News
Top Yale Researchers Give Strawberries Highest Overall Nutrition Rating
August 25, 2008
Strawberries earn the highest nutrient-density score based on findings by the Overall Nutrition Quality Index (ONQI), a measurement system developed by Yale's Prevention Research Center and several leading health and nutrition experts. The system ranks foods on a numeric scale: strawberries received 100, the highest score possible.
These findings show strawberries as one of the healthiest foods available to consumers. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, strawberries are the healthiest choice for maintaining, as well as improving overall health. Both the USDA's My Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines urge Americans to choose nutrient-dense foods like strawberries when making healthful food choices.
This fall, the ONQI scores will be in more than 5,000 grocery stores with hopes of increasing the ease in which average shoppers make their food purchasing decisions. This chart highlights a range of fruits, vegetables and other popular foods and their scores.
Displaying the stellar nutritional profile of strawberries with point of purchase and education information will encourage sales of these all-around nutritious fruits.
In addition to being loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients, strawberries are a natural "super food." Eating just eight strawberries a day has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve memory and heart health, reduce the incidence of obesity and lower the risk of some cancers.
Adding strawberries as part of a balanced lifestyle can improve overall health. These health benefits are already recognized by elite athletes from around the world who requested strawberries to be served at the Beijing Olympics.
The concept of ranking foods based on their nutrient density is not a new one. It has been favored by the nutrition community for providing accurate measurement of a food's overall nutrition. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, nutrient-dense foods are those providing the greatest amounts of vitamins and minerals with the fewest calories.
The California Strawberry Commission is a state government agency that represents an industry of more than 500 growers and 60 shippers and processors of California strawberries. With a focus on food safety education, Commission strategies also include production and nutrition research, trade relations, public policy and marketing communications.
For more information contact the California Strawberry Commission at 831.724.1301.
How'd That Get on My Plate?
New Food Network Program Features Driscoll's Strawberries
July 15, 2008
Food Network has launched a new program this summer and Driscoll's strawberries will be featured on the July 28th episode. How'd That Get on My Plate? featuring Food Network host Sunny Anderson follows the fascinating journey of a single ingredient (such as eggs, strawberries, garlic, honey or apples) as it moves from its raw state into a finished, iconic product. From the farm to the factory to the market, Sunny travels the country showcasing the technology and innovation it takes to produce today's favorite foods.
The episode entitled 'Strawberry' will first air Monday, July 28th at 8:30PM. Eastern and Pacific Time. The program will feature interviews shot on location at Driscoll's in Watsonville in episode. Filmed on May 31, Ms. Anderson talked to Driscoll's strawberry plant breeder Phillip Stuart about what he looks for in a new Driscoll's variety. Visiting Driscoll's home ranch test plots, Sunny got a chance to try what might be the next great Driscoll's variety.
Also interviewed for the program was Watsonville strawberry grower Steve Garrett, a second generation farmer who grows Driscoll's berries. Finally, Ms. Anderson donned warm clothes for a visit to Driscoll's cooler to see how Driscoll's berries are graded and prepared for market. Quality assurance specialist David Medina talked about how Driscoll's assures that nothing but the sweetest berries make it into a Driscoll's package.
The Food Network, seen in more than ninety million households, is popular with food professionals, foodies and everyday consumers. How'd That Get on My Plate? explores how cutting edge technology can take simple raw ingredients and transform them into your favorite foods. To check times this episode will appear, visit www.foodnetwork.com.
Driscoll's is a third generation, family-owned and -operated fresh berry company. As the world's leading berry company, Driscoll's uses natural breeding methods to create plant varieties that produce The Finest Berries in the World®. Driscoll's mission is to Continually Delight Berry Consumers. Driscoll's conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe, and are available year 'round.
Driscoll's Supports Gala American Institute of Wine and Food Event
July 15, 2008
Food and wine enthusiasts from around the country gathered in the Monterey-Carmel area for the national leader's symposium of the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF), and Driscoll's sponsored the institute's gala dinner Sunday evening at Pebble Beach.
Founded by the late Robert Mondavi and the late Julia Childs, the American Institute of Wine & Food has worked to improve the understanding, appreciation and accessibility of food and drink. AIWF has 27 chapters throughout the United States with more than 4,000 members including restaurateurs, food educators, nutritionists, chefs, wine professionals and dedicated food and wine enthusiasts.
"We are very proud to be sponsors of the AIWF Gala Dinner," said Michael Hollister, Senior V.P. of Driscoll's Sales and Marketing. "This event is not only a showcase for some of the region's top chefs and food professionals but it also raises money for the AIWF scholarship program."
Chef John Hui, pastry chef at The Inn at Spanish Bay, capped a six course meal prepared by six international chefs with desert of a warm apple tower with fresh Driscoll's raspberries.
"Driscoll's is a brand that is known and requested by food professionals, so it is a natural for us to be a part of this event," concluded Mr. Hollister.
Driscoll's is a third generation, family-owned and -operated fresh berry company. As the world's leading berry company, Driscoll's uses natural breeding methods to create plant varieties that produce The Finest Berries in the World®. Driscoll's mission is to Continually Delight Berry Consumers. Driscoll's conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe, and are available year 'round.
Strawberry production booming in California
July 10, 2008
Even though California's Watsonville-Salinas strawberry production levels in early July were 3 million trays behind last year's level at the same time because of an early freeze, the state's overall numbers are ahead of 2007's record-breaking volumes.
