WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier this week, United Fresh announced 36 finalists for the United Fresh Produce Association 2018 Innovation Awards. This year’s finalists will compete in seven categories, including the two new categories for 2018—Best New Indoor Growing Technology and Best New Field Technology—for the title of Best New Product at United Fresh 2018. The event will take place June 25-27 in Chicago, where attendees will be able to vote for the finalists during the trade show, choosing the innovative products they like best.

“The fresh produce community is constantly adopting new strategies for growth at an innovative pace,” said President & CEO Tom Stenzel, in a press release. “From new varieties, brands, and merchandising solutions, to advancements in automation, growing technologies, and more, these awards shine a spotlight on the products and solutions that are driving the industry forward.”

The 2018 United Fresh Innovation Awards finalists:

Best New Food Safety Solution:

• The Berry That Cares - Camposol
• Certificates in the Blockchain - DNV GL
• Oversight Mobile - Emerson Cargo Solutions
• ImpactVision's FruitCam - ImpactVisions
• Ivy- Ivy Food Technology, Inc.
• Industrial Size Food Freshness Card - Natures Natural Solutions LLC

Best New Fruit Product

• Apeel - Apeel Sciences
• PAW Patrol Snack Trays - Crunch Pak
• Naturipe Fruit Cups - Naturipe Farms
• Rave™ Apples - Stemilt Growers, LLC

Best New Packaging

• STACKERS by DelFrescoPure - YES!BERRIES Your Everyday Snack! - Del Fresco Produce Ltd.
• Dole Salad Bag Redesign - Dole Food Company
• Fresh Veggie Noodles & Rice - Mann Packing, Co., Inc.
• Sweet Bites® Pail with SUNSET Snack Pack™ - Mastronardi Produce / SUNSET
• Emeralds in the Rough - Mission Produce
• CuteCumber Poppers - Mucci Farms
• Red Sun Farms Resealable Organic Fiber Pint - Red Sun Farms

Best New Packing/Processing Equipment

• Screw Fed Disintegrator M15D-SF - Corenco
• MK-U6000 / Industrial Inkjet Printer - Keyence
• Titano CR 18 - Turatti North America, Inc.
• Volmpack Pouch Bagger - Volm Companies, Inc.

Best New Vegetable Product

• TOMATO CHUTNEY DIY KIT - AMCO Produce Inc.
• Cece's™ Veggie Noodle Co. Riced Organic Broccoli - Cece's Veggie Noodle Co.
• Euro Bean The Gourmet Slicing Bean - DelFresco Pure
• Del Monte Spiral Vegetable Noodles - Del Monte Fresh Produce
• Slawsome - Dole Food Company
• Fresh Express Sauté Kits - Fresh Express, Inc.
• Green Giant Fresh Meal Bowls - Green Giant Fresh
• Mann's Veggie Pasta Nourish Bowls with Plant-based Protein - Mann Packing Co., Inc.
  SUNSET® Aloha™ Peppers - Mastronardi Produce / SUNSET

Best New Field Technology

• SC iOn Tag - CalAmp
• Food Origins Data Collection Platform - Food-Origins
• GROWERSTOCK | Produce on Demand - Growerstock Inc.

Best New Indoor Growing Technology

• Agrilyst Mobile - Agrilyst
• IntelliGrow - Autogrow
• Luna - IUNU

For more information on each of the United Fresh Innovation Awards and its finalists, click here.

United Fresh Produce Association