Produce / Floral

It would be hard to think of a new dimension the nutrition navigation system idea, various versions of which are currently being employed by retailers, CPG companies, private label product vendors and others, but a new initiative has done just that: The Affordable Nutrition Index (ANI), a food-rating program that analyzes both nutrition and cost value of food, made its official debut yesterday at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in Denver.

Campbell Soup Co. and the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) have joined forces to show people how to incorporate more vegetables in their diets, for optimal health. Currently, seven out of 10 Americans aren’t getting the recommended average of five vegetable servings daily.

Previously only available in an 11-ounce size, the new one-liter Tetra Pak containers of ZICO Pure Premium Coconut Water flavored varieties help meet growing demand for the exotic beverage in a larger, re-sealable package, while also offering greater value.

Just in time for trick-or-treating season, Ridgewood, N.J.-based YummyEarth has created what it says is the world’s first USDA- and EU-certified organic gummy bears with the quintessential bouncy texture of a traditional gummy bear

The latest açai-flavored offering from San Clemente, Calif.-based Sambazon is Antioxidant Elixir, a organic “revitalizing” beverage packed with powerful antioxidants and 600 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin C while containing fewer calories, less sugar and no fat.

Consumers now have a deliciously simple way to get their required servings of fruit, thanks to Yoplait Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies from Minneapolis-based General Mills.

The recent winner of a 2009 Beverage Innovation award in the category of Best Labeling or Decorative Finish at the Drinktec trade show in Munich, Germany, Borojo Organic Energy Drink is naturally high in the vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids found in the rainforest superfruit borojo, according to the Boca Raton, Fla.-based producer, Borojo Beverages, LLC.

Even as the economy begins to rebound, budget-friendly private labels continue to draw in consumers, according to a new report from Chicago-based Information Resources, Inc. (IRI). The report, “IRI Times & Trends Report: Game-Changing Economy Taking Private Label to New Heights” found that private label unit share has grown to 22.8 percent (up 1.2 points) in the past 12 months, while dollar share has grown 0.7 points to 17.6 percent.