Ready Pac(R) Offers New Premium Fresh-Cut Fruit Program

    IRWINDALE, Calif., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- To kick off the summer fruit
 season, Ready Pac introduces new Premium Fresh-Cut Fruit combinations that
 provide delicious ready-to-eat fruit in convenient personal and party
 sizes.
     The new premium fresh-cut fruit blends include: Grape, Blueberry,
 Cantaloupe; Strawberry, Kiwi, Mango; Super Fruit Medley (Cantaloupe,
 Pineapple, Grape, Strawberry, Kiwi, Red/Green Apples, Blueberry,
 Blackberry); Berry Blend (Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry); Super Summer
 Splash (Strawberry, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Kiwi, Grapes, Blueberry,
 Blackberry); Tropical Fruit with Lemon Dip; Apples with Cinnamon Creme and
 a Fruit-Cheese-Vegetables combination tray.
     "Premium fruit blends, especially those that include fresh tropical
 fruits and berries, are growing 34% faster than non-premium fruit, said Ali
 Leon, director of fruit, vegetables and corporate communications for Ready
 Pac. "Our new premium fruit combinations provide healthy and delicious
 options for consumers looking for new, more upscale varieties and taste
 options and along with the convenience of ready-to-eat."
     To meet this shift in consumer taste, Ready Pac has upgraded and
 resized some of its other popular fruit favorites. Fruit Frenzy, that
 formerly contained mostly melons, will include more apples, grapes and
 pineapple. Mango Fandango will increase the mango, pineapple and grape
 combination. Fruit Trey Bien will add mangos and apples as well.
     Along with the new premium blends, Ready Pac has also changed the
 container sizes for some of its fruit selections to better meet consumers'
 needs.
     "We understand that a serving size may vary depending on the fruit
 combination and consumer preference," says Leon. "So we've adjusted our
 container sizes to better fit what shoppers want -- both individual and
 party sized fruit trays."
     Ready Pac Premium Fresh-Cut Fruit is showcased in crystal clear
 containers so consumers can instantly see the product quality. An
 appetizing and colorful top-of-the-package label is designed to better
 appeal to the primarily female consumer.
     Ready Pac Premium Fresh-Cut Fruit offerings have a suggested retail
 price of $2.99 for a 6-ounce serving, to $5.99 for a 32-ounce serving.
 Party Trays are priced at $15.99. The products will be in stores nationwide
 in mid-June and will be supported by an in-store marketing campaign. Ready
 Pac adds these new and updated fruit offerings to its popular line of
 complete salads and fresh-cut produce.
     California-based Ready Pac is a premier producer of convenience fresh
 foods, including fresh-cut produce. With processing facilities throughout
 the U.S., Ready Pac's award-winning salads, fresh-cut fruit and vegetables
 are distributed in supermarkets and restaurant chains across North America.
 For more information, visit http://www.readypac.com.
 
 

SOURCE Ready Pac Foods, Inc.