Fresh Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International Inc., has launched eight new products, including a line of Functional Health Salad Kits, as well as expanded offerings to existing lines. These products will be available on shelves starting March 18 nationwide.

"Consumers today want to be healthier, but they're busier than ever," Bob Stallman, Chiquita's vice president of marketing for salads and healthy snacking, said in a press release. "By continuously offering healthy, new, innovative salad kits, we hope to provide these consumers with more options to be healthy — without having to sacrifice time or taste."

Fresh Express said that its newest line of salad kits, Functional Health Salad Kits, redefine salads by focusing on a specific health need and delivering benefits for it — in the most delicious and convenient way possible. Functional Health Salad Kits are available in Heart Health, Antioxidant and Digestive Health.

Functional Health Salad Kits

• Heart Health Kit: The Heart Health Kit aims to be as good for consumer taste buds as it is for the consumer's heart. The Heart Health Kit includes ingredients specifically chosen for their health benefits, such as spinach, kale, beet tops, shredded broccoli, shredded carrots, dried cranberries and sliced almonds with basil balsamic vinaigrette that combined qualify the kit as heart healthy, according to the FDA's "Guidance for Industry: A Food Labeling Guide (11. Appendix C: Health Claims)."
• Antioxidant Kit: Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E work hard in the body to maintain cell and tissue health. The Antioxidant Kit — with a blend of spinach, baby kale, red cabbage, shredded carrots, feta cheese, sunflower kernels and dried blueberries with pomegranate blueberry vinaigrette — provides an excellent source of vitamins C and a good source of vitamin E.
• Digestive Health Kit: Fiber helps maintain a healthy digestive system. Women need 25 grams of fiber per day, and men need 38 grams per day, according to the Institute of Medicine. The Digestive Health Kit contains three grams of fiber per serving and features a mix of spinach, baby kale, pak choi, beet tops, shredded carrots, dates, sliced almonds and flaxseed with a sesame ginger dressing.

Juicing Greens Line Expansion:

As more consumers continue to incorporate greens into their smoothies and juices, Fresh Express' Juicing Greens line will expand its offering with three new products: Vitality, Refresh and Organic. The Juicing Greens line provides a nutrient-dense, convenient, and pre-washed way to include greens in juices and smoothies.

• Vitality: A spring mix, baby kale and shredded carrots.
• Refresh: Spinach, chard, baby kale and beet tops.
• Organic: An organic version of the existing Juicing Green classic, Replenish, Organic offers a mix of baby kale and spinach.

In addition to it's Juicing Greens Organic product, Fresh Express another USDA-certified product to its Organic portfolio: Super Greens, a blend of spinach, arugula and chard.

Fresh Express also added a Caesar Kit with Greek Yogurt Dressing. It features Greek Yogurt Caesar dressing, with half the calories and fat of traditional Caesar dressings, and restaurant-style garlic croutons for added flavor and crunch.