he idea “. . . peel me a grape . . .” in the popular song may seem an outlandish extreme in service, but the produce industry seems to be taking the idea a step further.
Foodservice customers can now get packages of single, separated leaves of romaine that have been washed, trimmed, sized, chilled, and ready to go directly into the bowl or plate. There’s even a choice of colors.
Mann Packing Company, located in Salinas, California, a leading supplier of fresh-cut vegetables, has added Simply Singles Whole Leaf Salad Products to its line of foodservice items. The product is available as romaine, green leaf, and red leaf single leaves, and comes in a 5- or 10-pound cartons. The leaves are 6- to 12-inches long, and have a shelf life of 19 days.
Gina Nucci, the company’s food service marketing manager say, “Each leaf of ‘Simply Singles’ is washed individually three different times, and a patented method for removing the leaves from the head of romaine is used. The procedure dramatically slows the oxidation which occurs almost immediately when traditional cutting methods are used.”
Mills Inc. located in Salinas, California, and River Ranch Fresh Foods, Inc, also located in Salinas, have formed a joint venture, Whole Leaf LLC, with Golden Northern Produce Company in Salinas, to market trimmed whole leaf lettuce.
Wholeaves are single lettuce leaves, individually selected and separated by a no-cut system, meticulously cleaned, and carefully hand-packed. The leaves are pulled from the lettuce core, rather than cut, and the patented process allows for a long shelf life, within the proper cold chain. Varieties available for food service are romaine crown leaves, red and green leaf crowns, romaine heart leaves, red and green leaf hearts, and green cascade mix.
Dave Mills, vice president of sales and production at Mills Inc., says, “Our business of romaine in cartons has increased, but the growth of ‘Wholeaves’ vegetables has been particularly significant. Chefs are discovering them as value-added items, carefully washed, separated for size, and ready to use. This allows them to save labor costs, have a perfect product, and still use their creativity. Caterers loves the product because it cuts preparation time, and can be easily used for plate liners, deli trays, and deli case decor. Hand-pulling the leaves from the core gives the product a bright appearance and longer shelf life without preservatives or a breathable bag.”
Misionero Vegetables, located in Salinas, CA, uses the “Garden Cuts” label for its individual leaves of romaine, which have been triple-washed, trimmed, and packed in re-sealable bags. Greg Gattis, vice president of sales and marketing, explains, “The individual leaf product is 100 percent usable. It is packaged in convenient sizes, and each bag is equivalent to one head of lettuce. The product is processed in a state-of-the-art plant, and we market three varieties: romaine, and green and red leaf. It is excellent for salads, sandwiches, party trays, and more.”
