Supermarket Perimeter - November 2023 - 55

AS DEMAND FOR FRESH
PEPPERS CONTINUES TO
GROW in grocery store produce
departments, pepper producers
are expanding acreage, exploring
new varieties and coming up with
new SKUs to keep retailers and
their customers happy.
Kingsville, Ont.-based
DelFrescoPure offers a
wide variety of peppers, all
customizable in various formats,
said Sonia Klinger, marketing
manager.
Current SKUs include:
* Sweet Rainbow Peppers
* Sweetreats
* Organic Rainbow Peppers
* Sweet Red Peppers (bulk)
* Sweet Yellow Peppers (bulk)
* Sweet Orange Peppers (bulk)
Among the strongest
performers for the company are
Sweet Rainbow Peppers, a staple
commodity that adds bold flavor,
color and versatility to any dish,
Klinger said.
Also popular are the company's
snackable, on-the-go products,
which have been gaining
momentum for several years,
Klinger said. DelFrescoPure's
Sweetreats peppers fit the bill
perfectly.
" People are looking for healthy
snacks not only for themselves
but for their families. As we know,
life is busy and our Sweetreats are
the perfect grab and go snack. "
Sweetreats are great paired with
dips or enjoyed directly from the
grill, she said.
Demand for the entire
pepper category, Klinger said, is
strong. And greenhouse-grown
peppers like those produced
by DelFrescoPure are providing
consumers with quality products
at the competitive prices they're
looking for.
" Our greenhouse grown
produce, in particular our
peppers, are available all year
around, enabling consumers to
eat vitamin rich foods not just
in peak summer months, but
in times when fresh produce
typically would not be available. "
One thing that separates
DelFrescoPure peppers from
the competition, Klinger said, is
transparency in its sustainability
and growing practices. Among
the highlights of these efforts are:
* Integrated Pest Management
(IPM): DelFrescoPure uses
Beneficial Bugs to prevent
and treat issues like pests and
diseases in its greenhouses.
These insects fight off harmful
insects, molds and mildews,
and other damaging elements
to help keep the facilities
ecosystems healthy, so that
plants can grow and thrive
in peace.
* Energy Curtains: DelFrescoPure
greenhouses use a singlescreen
energy curtain to help
provide shading where needed,
reflect heat throughout the
greenhouse, and lower energy
usage. They help control the
environment in the greenhouse
naturally so that the company
can lower its energy
usage, while maintaining
optimal temperatures and
humidity levels.
* Recyclable Materials:
DelFrescoPure uses cardboard
and plastic materials to pack
and ship its products in a
manner that maintains food
safety and quality. Many of
the packaging materials that
the company's products are
packed in are made from
recycled materials themselves.
DelFrescoPure's plastic
clamshells, for instance, are
made from up to 60% recycled
materials.
New adventures in peppers
Super Sweet Italian Long Peppers,
Mini Sweet Peppers, and a big
variety of mixed bells are among
the current pepper offerings from
San Antonio-based NatureSweet,
said Jenny Halpin, the company's
external communications
manager.
Branching out into peppers has
proven to be a great decision for
the company, Halpin said.
" Our journey beyond tomatoes
has opened up new horizons,
allowing us to connect with
folks seeking fresh, flavorful,
and sustainably grown products.
The surge in consumer interest
in snacking and on-the-go items
has helped propel that expansion,
which has included collaborating
with multiple national retailers
to introduce seedless snacking
peppers.
" Just like seedless grapes and
watermelons, we believe these
will be a hit, " Halpin said.
In November NatureSweet
is launching its Constellation
Seedless Mini Sweet Peppers at a
limited number of retailers, with
significant expansion planned
for 2024.
Constellations are a threecolor
medley of seedless mini
sweet peppers that are sweeter
and more snackable than
other products in the category,
Halpin said.
It's a perfect extension, she
added, of the NatureSweet
Constellation brand, the
company's medley of flavorful
tomatoes.
" It offers the flavor, color, and
freshness that consumers know
our brand for. "
Also new for NatureSweet is
new look and more user-friendly
interface for its website, which
Halpin said is " our one-stop shop
to delve into our story and explore
our delectable products. "
The latest snack innovation from Austin, Texas-based Rhythm Superfoods is a seasoned
shishito pepper snack. The peppers are flavored with garlic, onion and salt, then crisped at a low
temperature. They're a great source of fiber and are also non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and kosher,
according to Rhythm. The peppers began shipping to Whole Foods Market stores nationwide in July.
" Our mission is to develop delicious plant-based snacks that encourage people to try vegetables
and fruits in new ways that are easy to take on the go, " said Scott Jensen, co-founder and CEO at
Rhythm Superfoods. " We are thrilled to be showing our incredibly tasty vegetable line at Summer
Fancy Food Show. "
supermarketperimeter.com
NOVEMBER 2023 - 55

http://www.supermarketperimeter.com

Supermarket Perimeter - November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Supermarket Perimeter - November 2023