Freshway Foods will introduce its new spring and summer line of deli salads at the upcoming Southern Exposure food show. The new salads feature bold flavors and on-trend ingredients, including ancient grains, plant-based protein and dark leafy greens.

“These new salads fill an unmet need in the deli,” Chef Douglas Bond, new product development manager for Freshway Foods, said in a press release.Sunny Orange Kale Salad. “We have heard from consumers that they want more variety in the deli case, including lighter dressings, superfoods like kale and cauliflower, and colorful heirloom varieties. These salads feature lighter, brighter flavors, but are hearty enough to serve as an entrée. They also make great prepared salads for use on salad bars.”

The new salads:

• Sunny Orange Kale: Hearty and healthy, with kale, cauliflower and savory green onions, sweet, crunchy rainbow carrots, mild, juicy cucumber and nutty quinoa, tossed in a fruity, refreshing citrus vinaigrette.
• Farro Tabbouleh: Classic Mediterranean flavors updated, with nutty farro and refreshing cucumber and tomato, tossed with parsley and a sweet and tart lemon herb vinaigrette.
• Italian Garden Couscous: Bright and refreshing, with juicy cucumber and tomato, savory red and green pepper, red cabbage and onion, protein-packed chickpeas and sweet corn, tossed in a lemon herb vinaigrette.
• Luau Fruit Salad: A taste of the islands with tropical pineapple and coconut, juicy red grapes and Mandarin oranges, crunchy apples and mini marshmallows, lightly tossed in a smoky BBQ sauce.
• BBQ Bacon Apple Salad: A hearty salad with kale, red cabbage, crunchy apples, savory red onion and smoky bacon, tossed in a sweet and smoky BBQ-infused onion vinaigrette.
• Broccoli, Blue Cheese & Grape Slaw: Sweet and savory, with juicy grapes, bold, creamy blue cheese, crunchy broccoli, carrot and red cabbage, and nutty quinoa, tossed in a sweet and smoky onion vinaigrette.

The new salads focus on trendy flavors that are especially popular with Millennial shoppers. “Our Farro Tabbouleh and Italian Garden Couscous salads highlight flavors and ingredients found in a Mediterranean diet,” Bond said in the release. “We are seeing a renewed interest in regional BBQ in the United States, and our BBQ Bacon Apple Salad is a salute to the backyard barbecue. One of the latest trends is Hawaiian flavors, and we developed our Luau Fruit Salad to be a familiar taste of the tropics.”

Freshway plans to sample the Sunny Orange Kale salad at the upcoming Southern Exposure food show, sponsored by the Southeast Produce Council. “We invite everyone to stop by booth No. 221 to try this bright, delicious salad,” said Bond.