Supermarket Perimeter - August 2021 - 70

SPOTLIGHT
VALUE-ADDED
PRODUCE
by Emily Park
IN ARLINGTON, VA.-BASED
FMI'S 2021 Power of Produce
Report, data shows that the valueadded
produce category grew by
8.1% year-over-year in 2020, with
a 6% increase in shoppers who
buy value-added items frequently.
" There is ample room for
retailers to encourage greater
uptake in value-added produce,
with six in 10 shoppers being
occasional users, " according to
the report. " Importantly, valueadded
produce is purchased
by those who consume fresh
produce just about every day
- signaling the added level of
convenience is driving aboveaverage
consumption. "
As value-added produce
continues to grow, Washington,
DC-based United Fresh's
Fresh-Cut Processors Board
offers an increasing library
of resources for value-added
produce manufacturers at www.
unitedfresh.org/resources/
fresh-cut-processor/.
" For produce processors,
growers and shippers, it's
important to understand what
design features to look for when
evaluating packaging machinery,
and what benefits these design
features provide, " said MagonHaller.
" Choosing the right
equipment will not only help
comply with FSMA standards,
but will provide other benefits,
such as peace of mind and
less downtime spent cleaning
equipment. "
IN ONE OF United Fresh's peer resource provided
materials, Kim Magon-Haller, marketing manager for
Chicago-based Triangle Package Machinery Company,
provides tips for choosing the right equipment to ensure
food safety when packaging value-added produce.
1. Look for design features that prevent puddling, standing
water, or product build-up. Machines that are sanitary by design
should include cross members that are turned 90°, and
all edges should have a finished edge that is ground smooth.
2. Avoid crevices or 'sandwiched' metal you can't clean
between. A welded frame is more sanitary than a frame that
is bolted together. Look for welds designed with an open
radius and ground smooth to be wiped clean.
3. Look for machine frames designed with electro-polished
stainless steel. Electropolishing is a 'super passivation' process
that first acid washes the material to remove any impurities,
then brings the nickel to the surface, so it is easier to clean.
4. The use of aluminum should be minimal. Be sure that
aluminum does not come in contact with your product and
is only used where necessary. Any aluminum used should be
anodized or specially treated to 3-A standards or above to
withstand cleaning agents.
5. Look for easy access not just through the machine,
but beneath it. A good rule of thumb is for the machine's
lowest cross members to be 6 inches off the ground to allow
accessibility and cleaning under the machine.
6. Can you conduct a quick visual inspection of the machine?
Remember, if you can't see it, you can't clean it. You want the
ability to visually inspect a machine within minutes without
having to remove any covers. With an easily accessible design,
you don't need high-pressure water to access the parts you
can't reach. In fact, high pressure water just scatters and
redistributes the debris.
7. Look for sealing jaws and back seal components that can
be easily removed for cleaning. Make sure elements such as
forming tubes, sealing jaws, and back seal components can be
quickly removed without the use of tools for easy cleaning.
The valueadded
produce
category grew by
8.1% year-overyear
in 2020.
8. What is the significance of 3-A certification? With 3-A
certification, you can rest assured that packaging equipment
manufacturers have gone through a rigorous approval process
and have had their equipment reviewed by an independent
third party.
70 - AUGUST 2021
supermarketperimeter.com
BRANEX - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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