Blogs - Page 5 of 14 - Wawona Frozen Foods

Looking Ahead: The Future of Frozen Fruit

Written on April 27, 2022.

Frozen fruits are enriched with vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, antioxidants, and other nutrients. They are used in various food cuisines for adding nutritional content and flavor. Owing to busy and hectic lifestyles, there is a noticeable increase in the consumption of these ready-to-eat food products and beverages since the past few years. Moreover, rising disposable income and improving economic conditions are encouraging consumers in developed and developing countries to spend on packaged food, including snacks and bakery products, which further propels the demand for frozen fruits.

The demand for frozen fruit is going to continue to increase for years to come. At Wawona Frozen Foods, we have an extensive product line of various types of frozen fruit, available for your operation’s convenience. From our Signature Sliced Peaches, to Fruit Cups, and a whole line of Organic products, we have something for every company.

Improve your Sustainability by Eating Fruit!

Written on April 18, 2022.

The globalization and mass distribution of fruit worldwide allows us to enjoy a large variety of produce at any time of the year. Eating more seasonal fruit has become an increasingly popular message to improve the sustainability of our diets.

Fruit is an important part of a healthy and sustainable diet. They provide essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, and tend to have a lower environmental impact than animal-based foods.

The overall picture that emerges from research, is that the fruit and vegetables with the lowest GHG emissions are those that are grown outside during their natural season without much use of additional energy and consumed in the same country or region.

Wawona Frozen Foods picks their fruits at peak ripeness to ensure the highest amount of nutritional content. Make sure to choose Wawona for all of your frozen fruit solutions — we are the answer to high quality products and sustainability!

Burrata and Peaches — the Perfect Appetizer!

Written on April 13, 2022.

Burrata and Peaches are the perfect combination to ring in the warmer weather. Try this amazing recipe with Wawona’s Signature Sliced Peaches today!

Ingredients

Lemon-Thyme Oil (makes extra)

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
Peel from 1 small lemon
4 thyme sprigs

For the burrata platter

4 heirloom tomatoes
sliced peaches
1 (8-ounce) ball fresh burrata
½ cup fresh basil and/or mint leaves
1 tablespoon toasted pistachios, chopped
Flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
A few cherries or fresh currants, optional
Toasted bread, for serving

Instructions

Combine the oil, garlic, lemon peel, and thyme in a small saucepan over low heat. Gently warm the mixture, then turn off the heat. Let steep for 20 minutes, then strain.
Assemble the tomatoes, peach slices, and burrata on a platter. Sprinkle with salt, then drizzle with lemon-thyme oil. Top with the basil and mint and sprinkle with pistachios. Top with cherries and currants, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with toasted bread.

Make sure to utilize Wawona’s Signature Sliced Peaches today — these delights are perfect for any item on your menu! Contact us today.

Offer Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches!

Written on April 6, 2022.

Add something absolutely mouth-watering to your appetizer menu this Spring! These Pancetta-Wrapped Peaches are the perfect dish for anyone looking for the perfect mix of sweet and savory.

Ingredients

16 thin slices of pancetta
2 medium freestone peaches—halved, pitted and cut into 8 wedges each
Salt and freshly ground pepper
16 basil leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
Aged balsamic vinegar, for drizzling

Directions

Lay the pancetta slices out on a work surface. Set a peach wedge at the edge of each slice, season with salt and pepper and top with a basil leaf. Roll up the pancetta to enclose the peaches.
In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil. Add half of the wrapped peaches and cook over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until the pancetta is browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter and repeat with the remaining peaches.
Lightly drizzle the peaches with aged balsamic vinegar and serve.

Wawona’s Signature Sliced Peaches are ideal to use in not only this item but appetizers, entrees, and desserts! Contact us today to learn more!

Don’t Forget…March is National Frozen Foods Month!

Written on March 25, 2022.

March is National Frozen Food Month, which is a great reminder that frozen foods are a convenient and delicious way to eat within a family’s food budget, according to the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). AFFI highlights the benefits of frozen food with its 2022 Frozen Advantage Toolkit.

The advantages include:

Frozen foods are nutritious: Fruits and vegetables are harvested and quickly flash-frozen within hours to lock in key nutrients, vitamins and minerals like Riboflavin, Vitamins C and E, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Fiber, Phenolics.
Frozen foods reduce consumer food waste: Frozen foods don’t spoil in the freezer so consumers can eat all that they buy; unused portions can be returned to the freezer to be used for another meal. This reduces food waste and saves families money.
The frozen food aisle is packed with affordable healthier choices: Grocery stores now stock a wide array of healthier frozen foods with fewer calories, less saturated fat, sugar and sodium, and more fiber and whole grains.
Frozen foods are easy to prepare: They help families save time cooking and cleaning in the kitchen so they can spend more time together at the table.

The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has developed resources that are helpful in understanding the important role frozen food plays in a healthy eating pattern. For more information, check out the Frozen Advantage, a comprehensive resource guide along with their various toolkits. For more information and to view AFFI’s Frozen Food Month toolkit, click here.

