Posts Tagged “NoKota Packers”
by Fresh Solutions Network, LLC
San Francisco, CA – Fresh Solutions Network applauded the March 23rd episode of Dr. Oz – giving American’s “Permission to eat potatoes again” noting that potatoes are “nutrient power houses” that surprisingly pack about “100 calories per spud” and have zero grams of fat.
Dr. Oz opened his show handing potatoes out to the audience, correcting the misconceptions of “Tater Haters” with nutritional facts on America’s favorite side dish.
The low-carb diet craze damaged the reputation of the potato by creating the misconception that potatoes were “fattening” and unhealthy. As Dr. Oz and other notable experts in the medical and scientific community have clarified, potatoes have a number of nutritional benefits that may surprise consumers. In addition to being fat free, gluten-free, sodium free and low-calorie – potatoes are rich in Vitamin C, have more potassium than a banana or broccoli and are vegan and non-GMO.
“We are excited that consumers are finally hearing the great news about potatoes that those of us in the industry have known for a long time,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, “Products like Side Delights® fresh potatoes are a natural, healthy, family favorite side dish, and we expect to see an increase in purchasing habits as the medical community and consumer media help restore the reputation of the potato.”
The syndicated series is set to air its 10th season in 2018/2019. Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of the show since its premier has called the show a “field guide in helping viewers navigate their path to wellness.”
About Fresh Solutions Network, LLC:
Fresh Solutions Network is a group of family owned growers and shippers who choose to work together to make the potato and onion industry better for everyone. FSN helps fresh potato and onion buyers grow their categories, maximize category investment, and increase sales. FSN delivers category insights, collaborative innovation and customized assortment. Fresh Solutions Network, LLC partners are: Sterman Masser, Inc. (Masser Potato Farms and Keystone Potato Products in Sacramento and Hegins, PA), Michael Family Farms, Inc. (Urbana, OH), Basin Gold Cooperative, Inc. (Pasco, WA), Green Thumb Farms, Inc. (Fryeburg, ME), Red Isle Potato Growers, Ltd. (Prince Edward Island, Canada), NoKota Packers, Inc. (Buxton, ND), Sun-Glo of Idaho, Inc. (Sugar City, ID) and Mack Farms (Lake Wales, FL).
by Fresh Solutions Network, LLC
San Francisco, CA – Fresh Solutions Network announced its packaging design award from Graphic Design USA, American Packaging Design Awards. The award celebrates Side Delights® Roastables fresh potato package design, with its vibrant color palette and rustic visuals, encouraging a perfect potato choice for dinner tonight.
“We had very clear objectives for the design team to express the potential of potatoes as a canvas for bold flavors, while providing the best packaging design on the market,” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network, “We designed the packaging with a very specific audience in mind; stimulating shoppers’ creativity both in-store and at home.”
Side Delights® Roastables are the finest quality, triple-washed, “Awesome Little Yellows,” “Rad Little Reds,” and “Red and Yellow Combo” petite potato varieties. The packaging was designed to appeal to the growing, and coveted group of Millennial shoppers, who are self-described as adventurous with their food choices, frequently trying new recipes featuring fresh food items, and consider food preparation as an important feature of their lifestyle.
Side Delights® Roastables include sachets of delicious, Montana Mex spice blends made with pure, sustainably sourced, gluten-free, 100 percent natural spices. These spice blends appeal to everyone with taste buds, and encourage recipe experimentation at home.
About Fresh Solutions Network, LLC:
Fresh Solutions Network is a group of family owned growers and shippers who choose to work together to make the potato and onion industry better for everyone. FSN helps fresh potato and onion buyers grow their categories, maximize category investment, and increase sales. FSN delivers category insights, collaborative innovation and customized assortment. Fresh Solutions Network, LLC partners are: Sterman Masser, Inc. (Masser Potato Farms and Keystone Potato Products in Sacramento and Hegins, PA), Michael Family Farms, Inc. (Urbana, OH), Basin Gold Cooperative, Inc. (Pasco, WA), Green Thumb Farms, Inc. (Fryeburg, ME), Red Isle Potato Growers, Ltd. (Prince Edward Island, Canada), NoKota Packers, Inc. (Buxton, ND), Sun-Glo of Idaho, Inc. (Sugar City, ID) and Mac Farms (Lake Wales, FL).
By Fresh Solutions Network
The NPD Group just released their 29th annual Eating Patterns in America report, and finds that an increase in meals from home is one of the single biggest changes in eating patterns in Americans in the last five years.
“We are eating more meals in our homes, but not cooking more dishes,” says Harry Balzer, vice president of The NPD Group and author of the report. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the fresh potato category, where the white-hot microwaveable/steamable segment has seen dollar sales shooting up a scorching 31 percent for the latest 52-week period ending 9/27/14, according to data from Nielsen FreshFacts®.
One potato brand is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these trends to satisfy Americans who want fresh, nutritious food fast and with a minimum of fuss. Side Delightsâ Steamables™ are triple washed, fresh, whole, small potatoes in a microwave safe package that is ready to serve in just 8 minutes. And Steamables are the ONLY microwave-ready potato brand that uses light-blocker packaging technology to keep potatoes fresher and protected from greening due to harsh store lighting.
