debut of the Dole Buffalo Ranch Chopped Salad and the Dole Peppercorn Ranch Chopped Salad. The buffalo ranch option includes green cabbage, green leaf lettuce, kale, red cabbage, carrots, blue cheese crumbles, fried onions and buffalo ranch dressing, while the peppercorn ranch option contains iceberg, green leaf lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, radishes, crumbled cornbread croutons, crushed black peppercorn and peppercorn ranch dressing.
Additions to Dole's FreshTakes salad line, and new packaged salad lines, will be announced later.
Vertical Roots updating packaging to emphasize sustainability
New packaging is coming for Charleston, S.C.-based hydroponic leafy greens grower Vertical Roots.
General manager Andrew Hare said at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure event that the company will be moving to a plant-based adhesive on its living lettuce container so it can be recycled more easily. For its cut lettuce, Vertical Roots uses a clamshell with a peel-and-reseal top that uses significantly less plastic than a traditional clamshell lid.
The attributes the company calls out on its packaging include no pesticides, superior flavor, longer shelf life and non-GMO. It has been using local as part of its messaging also, but because the company's distribution is expanding, that will change, Hare said.
Vertical Roots now supplies products in 13 states, expanding from the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic.
Given that growth, the company will be switching up its local messaging and turning the focus to its sustainable practices with the tagline Planet's Best Lettuce – Grown Indoors with Sustainability in Mind.
Vertical Roots produces about three million pounds of various leafy greens annually, Hare said.
Shenandoah Growers launches retail-ready shippers
Rockingham, Va.-based Shenandoah Growers has new prefilled shippers available for its living herbs.
Scott Dault, vice president of sales, said at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure event that the motto for the new shippers is “less labor, more sales.”
For stores with more floor space, there is a 180-count option that allows for 360-degree shopping, and there is also a 36-count option. The assortment in the shippers is customizable but generally includes the top five or six herbs, such as basil, mint, cilantro, parsley and rosemary.
Examples of customization include for occasions associated with recipes that call for one specific herb, like mint for the Kentucky Derby or cilantro for Cinco de Mayo, Dault said.
Pete's launches Greenhouse Fresh lineup
Carpinteria, Calif.-based Hollandia Produce, which markets the Pete's brand, has a new packaged salad line called Greenhouse Fresh.
CEO Brian Cook said at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure event that the plastic tub container for the salad is 100% recycled material and has a film for a top, using less plastic than the traditional clamshell lid.
The company has prioritized sustainability messaging on its packaging, noting the use of recycled plastic and that growing indoors requires less land and water than growing outdoors.
The packaging also has a “1% for the Planet” icon, a reference to the company's commitment to contribute 1% of proceeds from the products to The Recycling Partnership, an organization working toward the circularity of materials.
The packaging also includes an icon that reads “Thoughtfully Packaged – Visit us to see what guided our packaging choice.”
Boskovich Farms adds to team
Deep Silver joined Oxnard, Calif.-based Boskovich Farms in January as senior marketing director.
“It's been fun getting up to speed as well as diving right into the business at the same time,” Silver said. “The company tagline of ‘We never stop growing' is very true for the company culture and new product pipeline. We are poised for growth, and I am excited to be a part of the team that is making it happen.”
The company has more exciting updates coming later this year, Silver said.
Mother Raw adds to dressings line, prepares to launch dips
Toronto, Ontario-based Reunion Foods, which markets plant-based brand Mother Raw, has launched three more salad dressing varieties and plans to launch a new line of dips this summer.
There will be eight items in the new line, and like Mother Raw's other products, the dips will be organic and plant-based.
“Personally, I expect the Mother Raw dip line up to outsell our dressings as early as 2022,” said vice president of sales Brent Lunn. “We continue to grow the team and increase our manufacturing capacity to meet our planned triple-digit growth in 2021.
“And we have no intention of stopping there,” Lunn said. “We will continue to bring innovation to our retail partners that delights their consumers. A great example is the shout out that Mother Raw just received on TikTok from Lizzo. Her 14 million followers now know that the secret to her truly delicious Brussels sprouts recipe is Mother Raw's queso.”
Church Brothers debuts new clamshell for Little Gem lettuce
Salinas, Calif.-based Church Brothers Farms has a new four-count clamshell for its Little Gem lettuce.
The package is 100% recyclable, and 70% of the material is post-consumer, according to a news release.
“Our innovation around Little Gems was inspired by the responses we received from shoppers about this unique product,” Rick Russo, senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in the release. “Little Gems are a convenient and appealing option for the home cook, something that can change up their everyday salad routine. We wanted to complement the product with a package that elevates it to something special and stands out on shelf.”
Braga Fresh promotes Heather Fuller to vice president of sales
Soledad, Calif.-based Braga Fresh has promoted Heather Fuller to vice president of sales.
Fuller has been with the company more than five years ago, most recently as the senior director of sales, according to a news release.
In her new role, Fuller will spearhead sales initiatives and lead customer relations, according to the release.
Fuller's career in fresh produce has focused on the organic channel for the last decade.
“Her customer-centric approach and ability to adapt to the constant change in the marketplace has made her an integral part of the sales management team,” Peter Cling, senior vice president of operations, said in the release. “Heather has played a key role from the start of our organic retail program. She started on the sales desk at Braga Fresh and this is her second promotion in only five years. She has a tremendous connection with our customers. Shifting from a growing-only company to a shipper/processor, Heather has brought us that customer perspective and made us a stronger company. Her industry experience and knowledge of the organic sector has been invaluable.”
Fuller is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Calif. She is a United Fresh Leadership alumnus, class 24.
— Tom Karst contributed to this article.