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Produce Show Daily Saturday, October 15, 2016 2 0 EASTERN CANTALOUPE: SWEET TASTE DELIVERED WITH CONFIDENCE Cantaloupes are a staple at many break- fast and picnic tables, and for good rea- son – they are tasty and nutritious. Whether served alone or in a side dish or as a garnish, cantaloupe is a great addi- tion to a healthy diet. Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association (ECGA) Certified Growers are committed to delivering a high quality cantaloupe that has been grown and handled to some of the high- est safety standards in the industry. Formed in 2012, ECGA certifies growers to a standard that goes above and beyond the National Cantaloupe Guidance document. ECGA members renew their certification annually by undergoing two audits, one of which is unannounced dur- ing the production season. These audits cover field management, water testing and harvesting and processing practices. If a cantaloupe is stamped ECGA certified, you can buy with confidence that it has been properly grown and handled throughout the life cycle. "Food safety is our number one focus," said Charles Hall, ECGA Executive Director. "Our growers are committed to the strictest food safety guidelines in the industry and they volun- tarily undergo multiple audits each year to demonstrate their compliance." In a recent consumer study on can- taloupe consumption, approximately 50 percent of respondents were more likely to buy cantaloupe more frequently if they were ECGA certified and 36 percent per- ceive ECGA-certified cantaloupes as safer. ECGA certification offers an extra degree of c o n f i d e n c e that sets pro- ducers apart from non-cer- tified grow- ers. ECGA certified farms are located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina, and account for nearly 5,000 acres of production. Retail buyers can source ECGA-certified cantaloupes throughout the growing season and offer their cus- tomers the gold standard in food safety. "Every ECGA grower complies with the certification standards or their mem- bership is revoked. If a grower is ECGA certified, you can buy with confidence," said Hall. Visit ECGA at booth #3429. For com- plete ECGA member contact informa- tion, visit www.easterncantaloupe.com. MICHIGAN APPLES: A FOODIE'S DELIGHT With great taste and so many varieties and flavor profiles to choose from, Michigan Apples are an unexpected ingredient in sweet and savory dishes for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack time. The defining factor that sets Michigan Apples apart from apples grown elsewhere is their premium flavor. Michigan Apples are for the choosiest of apple consumers. They are top-of-the- line, bursting with flavor and are born in Michigan, where apples love to grow. Michigan's unique climate, geography, nutrient-rich soil and dedicated growers all contribute to apple flavor and quality. Food bloggers rave about Michigan Apples for their flavor and versatility, as well as their eye-catching appearance. Recipe developers often encourage the use of Michigan Apples, because they know Michigan Apples taste delicious baked or fresh and the cider and juice is ideal for homemade beverages and cock- tails. Selective parents choose Michigan Apples, because they want their children to enjoy healthy snacks, and kids love the sweet taste and crisp bite only a Michigan Apple can offer. Consumers seek out apples that are fresh from Michigan, because they have such a distinct flavor that apples grown elsewhere simply do not compare. Home chefs can visit the Michigan Apple Committee website to find recipes, health information and flavor profiles of the many Michigan Apple varieties. Michigan Apple's strong social media presence allows Michigan Apple lovers from all over the nation to connect, share recipes and discuss why they feel M i c h i g a n Apples reign supreme. Michigan Apples are grown by peo- ple who appreciate quality fruit, for people who appreciate quality fruit. Growers are committed to staying up to date on research and technological advances in order to continue to pro- duce the highest-quality, best-tasting apples. The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan Apple and encourage its con- sumption in Michigan and around the world. Visit Michigan Apple Committee at booth #2735. For more information, go to www.michiganapples.com. IMAGE PLASTICS & PACKAGING COVERS ALL FOOD INDUSTRY PACKAGING NEEDS Image Plastics & Packaging (IPP) is an industry leader with the knowledge and expertise to address all of your packaging needs. Both a distributor and manufactur- er, it can provide any type of standard and custom packaging, including bags, boxes, stand up pouches, labels, stretch film, RPC lids and more. It knows how impor- tant it is for packaging to represent a com- pany's brand. The company works hand- in-hand with each client to understand its needs so it can create a quality packaging solution. The company's domestic and overseas manufacturing allows it to pro- vide you with the best quality product at a price that fits your budget. IPP has been supplying packaging to a wide variety of industries across the United States, Mexico and Canada since 2002, with a very strong presence in the food industry. For seven years, it proudly was the only U.S. manufacturer of RPC lids. It developed its RPC film specifical- ly with Kroger in mind at a time when only overseas lids with low quality and high field waste were available. IPP worked diligently to create a film that could stretch yet not tear, and would have memory in the elasticity to return to the original shape after placement on a con- tainer. It succeeded! Because of competi- tiveness in pricing from Asia, it expand- ed production to its overseas manufactur- ing plant, and today offers the same inno- vative, reliable product at a lower cost. The quality of its RPC lids is outstanding and yields little to no field waste. IPP also features a complete line of stand-up pouches for the fresh produce and food industries. It offers a reinforced single- ply header pouch that can be used with a zipper and slider, a large freezer pouch line, either in stand-up or flat with zipper or plain, high clarity Modified Atmosphere (MAP) stand up pouches, barrier pouches, cooking-baking bags, as well as microwave, steam and soup pouch bags, which are very popular in the U.S. and Europe. All of these products are made with FDA-certified poly- ethylene, ensuring no plastic taste or smell after cooking. Packaging can be laminated and has a 10-color print capability, provid- ing you with a high quality end product to meet your branding needs. Better yet, by partnering with an overseas manufacturer, IPP's packaging is priced at a much lower cost than domestic manufacturing, yet offers the same quality that you and your clients expect. The company also offers an exten- sive line of thermal transfer, direct ther- mal, color/specialty labels as well as thermal transfer ribbons. With FDA regu- lations becoming more stringent, it's important to have a reliable source that can deliver the labels and ribbon you need at a competitive price. Last but not least, IPP knows how important stretch film is for shipping. It has a full line of machine- and hand- stretch film available in all sizes and gauges. For more information, visit booth #3827.