Side Delights Steamables come in 7 delicious potato varieties – Russet, Red, Golden, White, Purple, Fingerling and Sweet Potatoes – the most expansive lineup in the steamable segment. And the inclusion of Purples, Fingerlings and Sweet Potatoes brings together these rapidly growing specialty potato types with the on-trend convenience of microwave cooking.
“Retailers have a tremendous opportunity with offering their shoppers more quick and convenient ways to enjoy fresh potatoes” said Kathleen Triou, President and CEO of Fresh Solutions Network. “Side Delights Steamables gives them a complete lineup of gourmet potatoes that appeal to time-starved families as well as Millennial shoppers, all packaged using the latest technology to protect their premium quality.” While Triou recommends merchandising Side Delights Steamables in the produce department with other fresh potatoes on an everyday basis, she notes that the big volume opportunities come from displaying these high-impulse potatoes near rotisserie chicken in the service deli or adjacent to the ready-to-heat entrees in the meat department.
Side Delights Steamables are perfectly positioned for today’s busy consumer – the fast, easy, delicious way to serve fresh potatoes with any meal!
About Fresh Solutions Network, LLC: Fresh Solutions Network is where potato growers work together for individual growth and category success. Fresh Solutions Network helps the most sophisticated potato and onion buyers grow their categories, fill product gaps, maximize category investment, and increase sales. We reinvented the procurement model by introducing a direct-supply “dream team.” Our approach gives you unprecedented access to competitive insights, collaborative innovation and optimal potato and onion assortment. Fresh Solutions Network Partners grow, pack, sell and deliver potatoes and onions directly to their retail and foodservice customers, providing seamless, transparent product supply and service. Fresh Solutions Network, LLC partners are: Sterman Masser, Inc. (Masser Potato Farms and Keystone Potato Products in Sacramento and Hegins, PA), Michael Family Farms, Inc. (Urbana, OH), Basin Gold Cooperative, Inc. (Pasco, WA), Green Thumb Farms, Inc. (Fryeburg, ME), Red Isle Potato Growers, Ltd. (Prince Edward Island, Canada), NoKota Packers, Inc. (Buxton, ND), and Sun-Glo of Idaho, Inc. (Sugar City, ID).
By Fresh Solutions Network
Each year Produce Marketing Association’s Impact Award recognizes companies that bring innovation and excellence in packaging to supercharge the selling of fresh produce. Fresh Solutions Network was among only five winning companies recognized for excellence in packaging with their Side Delights Gourmet Petite potato line.
Fresh Solutions Network’s entry was one of 67 submitted by 56 companies. PMA judges narrowed the field to a group of 20 finalists, which were announced in September; at the recently-concluded PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim, five overall winners were crowned.
According to PMA, “This notable award recognizes trendsetters that create and deliver bold new concepts into the industry.” Judges were tasked with ranking entrants against the following criteria; Marketing, Sustainability, Consumer Convenience, Supply Chain Efficiency/Functionality and Food Safety. Each entry had to identify how packaging innovation made the product more convenient for consumers or more easily merchandised by their store partners.
“The Gourmet Petite potato line was introduced in 2014 with the goal of providing a fresh new way to make every meal a little more interesting and enjoyable” stated Kathleen Triou, President & CEO for Fresh Solutions Network. “With Side Delights Gourmet Petite potatoes, consumers can enjoy the flavor, color and excitement of the specialty potatoes they find in fine-dining restaurants or see on their favorite cooking shows with the meals they make at home.”
“Consumers are looking for new ways to serve their favorite side dish – potatoes! – and growth of the Petite potato segment is leading the category at more than 16% year over year” continued Triou. “The Side Delights packaging is visually exciting and features contemporary, bold graphics and appetizing photography that grabs shoppers’ attention. And the stand-up pouch bag enhances shop-ability and convenience to spur incremental purchases.”
“We are thrilled to be recognized by the PMA Impact Awards. We see packaging as a vital component for increasing shopper engagement in the potato category, especially when packaging is often the only way for shoppers to judge the quality of the product inside. High marks for our packaging validates that we’ll create stronger sales on the potato table shelf,” added Triou. “Finally, we wish to congratulate the other award winners which were CMI for its Go-Go fresh cherry snacking pouch, Earthbound Farm for its PowerMeal Bowls, Mucci Farms for its New Pint tomato packaging and Wholly Guacamole for its grab n’ guac box.”
About Fresh Solutions Network, LLC:
Fresh Solutions Network is where potato growers work together for individual growth and category success. Fresh Solutions Network helps the most sophisticated potato and onion buyers grow their categories, fill product gaps, maximize category investment, and increase sales. We reinvented the procurement model by introducing a direct-supply “dream team.” Our approach gives you unprecedented access to competitive insights, collaborative innovation and optimal potato and onion assortment. Fresh Solutions Network Partners grow, pack, sell and deliver potatoes and onions directly to their retail and foodservice customers, providing seamless, transparent product supply and service. Fresh Solutions Network, LLC partners are: Sterman Masser, Inc. (Masser Potato Farms and Keystone Potato Products in Sacramento and Hegins, PA), Michael Family Farms, Inc. (Urbana, OH), Basin Gold Cooperative, Inc. (Pasco, WA), Green Thumb Farms, Inc. (Fryeburg, ME), Red Isle Potato Growers, Ltd. (Prince Edward Island, Canada), NoKota Packers, Inc. (Buxton, ND), and Sun-Glo of Idaho, Inc. (Sugar City, ID).