Click here to read the original article on AFFI.com.

The Behavioral Science Of Increasing Fruit Consumption

Written on March 16, 2022.

One of the most common reasons many of the resolutions people made on January 1st will be abandoned is that people choose resolutions that are too difficult, and promise themselves changes that are too big because they want big results. Here are three, simple evidence-based ideas you can share with consumers to help them stick to their fruit resolutions:

Create a habit

If you can manage to create a habit, your desired behavior will become automatic – and so much easier to do. Habits aren’t easy to create, but there is a formula that works if you can put in the early effort to keep on track: pick a simple behavior, pick a time and place to do it, repeat the behavior at that time and place, and enjoy a little reward when you do it.

Make It Easy

Easy to see, grab, find, eat immediately, plan, keep around, buy, get in your mouth, get in your kids’ mouths, swallow, like, clean, pack, remember and habitualize.

Cultivate enjoyment

The evidence is strong: systematic exposure increases liking over time. It’s all about repeatedly trying to eat fruits and find new ways to incorporate them into your diet. Exposure works well with kids if you keep the experience positive by giving praise for trying and if you remain realistic: change won’t happen overnight, and the goal isn’t to create a connoisseur – just a kid who at least tolerates fruits.

You can read more about these and other evidence-based tips at fruitsandveggies.org.

This article was originally featured in the Have a Plant Ambassador Activation Kit, Winter 2022, and was written by Dr. Jason Riis, Chief Behavioral Scientist for the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH).

Understanding The Health Benefits Of Plant-Forward Eating

Written on February 16, 2022.

The importance of plant-forward eating isn’t exactly new news. Strong evidence over several decades shows consuming fruits and vegetables promotes well-being even beyond basic nutrient requirements. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans support nutrient-dense, plant-forward eating patterns, including vegetables, fruits, grains, low-fat dairy, lean meat and poultry, seafood and oils (including nuts) to help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. As plant-forward patterns grow in popularity, so does the evidence supporting their role in optimizing health.

Living Longer: Enjoying a plant-forward eating pattern, including consumption of fruits and vegetables at recommended levels and a higher intake of nuts, has been associated with a reduced risk of all causes of mortality.

Losing Weight & Reducing Obesity Risk: Small studies have indicated that overweight adults who followed a plant-forward diet can lose weight more effectively than those not following this type of eating style. One factor is likely the role of antioxidants and fiber in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which can promote satiety or feelings of fullness.

Reducing Risk of Cancer: Significant evidence has illustrated how eating more plants can help reduce the risk of cancer. The research highlights the role of cancer-pro-tective nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, which are abundant in vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, nuts and seeds.

Consider adding more fruit into your diet with the help of Wawona! Check out our products on our website to learn more.

Try Tomato Peach Crumble Squares!

Written on February 9, 2022.

Sweetpop tomatoes are so sweet you absolutely can make a dessert out of them, and of course, Wawona can provide our Signature Sliced Peaches! This delicious spin on a peach crumble will have your customers begging for more.

Ingredients

Crust

2 cups cake and pastry flour (soft flour)
½ cup butter
⅓ cup sugar
Butter or coconut oil for greasing the pan

Filling

4 peaches (3 cups pitted and cut into pieces)
24 Red Sun Farms Sweetpops tomatoes
½ cup yellow sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Crumble

½ cup yellow sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup butter
½ cup raw pecans
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

To make the crust

Preheat the oven to 350°
Put the flour, butter and sugar in a food processor and process it until it starts to bind together a bit.
Grease and 8” x 8” square pan with butter or coconut oil. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan.
Put the crust mixture in the pan. Spread it out evenly and press it down into a solid mass.
Put it in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

To make the filling

While the crust is cooking, cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Cut all the peaches into small one-inch pieces. Put into a medium-sized bowl.
Cut the Sweetpops in half and add them to the bowl.
Mix the yellow sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt and flour together in another bowl. Add to the peaches and tomatoes. Mix by hand with a spoon, fork or spatchula.

To make the crumble

Put all the ingredients for the crumble in a food processor. Process until the crumble starts to slightly bind together.
Once the crust is baked, put the filling on top of the crust and sprinkle the crumble on top.
Put back in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the crumble is baked and slightly golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Go around the edge of the square pan with a flat knife. Lift a little to make sure it is not stuck to the bottom of the pan. Place a large plate on the top of the pan and flip it over to have the square fall out of the pan and onto the plate. Remove the pan. Remove the parchment paper if it’s stuck to the square. Place another plate on top and flip the square so that it is right-side up.
Cut into 12 pieces and serve.
If not serving right away, place in an airtight container.

Wawona is proud to offer Signature Sliced Peaches that are picked at peak ripeness, so you never have to worry about them being “in season” or under/overripe! Contact us today to learn more!

Recipe link: HERE

Delicious Peach Green Smoothie!

Written on February 4, 2022.

Looking to add something new and delicious to your menu? Look no further — a scrumptious smoothie using Wawona’s Signature Sliced Peaches is going to have all of your customers running! Below is the recipe, from American Frozen Food Institute: