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NatureSweet, Barilla Present ‘Salads Done Right’

NatureSweet, North America’s leading vertically integrated agricultural company and the top selling brand in snacking tomatoes is teaming up with Barilla, the world’s leading pasta maker, to transform salads with the launch of their co-branded campaign, “Salads Done Right,” offering a new spin on salads.

The combination of NatureSweet Cherubs snacking tomatoes — packed with antioxidants — and Barilla’s newest addition to its line of Protein+ pastas – Cellentani (pronounced, “CHELL’-en-tah-nee”) — boosts the nutritional value of each salad. Barilla Protein+ Cellentani is a corkscrew shape pasta made with classic golden wheat and protein from chickpeas, lentils and peas. The pasta combined with sweet snacking tomatoes is a fusion of flavors and textures that elevate any salad to a delicious and nutritious meal.

“This partnership is creating mouthwatering summer pasta salads that are packed with protein, fiber, calcium, and even more vitamins and minerals,” says Lori Castillo, NatureSweet vice president of marketing. “Our fresh and sweet snacking tomatoes complement the pasta recipes beautifully, the perfect balance— light, refreshing, and satisfying— for families on-the-go, embarking on their next summer adventure.”

In addition to inspiring recipes, the “Salads Done Right” campaign will feature strategically located signage in both produce and pasta aisles, captivating custom displays, retail media placements, and targeted digital advertising to engage online consumers at Kroger and ShopRite stores.

“Pasta salad season is one of our favorite times of the year at Barilla,” says Angie Cotter, U.S. pasta brand marketing director, Barilla Americas. “Pasta is truly the perfect base to any salad and the addition of NatureSweet snacking tomatoes is a great pairing. We hope that our partnership together inspires fans to get creative in the kitchen as they prep for BBQs, picnics or weekly meals.”

For a summer filled with flavor and nutrition, NatureSweet and Barilla invite you to explore new ways to add protein to your diet through their exciting range of salad creations such as:
Barilla Protein+ Cellentani Caprese Pasta Salad with NatureSweet Cherubs
Cellentani Antipasto Pasta Salad with Cherubs
Penne with Spring Vegetables

The Barilla and NatureSweet campaign will run from May 27 to July 13.

NatureSweet is the single-source solution for greenhouse-grown vegetables and is the #1 best-selling brand in snacking tomatoes. The largest vertically integrated agriculture company in North America, NatureSweet guarantees great tasting produce year-round, both organic and conventional. Our vegetables are carefully grown, harvested, and packaged by more than 6,000 directly employed company associates.

NatureSweet tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers are handpicked at the peak of freshness and sold at major supermarket retailers throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. NatureSweet is dedicated to having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact within our communities, and our commitment is to transform the lives of agricultural workers throughout North America. This work, as well as our efforts regarding sustainability, have led us to earn B Corp, Fair Trade, and the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) certifications.

Barilla is a family business, not listed on the Stock Exchange, chaired by the brothers Guido, Luca and Paolo Barilla. It was founded by their great-grandfather Pietro Barilla, who opened a bakery in Parma in 1877. Today, Barilla is renowned in Italy and around the world for the excellence of its food products. With its brands – Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pan di Stelle, Gran Cereale, Harrys, Pavesi, Wasa, Filiz, Yemina and Vesta, Misko, Voiello, Academia Barilla, First, Catelli, Lancia, Splendor, Back To Nature and Pasta Evangelists – it advocates tasty, hearty and nutrition, inspired by the Mediterranean Diet and the Italian lifestyle.

For more news of interest to the produce industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Tree Top Renews With NASCAR’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kroger Racing

Tree Top, a farmer-owned, farmer-grown brand and leading producer of high-quality fruit-based products, including apple sauces and juices, has renewed its partnership with 2023 Daytona 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the Kroger Racing team for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. Tree Top will be featured as the co-primary sponsor of Stenhouse’s No. 47 Camaro ZL1 at the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on Sunday, March 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

This is the second consecutive year that Tree Top has teamed up with the Kroger Racing team and Stenhouse. As part of the season-long partnership, Tree Top’s apple sauce and apple juice will be displayed on the No. 47 Camaro ZL1. The collaboration also connects Tree Top with consumers through in-store activations and product displays at Kroger retail locations and brand integrations across digital and social media.

“As a strategic partner in the Kroger Racing program, Tree Top continues to heighten its presence through promotions and consumer activations across various Kroger divisions in core race markets,” said Brad Olsen, vice president of marketing, Tree Top. “This partnership helps foster deeper connections with brand-loyal consumers nationwide as we also sponsor the No. 47 Camaro and 2023 DAYTONA 500 Champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. We’re excited to continue the sweetness of success both on and off the track, online and in-store during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season to ultimately boost sales of our Tree Top feel-good flavors. We’ll see you at the races!”

Live coverage of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 3 begins at 12:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. ET) and airs on FOX, MRN Radio Network and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

Tree Top is a farmer-owned, farmer-grown cooperative owned by apple and pear growers. The cooperative was founded in 1960 in the heart of Washington’s apple country.

Tree Top has led the way in premium-quality juices and apple sauce. With their fruit expertise and trusted sources of fruit, they now produce the widest array of fruit-based products and solutions for consumers and for most of the world’s leading food and beverage manufacturers. Tree Top operates six production facilities near the fruit in Washington, Oregon and California to create healthful fruit products made from simple ingredients to the delight of consumers around the world. To learn more, please visit TreeTop.com.

For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Publix Donates 1.3M Pounds of Produce to Feeding America Food Banks

Publix donates to food banksAs part of Publix’s ongoing commitment to helping alleviate hunger, the company is purchasing and delivering another 1.3 million pounds of fresh produce to 32 Feeding America partner food banks this holiday season. This donation is in addition to the 1.3 million pounds of produce Publix donated at Thanksgiving.

These donations are part of the company’s commitment through its biannual Feeding More Together register campaign. Publix donates $10 million each year to purchase and deliver produce to Feeding America partner food banks. Customer donations provide shelf-stable and additional perishable food for local food banks and pantries. In 2023 alone, Publix has donated more than 24 million pounds of produce to Feeding America partner food banks.

“As we head into a season that should be full of joy, many families and individuals in our communities struggle to put food on their tables,” said Publix CEO Todd Jones. “We want to help make this time a little brighter by providing fresh produce for people in need. At Publix, we’re committed to helping alleviate hunger and doing good, together for our communities.”

Publix, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 250,000 associates, currently operates 1,359 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. For 26 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.

Below are the 32 Feeding America partner food banks receiving produce:

Alabama

  • Central Alabama Food Bank
  • Feeding the Gulf Coast
  • Food Bank of North Alabama
  • Montgomery Area Food Bank

Florida

  • Feeding Northeast Florida
  • Feeding South Florida
  • Feeding Tampa Bay
  • Harry Chapin Food Bank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
  • Second Harvest of the Big Bend
  • Treasure Coast Food Bank

Georgia

  • America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
  • Atlanta Community Food Bank
  • Feeding the Valley Food Bank
  • Food Bank of Northeast Georgia
  • Second Harvest of South Georgia

Kentucky

  • Dare to Care Food Bank

North Carolina

  • Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
  • Food Bank of the Albemarle
  • Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
  • MANNA FoodBank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

South Carolina

  • Harvest Hope
  • Lowcountry Food Bank

Tennessee

  • Chattanooga Area Food Bank
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Virginia

  • Feed More
  • Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank
  • Virginia Peninsula Foodbank

For more news of interest to the grocery industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

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