Carolyn O'Donnell, spokeswoman for the California Strawberry Commission, Watsonville, said July 9 that the growers in Watsonville-Salinas and Oxnard areas harvested more than 5 million trays a week from April through June 21.
"We expect to have great numbers of strawberries available through the summer," she said. "The southern districts (Orange County and San Diego) have already exceeded what they did for all of 2007."
Strawberry acreage continues to climb in the state, from 34,642 acres in 2007 to 35,696, O'Donnell said.
Craig Moriyama, vice president of strawberry sales for the Salinas branch of Naturipe Berry Farms LLC, Naples, Fla., said the company's strawberry acreage has increased 10-20% over last year. "Supplies and quality are good, but demand is down slightly," he said July 8.
"I think retailers are readjusting their inventories because they probably brought in extra before the holiday," he said. "We're at about the same levels as last year, though."
Valerie Sill, strawberry business manager for Driscoll Strawberry Associates Inc., Watsonville, said the company is talking to buyers to use strawberries to promote the overall produce section.
"We're reminding retailers and buyers how important berries are and they can maximize them as they're moving into more traditional summer fruit," she said. "We have a great spring with a lot of sales momentum. We're looking at strong supplies and great quality all the way through mid-August."
Wegmans, Driscoll's Promote Strawberries and Higher Education
July 8, 2008
A joint promotion from Wegmans Food Markets and Driscoll's Berries aims to help some at-risk Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y. high school students graduate, according to a published account. For every package of Driscoll's strawberries sold at Wegmans stores from July 13 through July 20, the supplier will donate 50 cents, up to a maximum of $15,000, to Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection.
The work-study program, which Robert and Danny Wegman started 21 years ago and passed on to Hillside a few years later, provides mentoring and work experience for students who might otherwise drop out of school due to such issues poor grades, low attendance rates, or multiple school suspensions.
Wegmans created all of the promotional materials for the campaign this year, even holding a photo shoot featuring actual teenagers enrolled in the Hillside program, Judy Carey, Wegmans' community relations team leader, told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
To reach the $15,000 limit, Wegmans and Driscoll's would have to sell 30,000 packages of strawberries, which Carey saw as a highly achievable goal, given last year's strawberry sales during the same time period.
"This is the peak of the season for strawberries, so we want to come up with innovative ways to try and, of course, sell our fruit, but also support the relationships that we have with partners like Wegmans," noted Jennifer Fancher, a manager at Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll's who works with Wegmans.
A similar joint effort last year between Driscoll's, Wegmans, and another community service organization last year raised the full $15,000.
Driscoll's to sponsor the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event
March 27, 2008
Driscoll's, providers of The Finest Berries in the World®, will be a proud sponsor of the first annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine event, to be held at the exclusive Pebble Beach Resorts® on March 27th through March 30th. With participation by 200 acclaimed wineries and over 50 celebrity chefs, the four-day event will feature wine and beverage tastings and cooking demonstrations, and will include local, regional and national participants. Driscoll's is proud to have its superior quality berries showcased throughout this premiere event.
Driscoll's Adds Produce Veteran to Senior Management Team
March 14, 2008
Driscoll's has announced that Kevin Murphy has joined Driscoll's as Senior Vice President, Supply and Operations. Mr. Murphy's responsibilities include production, logistics and distribution, packaging, nursery, Quality Assurance and Food Safety.
Mr. Murphy comes to Driscoll's from Capurro Farms where he served for the last two and half years as President. Kevin led this family-owned company through a series of transformations that led to a merger of Capurro Farms with Growers Express. Prior to Capurro, he was with Fresh Express for almost 15 years holding various positions that included heading up strategic planning, marketing and operations for the company.
"Driscoll's mission to continually delight the berry consumer depends on producing great berries delivering them to the market in excellent condition. This is a great responsibility and a challenge I am looking forward to," said Mr. Murphy.
Kevin was born and grew up in South Africa. He has an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Natal and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot Watts University, Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married with two children aged 16 and 15 and lives in Monterey. His hobbies include sailing, squash and golf.
Driscoll's is a third generation, family-owned and -operated fresh berry company. As the world's leading berry company, Driscoll's uses natural breeding methods to create plant varieties that produce The Finest Berries in the World®. Driscoll's mission is to Continually Delight Berry Consumers. Driscoll's conventional and organic strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are grown by independent farmers around the globe, and are available year 'round.
Americafruit Article, for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association issue
March 7, 2008
Driscoll's, a third generation family owned and operated company, produces organic and conventionally grown strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries in carefully chosen locations around the world where the climate is right for the production of great berries. Driscoll's develops their own patented berry varieties which are grown by independent farmers.
Driscoll's trademark, The Finest Berries in the World®, is the product of years of developing superior berry varieties, demanding quality standards and a passion for food safety.
Food safety, in particular, has long been a central focus of the company. "Driscoll's food safety program is our assurance to the consumer that Driscoll's berries are not just The Finest Berries in the World® from a flavor stand point, but they are also wholesome and perfectly safe to eat," says Keith Refsnider, Driscoll's Food Safety Director.
Combining the Good Agricultural Practices of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the principles of GLOBALGAP, Driscoll's food safety program is uniformly enforced by both company and independent third party audits in all Driscoll's locations.
"We conduct more than a thousand third party audits every year of farms, harvest crews and cooling facilities. We're probably the most thoroughly audited berry company in the world," says Mr. Refsnider.
"We have enjoyed the position of being leaders in the berry business," concludes Miles Reiter, Driscoll's Chairman and CEO, "but it's a big challenge to stay focused and continue to learn and improve."