"Fresh" is definitely a buzzword at this year's NRA Show, and fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant on the Show floor. Lettuce, carrots, kiwi, prunes, avocados, blueberries; the list goes on and on.
Many of the fresh vegetable purveyors are NRA Show veterans. The first booth we stopped by was Live Gourmet at #1471. The company uses hydroponics to grow its many varieties of lettuce and other produce. Next, we chatted with the folks at Booth #1773, California's Boskovich's Farms, which has been coming to NRA Show for 14 years. Boskovich's Farms produces everything from spinach to beets. Grimmway Farmsat Booth #1173E also has been at the Show before. The grower provides carrots in every variety -- shredded, matchsticks, orange, yellow and even juice.
As for fresh fruit, the Show floor is filled with familiar favorites but also more exotic fare. Chiquita, most famous for its bananas, is preparing to debut a new 100% juice line, including a strawberry and banana juice. You can get a preview of the new products at Booth # 1176E. The company also is pioneering technology to keep avocados fresh and ripe for foodservice operators. No more sorting the brown avocados from the green! Chiquita's patented technology not only keeps all the avocados in a bag at the same level of ripeness, it also extends their shelf lives.
Zespri's kiwis hail from New Zealand and the company's booth, #3959, offers a history of the fruit (which originally came from China) and its 40 varieties. Most of us are used to fuzzy green kiwis, but Zespri offers a golden kind that has a slightly different taste and less fuzz. The citrus fruit can be eaten raw, incorporated into a dessert or even used as a meat tenderizer. Stop by the booth for a recipe pamphlet and a full explanation of the health benefits!
It's not too late to attend NRA Show 2009. Register online or onsite at McCormick Place.
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