What Will They Come Up With Next?
Have you ever seen a whole, fresh peeled coconut (instead of the packaged shreds)? How about mini-iceberg lettuce? Purple or orange cauliflower? Well, if you haven’t, you may be seeing them in your produce department soon. According to the Sacramento Bee’s Michael Marks, these products are on their way. They were recently featured at a produce exposition hosted by the Produce Marketing Association in Monterey, California.
Marks showcased the produce offered by a company called Freida’s, which is the same company that introduced the kiwi to grocery stores. Marks was particularly excited about the fresh peeled coconut for cooking, based upon the tremendous difference in flavor between it and the packaged shredded coconut that is commonly available. The product will also be available in peeled halves and quarters.
Mini-iceberg lettuce is entirely new to me. It is approximately the size of a large orange:
Chefs around the country are very hot on this tiny iceberg, mainly because of the classy salad you can create. Simply cut it in half and stuff it. These minis tend to be sweeter as well.
Marks also tells us that purple and orange cauliflower caused a buzz at the expo. He recommends using the fun colors to entice kids to eat their veggies. Maybe they will also make those South Beach mock mashed potatoes a bit more exciting?
[Photo from Melissa’s Farm Fresh Produce]
We’ve had farmers selling orange and purple cauliflowers and many other hybrid vegetables for at least two years. It’s hard to believe that the large chains have taken so long to notice.