CATEGORY LEADERSHIP AWARDS TOMATOES

Tomato suppliers that rise to the top are intent on continuously following through on delivering top-notch quality and flavor forward taste. Their tomato varieties offer up zesty flavor profiles that incentivize consumers to snack, slice up juicy tomatoes for sandwiches and burgers, chop into salads, fold into wraps and blend into salsas.

“The tomato category has certainly grown and expanded over the years, providing exciting marketing opportunities and new tastes for consumers to try in the kitchen,” said Ryan Cherry, Director of Sales at Windset Farms. “With more unique and visually appealing tomatoes being trialed and brought to the market, the possibilities are endless. In fact, tomato trials have never been so abundant at Windset Farms. We are committed to providing exceptional flavor and you can see the evolution of flavor in the varieties we are bringing to market. You have your super sweet, savory or even umami flavor profiles. There is a tomato for everyone.”

“One of our latest introductions is the Tri-Color Cameo Cherry Tomato on the Vine, which features red, orange and brown cherry tomatoes,” he continued. “The sales of this new variety have been exceptional, proving that consumers are always on the lookout for something new and exciting. With the tomato category continuing to evolve, we can look forward to even more innovative and delicious tomatoes in the future.”

“Our flavor-forward approach inspires us to evolve and continue im- proving the flavor profiles of NatureSweet snacking tomatoes,” said Jenny Halpin, External Communications Manager. “Our vertical integration allows us to focus on every aspect of each of our tomatoes, from testing and choosing the seeds with the best test profile, to the planting, the sowing, the packing and the transportation to ensure the best and most consistent quality and taste. Consumers notice this and reward NatureSweet with their purchase more than any other tomato brand. We have also put an emphasis on convenience and have created packaging that fits in the palm of your hand and contains wash-and-ready-to-eat snacking tomatoes. Our Cherubs and Constellation To Go snack packs have been a hit among consumers.”

“We are committed to innovating to delight consumers and grow the category and partner with retail partners to understand consumer preferences,” she continued. “We recently launched Adora, a unique heirloom tomato that has been awarded as the best tasting tomato in the world three years in a row by the International Taste Institute in Brussels, with subtle notes of savory and smokiness. It’s packed with nutrients and this superior quality tomato can elevate any dish. With a robust innovation pipeline, we are excited about partnering with retailers to drive the category to new heights.”

“At the heart of our operations lies a deep commitment to sustainability,” Cherry said. “We prioritize the respon- sible use of resources by implementing practices that minimize waste. Within our greenhouses, every drop of water is carefully collected and reused, leaving no room for wastage. Furthermore, we have taken a significant step towards reducing our energy consumption by installing state-of-the-art screens at our facilities. These innovative screens contribute to a more efficient operation; ensuring that our energy needs are minimized. Additionally, we have implemented eco-friendly packaging for our tomatoes, utilizing punnets made from recycled plastics. By doing so, we actively mitigate the generation of waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Our dedication to sustainability extends across every aspect of our business, driving us to continually seek environmentally conscious solutions.”

Naturesweet is positioned at the helm of the category with credentials that include being one of the largest CEA companies that is Fair Trade Certified, Equitable Food Initiative (EFI) Certified, and most recently B Corp Certified. “It is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency (based on factors such as employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials),” Halpin said. “Our associates are the reason behind our success. We have the most committed and experienced workers growing and packing our produce; that’s why our produce has the highest levels of taste, quality and safety."