May/June 2021 - 26

THE PULSE
INDUSTRY
INSIDER
Fresh packaging produce to see growth,
study shows
A new Freedonia Group analysis projects U.S. sales of fresh
produce packaging to grow 3.7% per year to nearly $7 billion in
2024, as demand continues to rise among both consumers and
foodservice establishments for produce sold in some form of
packaging, including pouches, bags and rigid plastic containers.
Among the key drivers of growth will be increasing sales of
ready-to-eat (RTE) salads, as well as pre-cut produce such
as apple slices, melon spears, and carrot sticks - which are
typically sold in clamshells, cups, and other plastic containers.
Sales of these and other prepackaged fresh produce have
soared during the pandemic due to:
* Surging grocery sales - including more packaging-intensive
online grocery orders - as consumers began eating out far
less and cooking in way more.
* Increased concerns about the safety of loose bulk-bin items
that have been handled by others in stores.
* Rising demand for convenience foods, including RTE produce,
which require minimal or no prep before consumption, unlike
their unpackaged counterparts, which often need to be
washed, peeled and/or chopped.
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* The machine is robust and reliable meeting the European
safety standards. It is entirely constructed of stainless
steel AISI 304 and food grade material (HDPE) meeting the
requirements of Hygienic Design and CE compliancy.
Taylor Farms expands Canada presence with
acquisition
Taylor Farms has announced the acquisition of FreshPoint's
Toronto operations, which was effective March 28.
The fresh-cut vegetable operation will continue to serve
current FreshPoint customers and facilitate further growth of
Taylor Farms in Canada.
" We are excited to add our first operation in Canada to the
Taylor Farms North American Network and grateful to Sysco
and FreshPoint for working closely with us to ensure a smooth
transition for associates and customers, " Bruce Taylor, chairman
and CEO of Taylor Farms, said in a news release.
Mark Campion, president of Taylor Farms Retail, will have
leadership responsibility for the Taylor Farms Canada facility and
Kevin Silver has been appointed as general manager.
Taylor Farms is a North American producer of salads and
healthy fresh foods. The company is family-owned and based in
" The Salad Bowl of the World " Salinas, California.
Kronen updates pepper processing system
Kronen and partner HiTec Food Systems have announced an
updated version of the bell pepper-processing system PDS4L.
The new version of the PDS4L can
de-core and segment up 3,600 bell
peppers per hour and can be operated
by just one person, who places the
peppers on the pocket lane by hand
to be transported to the core-and-cut
section of the system. Peppers can be
halved or quartered.
The product is moved step by step by servo-controlled motors
(standstill, displacement, standstill, etc.), making it very easy
and controllable to place the product to be cut.
Some highlights include:
* PDS4L is equipped with a servo driven conveyor belt with
pneumatic-cutting section. Sixty bell peppers can be
processed per minute. Thanks to the mature construction
the product is perfectly oriented and de-cored as well as
segmented.
* The system allows simple operation and cleaning and can be
operated by one person. The cutting inserts are very easy to
change and have a long service life.
26 MAY/JUNE 2 0 21
California LGMA endorses pre-harvest testing
guidelines
The California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)
board endorsed new Pre-Harvest Testing guidance in an
effort to prevent foodborne illness outbreaks associated with
leafy greens.
The guidance calls for pre-harvest testing of leafy greens
products when risk assessments deem it necessary, specifically
when grown in proximity to animals.
In addition to the Pre-Harvest Testing Guidance document,
the LGMA Board endorsed several other updates to the food
safety standards that are currently being developed by the LGMA
Technical Committee and expected to become a requirement in
the coming months.
Projects currently under development include:
* An adjacent land risk assessment tool
* Root cause analysis requirement for high-risk food safety incidents
* Major revision to existing standards for soil amendments and
crop inputs
These important tools and revisions have been in
development for several months and they represent input from
food safety experts and researchers throughout the industry.
http://www.produceprocessing.net
May/June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2021
