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Produce Show Daily 2 5 Thursday, October 19, 2017 Fresh n' Sealed Tamper Evident Line Launches New Square Packages Lacerta is excited to introduce new square packages to the Fresh n' Sealed tamper evident family of containers. Lacerta's new upscale square bowls offer a contemporary look that gives your food stand-out shelf appeal. The new containers range in size from 8 to 48 ounces. All with modern style, the packages are the perfect ways to show off your food in three different foot- prints – 4.5-inch, 6-inch and 7.5-inch – for every application. The containers were designed with sleek lines, for sal- ads, fresh cut produce, on-the-go foods and more. The smallest 4.5-inch squares are available in 8, 12, or 16 ounces. The 6- inch ones are perfect for on-the-go salad and meals with 24 and 32 ounce options. The largest footprint, 7.5-inch square, also is available in 24, 32 and 48 ounces. Both the 6-inch and 7.5-inch also offer a variety of film sealable inserts for all of the salad or snack toppings you could want. Having film sealable inserts extends shelf life and offers a lot of options for assembling. With these con- tainers, inventory management is simpli- fied; there is no need for shrink bands, film or any added costs and complexi- ties. With Fresh n' Sealed, you get both the security and peace of mind, along with a great way to make your food stand out on the shelves. The packages are designed so that once closed they provide security, leak resistance and freshness. In order to open the package, a tear strip must be removed to gain access to the newly exposed tabs to remove the lid. This design makes it simple for consumers to see if the package has been tam- pered with. All of the containers are 100 percent recyclable, have flaw- less clarity and are easy to use. The containers are stackable and maximize the shelf. About Lacerta Group, Inc. Lacerta is a family-owned manufacturer of plastic food packaging. From concept to prototyping, mold-making and production, Lacerta is a turnkey manufacturer of cus- tom and stock packaging, including produce and party trays, herb clamshells, cups and more. The Fresh n' Sealed tamper evi- dent line ranges from 1.5 to 120 ounces and has expanded to include parfaits, snack packs, leafy green containers and square bowls, to name a few. With Fresh n' Sealed packages, you get a refreshingly simple and streamlined design. For more information, stop by booth #5610, visit www.lacerta.com or call 508.339.3312. Just Add Lettuce – Innovation at its Best Gets Even Better An interview with Anthony Mongiello, The Big Cheese™, President and Chief Executive Officer, Formaggio Brand. PSD: Tell our readers about the inspira- tion behind the decision to make some changes to the Just Add Lettuce line. AM: Just Add Lettuce has so many fans that I wanted to make it even better for them. So the Just Add Lettuce line is what I would call new and improved. PSD: How so? AM: We changed the flavor profile by creating new infused marinated dress- ings. We've added some vinegar and real citrus flavors naturally without chemi- cals. Also, each of the four Just Add Lettuce flavors now has slightly smaller pieces for increased coverage so every single leaf of lettuce will be covered with this amazing new taste experience. PSD: It seems you have an ethnic her- itage angle with the Italian version and the Greek version. What are the other fla- vors? AM: There's the Spanish version, too. And we have the fourth variety which is Bleu Cheese and Cranberries. The idea is that we want to mix something into our salad other than just a liquid dressing. All the Just Add Lettuce flavors or varieties have chunks of fresh produce, cheese, seasonings, herbs and spices, and each one is very characteristic and distinct from the oth- ers. There's one for everyone and every- body has a favorite. JAL is the world's first three-dimensional salad dressing and it's just become new and improved after a great deal of research and devel- opment by me and my team. PSD: How do you think the product line's biggest fans will react to the improve- ments? AM: I know that our loyal customers will love the improvements. We at Formaggio like to keep offering new and exciting products for our customers and so far we've received a tremendous amount of positive feedback about these changes. I am confident that this will not only please our current fan base but will expand the customer base tremendously. For more information, go to ww w.formaggiocheese.com or www.just addlettuce.com. Matrix Offers AutoPro Automatic Setup and Changeover System Matrix Packaging Machinery, powered by Pro Mach, now offers AutoPro auto- matic setup and changeover system as a standard feature on the Morpheus con- tinuous motion machine and as an optional feature on the Apollo intermit- tent motion VFFS machine. The Matrix AutoPro eliminates manual adjustments such as hand cranks and thumb screws in favor of precision electronic motion control. This innovative solution slashes changeover downtime by a minimum of 50 percent when a new package is run. The AutoPro system then replicates those same adjustments at any time in the future in a matter of minutes with an assured accuracy of 1/1,000 of an inch. Additionally, Matrix offers the AutoPro at a fraction of the cost of typical servo controlled systems and the ultra-small motors have no impact on the footprint the machine. About Matrix Matrix Packaging Machinery is an indus- try-leading manufacturer of vertical form fill seal (v/f/f/s) packaging equipment. Since 1988, Matrix has built a solid rep- utation for delivering rugged, well-engi- neered, cost competitive and easy-to-use packaging systems backed by outstand- ing customer support. Matrix has v/f/f/s, stickpack and pouch filling machines in operation throughout the world, handling a wide range of products in very diverse conditions. About Pro Mach Pro Mach is a leading provider of inte- grated packaging and processing prod- ucts and solutions for food, beverage, consumer goods, pharmaceutical and other diverse companies. Through its brands, Pro Mach provides product pack- aging and processing equipment, PMMI certified training, installation, parts and service in bottling and capping, primary packaging, flexible packaging, material handling, identification and tracking and end of line packaging. Pro Mach has a diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately held businesses worldwide, which depend on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solution sets. Pro Mach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. For more information about Pro Mach, visit www.promachinc.com. For more information, call 262.268.8300 or visit www.matrixpm.com. 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 guide- lines in the industry and they voluntarily undergo multiple audits each year to demon- strate their compliance." In a recent consumer study on cantaloupe consumption, approximately 50 percent of respondents were more likely to buy cantaloupe more frequently if they were ECGA certified and 36 percent perceive ECGA-certified cantaloupes as safer. ECGA certification offers an extra degree of confidence that sets producers apart from non-certified growers. ECGA certified farms are located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina, and account for nearly 5,000 acres of pro- duction. 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. For complete ECGA member contact infor- mation, visit www.easterncantaloupe.com.