While Brussels sprouts are a popular item for Thanksgiving Day menus, this year, they might be featured in a new way. Last month, Ocean Mist Farms debuted its new Roastables line of washed and trimmed, halved Brussels sprouts at the IFPA show with the goal of getting the vegetable on consumers' tables faster, and easier, yet still with health in mind.
The Roastables kits come in three flavors all developed by chefs–Sweet Sesame, Lemon Caesar, and Sun-Dried tomato. When creating the line, several markers had to be met: not only would the vegetable need to be the feature, but they had to take no more than two steps to prepare and they had to contain 100 percent natural ingredients. (Each kit contains an all-natural seasoning packet and a crispy garnish to add to the texture of the dish.)
"Nutrition and flavor don't have to be mutually exclusive," said Mark Munger, senior director of marketing. "We collaborated closely with a culinary team in San Francisco to develop the unique flavor profiles for our new Roastables. Our goal was to create dishes that not only deliver exceptional taste but also replicate the indulgent dining experience of a fine restaurant."
Expanding meal kit options
Roastables come at a time when health-oriented meal solutions kits continue to grow in the marketplace following the debut of bagged salads at retail in 1989. After all, Global Market Insights reports that the processed fruits and vegetables market size was valued at just over $352 billion in 2023 and is projected to incur an additional 6.7 percent growth rate between 2024 and 2032. What is driving this growth? Consumers increasingly looking for convenient, nutritious, and long-lasting food products.
"The category has evolved significantly, expanding well beyond the convenience of pre-peeled, cored, or cut produce. Today, value-added fresh produce items that are ready-to-eat/cook and easy to prepare have entered the "meal kit" category. These kits offer complete solutions that include seasonings, sauces, toppings, and other meal accompaniments designed to create a fully prepared dish," says Munger.
With that in mind, Ocean Mist Farms is already in development with its next items in the line which will feature other premium vegetable products grown exclusively by the company.
For more information:
Lori Bigras
Ocean Mist Farms
[email protected]
https://www.oceanmist.com/