[ fresh produce ]
BEST IN SEASON
W
ith kids back to school and endless long hot days, it’s definitely salad season and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables are a favourite for everyone this time of year. Salad mixes will be flying out the door and can be complemented with other fresh vegetables such as capsicum, cucumber and tomato. Add crunch and texture by including raw sweetcorn – sliced straight off the cob. New season buttercup - a versatile pumpkin, is just being picked and soft berries including blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and blackcurrants are still available and are great grab and go options for consumers – especially kids.
Melons New Zealand’s most common melons - rock melon, honeydew and watermelon are at their peak. However, there are other varieties available, so be adventurous if you have access to these through your buying programmes. To enhance melon sales, ensure you have half-cut fruit available as consumers like to see the inside of what they are buying. What to look for: Rock melon have an exotic aroma and this is the best indication of ripeness. The outside of all melons should be firm with no signs of soft spots, mould or bruising. Storage/handling: Ripen melons at room temperature and then store in the refrigerator. Cut surfaces should be covered and cut melons used quickly. Nutrition: Melons are a source of Vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant to help protect the body against free radical damage. They also contain potassium which supports healthy growth and development for children.
What to look for: Choose firm, well-shaped k mara with clean, smooth skin. Avoid any with soft spots, signs of decay or bruising. Storage/handling: Store in a cool dark, well ventilated place. Do not refrigerate. Nutrition: K mara contain a wide spectrum of nutritional benefits including being a source of dietary fibre, Vitamin B6, niacin, thiamine and potassium.
Salad Mixes Pre-bagged salad mixes have reinvented workplace lunches. Consumers can now grab a bag, add their choice of protein and have a healthy vegetablepacked lunch at their fingertips. The huge range of salad mixes include super slaws, herb slaws, metro and gourmet fancy mixes to name a few, as well as salad kits that include dressings and other salad items such as feta cheese and croutons. What to look for: With bagged salads the easiest way to tell the freshness is by the expiration date. Storage/handling: Salad consumers respond best to a well-maintained produce department stocked with fresh, pristine product. This is especially true of Millennial shoppers who value visual presentation. Nutrition: Salad greens will vary in different nutrients and minerals depending on the mix used but will likely be a source of vitamins A, K and B6, folate and also contain potassium.
SALAD MIXES WILL BE FLYING OUT THE DOOR AND CAN BE COMPLEMENTED WITH OTHER FRESH VEGETABLES.”
Kūmara The new season k mara harvest begins this month; however, the bulk of the crop is harvested between March-April where massive volumes are brought out of the ground. First is red k mara ( wairaka), followed by gold (Toka Toka) and then orange (Beauregard).
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www.unitedfresh.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - FEBRUARY 2019
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