Grower-owned cooperative Oregon Cherry Growers, known for perfecting the original maraschino cherry and debuting the first line of natural, non-GMO certified maraschinos, is unveiling its latest innovation in the industry – this time in packaging. The new, convenient pouch-style packaging is the first of its kind and has already received the National Restaurant Association FABI Award after its debut at Natural Products Expo West in March.
The single-serve foodservice pouches, are easy to open, and filled with colorful and flavorful cherries. They provide a convenient, portion controlled option for operators who use maraschinos as a key ingredient, but don't want the hassle of refrigerating and storing bulk containers. The new maraschino pouches eliminate mess, waste and storage space requirements, and are pasteurized for safety and improved freshness. In informal interviews, 76 percent of bartenders said they preferred the maraschino pouch to their current product, with 100 percent saying it was easier to fill their cherry condiment trays. The traditional maraschino pouch carries approximately 25 cherries, while the larger Bordeaux-Style cherry pouch averages around 18 per pouch.
“Maraschino cherries are an ingredient in nearly every bar and restaurant in the nation,” said Tim Ramsey, Oregon Cherry Growers President and CEO. “In addition to providing the absolute best product to our foodservice customers, we’re consistently striving to improve the overall product experience, on both sides of the bar. The new Maraschino Foodservice Pouches are held to the same standard of quality as all our products, and add a level of convenience for operators not currently offered by any other maraschino manufacturer in the world.”
Excitement about the new packaging innovation is already evident among foodservice operators. The pouches are the recipient of a National Restaurant Association 2015 Food and Beverage (FABI) Award, which recognizes progressive food and beverage products that will make a substantial impact in the restaurant industry.
The Maraschino single-serve Foodservice Pouches are packaged in cases of sixteen 9 oz. packages, in both traditional Maraschino and natural Bordeaux Maraschino varieties. Both varieties have a shelf life of one year, are kosher and halal certified, and free of gluten, cholesterol, sodium and trans fats. The Bordeaux style are free of preservatives and made with natural colors and flavors.
If interested in receiving samples of the product line to test, contact Matthew Gillespie at [email protected] or 503.364.8421.
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