Z&S Fresh introduces peach salsa kit in 'Old El Paso Fresh' label
Z&S Fresh introduces peach salsa kit in 'Old El Paso Fresh' label
FRESNO, CA -- Z&S Fresh Inc., here, which last fall introduced a fresh tomato salsa kit under the "Old El Paso Fresh" label, is now launching a peach salsa kit under the same label. The new product was expected to begin shipping about mid-June, according to Justin Bedwell, the company's director of marketing.
Z&S entered into an agreement with General Mills in August to ship fresh produce items under General Mills' "Old El Paso Fresh" brand, following the successful test marketing of some lemons and bell peppers under that brand several months earlier. Since then, several other items have been added, such as other citrus items, onions and avocados, in addition to the tomato salsa kit.
The tomato salsa kit, which was scheduled to be launched about June 15, consists of four Roma tomatoes, one white onion, two jalapeno peppers, a serrano pepper, a lime, and a packet of spices all contained in a clear plastic clamshell, according to Mr. Bedwell.
The new peach salsa kit is similar in its composition, but rather than tomatoes, it will have four yellow-flesh peaches. "It has two chili peppers," one less than in the tomato salsa kit, and "we are substituting a red onion in this kit" for the white onion in the tomato salsa kit. "It will also have a lime and then a seasoning packet," Mr. Bedwell said.
Directions for making the salsa are also included and the kit yields about 24 ounces of salsa.
"We are going to be borrowing from our idea of the tomato salsa kit and see if we can increase peach consumption," he said. In discussing the idea with growers, "we decided it would maybe be a nice outlet for some smaller-size peaches" that will fit in the clamshell, he said.
"I'll be honest with you, I was a little bit skeptical" when the idea of marketing a peach salsa kit was first discussed at Z&S, Mr. Bedwell said. "But we made up a sample batch over here" during the past winter, using Chilean peaches that were available at the time. "We ... bought a whole lot of pork chops, grilled them up," and covered them with the salsa, "and I'll tell you, it was just delicious," he said. "It's got a real sweet flavor, with a little bit of a spicy kick to it."
"People in the know say that peach salsa is used primarily as a condiment with pork ... seafood and poultry," he said.
The varieties of peaches used in the peach salsa kit will be selected for their flavor, Mr. Bedwell stated.
"The reason we waited until June" to begin packing and shipping the product "is we wanted to wait for some of the better varieties," he said, adding that the quality and timing of the California peach crop is such that "this year we probably could have gotten away with it a little earlier."
The plan is to start with "some of the Lady varieties" such as Rich Lady and Fancy Lady, he said. "We will be using the Elegant Lady when we get into July." Those are "some of the better-eating, true peach-flavored peaches," he said. The peach salsa kits will be packed in both Reedley, CA, and in Los Angeles, he said.
The plan is to keep the product seasonal, using fresh California peaches, Mr. Bedwell said. "We are going to pack it from the middle of June to probably the middle of September."
It will be marketed primarily to customers in the Midwest and the East "where our 'Old El Paso' concentration is higher," he said. "But we've also got a chain down in L.A." that will be carrying the product.
Z&S entered into an agreement with General Mills in August to ship fresh produce items under General Mills' "Old El Paso Fresh" brand, following the successful test marketing of some lemons and bell peppers under that brand several months earlier. Since then, several other items have been added, such as other citrus items, onions and avocados, in addition to the tomato salsa kit.
The tomato salsa kit, which was scheduled to be launched about June 15, consists of four Roma tomatoes, one white onion, two jalapeno peppers, a serrano pepper, a lime, and a packet of spices all contained in a clear plastic clamshell, according to Mr. Bedwell.
The new peach salsa kit is similar in its composition, but rather than tomatoes, it will have four yellow-flesh peaches. "It has two chili peppers," one less than in the tomato salsa kit, and "we are substituting a red onion in this kit" for the white onion in the tomato salsa kit. "It will also have a lime and then a seasoning packet," Mr. Bedwell said.
Directions for making the salsa are also included and the kit yields about 24 ounces of salsa.
"We are going to be borrowing from our idea of the tomato salsa kit and see if we can increase peach consumption," he said. In discussing the idea with growers, "we decided it would maybe be a nice outlet for some smaller-size peaches" that will fit in the clamshell, he said.
"I'll be honest with you, I was a little bit skeptical" when the idea of marketing a peach salsa kit was first discussed at Z&S, Mr. Bedwell said. "But we made up a sample batch over here" during the past winter, using Chilean peaches that were available at the time. "We ... bought a whole lot of pork chops, grilled them up," and covered them with the salsa, "and I'll tell you, it was just delicious," he said. "It's got a real sweet flavor, with a little bit of a spicy kick to it."
"People in the know say that peach salsa is used primarily as a condiment with pork ... seafood and poultry," he said.
The varieties of peaches used in the peach salsa kit will be selected for their flavor, Mr. Bedwell stated.
"The reason we waited until June" to begin packing and shipping the product "is we wanted to wait for some of the better varieties," he said, adding that the quality and timing of the California peach crop is such that "this year we probably could have gotten away with it a little earlier."
The plan is to start with "some of the Lady varieties" such as Rich Lady and Fancy Lady, he said. "We will be using the Elegant Lady when we get into July." Those are "some of the better-eating, true peach-flavored peaches," he said. The peach salsa kits will be packed in both Reedley, CA, and in Los Angeles, he said.
The plan is to keep the product seasonal, using fresh California peaches, Mr. Bedwell said. "We are going to pack it from the middle of June to probably the middle of September."
It will be marketed primarily to customers in the Midwest and the East "where our 'Old El Paso' concentration is higher," he said. "But we've also got a chain down in L.A." that will be carrying the product.
