Pero Vegetable Co. unveils individually wrapped squash
Pero Vegetable Co. unveils individually wrapped squash
CHICAGO -- Pero Vegetable Co. Inc. in Delray Beach, FL, unveiled individually wrapped green and yellow squash at the United Produce Show, held here May 5-9.
Frank Pero, vice president of Pero Vegetable Co. Inc., said that the new line addresses two major areas of concern for retailers: shrink and food safety.
The individual pieces of squash "are never touched by a [bare] human hand," said Mr. Pero, explaining that field workers harvest them with gloved hands before they are wrapped in plastic. Then, while at retail, the plastic protects the items from the hands of customers sorting through the display.
Craig Underhill, director of sales and program development, said that shrink is "reduced to virtually nothing," and shelf life is extended to 15 days at a minimum on yellow squash and 20 days on zucchini. Mr. Underhill said that it is a premium product, and "only the best of the best goes into the pack."
The individually wrapped squash is shipped in 14-pound boxes. The company also offers individually wrapped peppers, but was still working out the pepper packs as of the United show.
Frank Pero, vice president of Pero Vegetable Co. Inc., said that the new line addresses two major areas of concern for retailers: shrink and food safety.
The individual pieces of squash "are never touched by a [bare] human hand," said Mr. Pero, explaining that field workers harvest them with gloved hands before they are wrapped in plastic. Then, while at retail, the plastic protects the items from the hands of customers sorting through the display.
Craig Underhill, director of sales and program development, said that shrink is "reduced to virtually nothing," and shelf life is extended to 15 days at a minimum on yellow squash and 20 days on zucchini. Mr. Underhill said that it is a premium product, and "only the best of the best goes into the pack."
The individually wrapped squash is shipped in 14-pound boxes. The company also offers individually wrapped peppers, but was still working out the pepper packs as of the United show.