Mills 'Wholeaves' will display heart-check mark
Mills 'Wholeaves' will display heart-check mark
The "Wholeaves" bagged salad program of Salinas, CA-based Mills Family Farms has been certified by the American Heart Association as heart-healthy -- the first bagged salad to receive such designation.
The "Wholeaves" green leaf, red leaf, green cascade mix and Romaine lettuce all have been certified by the American Heart Association, which certifies products that meet food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2. "Wholeaves" are ready-to-use, individual premium lettuce leaves that are individually selected, separated from the core with a patented "no-cut" system, meticulously washed and carefully packed.
Mills Family Farms "Wholeaves" certified products will display the heart-check mark, the recognizable symbol grocery shoppers look for when making heart-healthy food choices.
Dave Mills, senior vice president with family-run Mills Family Farms, said that it made sense to get the product certified.
"I saw [the heart-check mark] on other items and I thought, 'We should qualify for this hands down,'" Mr. Mills said. "The heart-check mark makes the product easily recognizable [as being heart healthy]."
Mr. Mills said that the certification effort dovetails with other Mills Family Farms initiatives, such as its newly revamped web site, and that to start 2006 with the certification is good timing.
"It does raise the level of awareness," Mr. Mills said. "It's a good thing for the whole industry." Mills "Wholeaves" line had been in use at foodservice for several years but only hit retailers a little less than a year ago. The first batch of heart-check mark bags will hit California retailers in a few weeks, Mr. Mills said. The initiative at retail will stay in the West for a while and will move toward the East Coast "when we get the green light," from retailers, Mr. Mills said.
Mills Family Farms "Wholeaves" was a winner of the American Culinary Institute Best of Class award in the foodservice whole leaf lettuce category for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. In addition, "Wholeaves" received the American Culinary Federation nationally acclaimed seal of approval for 2005 and 2006.
The "Wholeaves" green leaf, red leaf, green cascade mix and Romaine lettuce all have been certified by the American Heart Association, which certifies products that meet food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2. "Wholeaves" are ready-to-use, individual premium lettuce leaves that are individually selected, separated from the core with a patented "no-cut" system, meticulously washed and carefully packed.
Mills Family Farms "Wholeaves" certified products will display the heart-check mark, the recognizable symbol grocery shoppers look for when making heart-healthy food choices.
Dave Mills, senior vice president with family-run Mills Family Farms, said that it made sense to get the product certified.
"I saw [the heart-check mark] on other items and I thought, 'We should qualify for this hands down,'" Mr. Mills said. "The heart-check mark makes the product easily recognizable [as being heart healthy]."
Mr. Mills said that the certification effort dovetails with other Mills Family Farms initiatives, such as its newly revamped web site, and that to start 2006 with the certification is good timing.
"It does raise the level of awareness," Mr. Mills said. "It's a good thing for the whole industry." Mills "Wholeaves" line had been in use at foodservice for several years but only hit retailers a little less than a year ago. The first batch of heart-check mark bags will hit California retailers in a few weeks, Mr. Mills said. The initiative at retail will stay in the West for a while and will move toward the East Coast "when we get the green light," from retailers, Mr. Mills said.
Mills Family Farms "Wholeaves" was a winner of the American Culinary Institute Best of Class award in the foodservice whole leaf lettuce category for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. In addition, "Wholeaves" received the American Culinary Federation nationally acclaimed seal of approval for 2005 and 2006.
