Research collaboration between Plant & Food Research in New Zealand and the Department of Primary Industries in Victoria, Australia has brought a new range of targeted, prepared vegetables to market.
The new Vitalvegetables® product range is being introduced in New Zealand supermarkets this month, following 10 years of trans-Tasman research
The first five products will be marketed by the New Zealand Vitalvegetables marketing partners as vitalheart™, vitalsight™ and vitalbones™ salad mixes; vitalimmunity™ slaw; and vitalimmunity™ medley.
Each product contains naturally high levels of nutrients known to be good for health, and each serving contains at least 25 per cent of the suggested daily intake of antioxidants.
Plant & Food Research scientist Dr Jocelyn Eason said programme was developed in response to consumer demand for information about the fresh vegetable products they consume, especially with regard to nutritional benefits.
“All vegetables are good for us, with lots of nutrients that benefit our health. We recognise that consumers want to be healthy, and through the Vitalvegetables® research we’ve made it easier for them to manage their diets to ensure they’re eating the right nutrients for the health benefits that matter to them.”
The researchers investigated which nutrients offer specific benefits to health and then identified the seeds that have high levels of these nutrients. “We’ve then worked with growers to determine the best way to grow and harvest them to optimise these levels, and with vegetable marketers to ensure the levels are maintained from the field to the consumer,” said Eason. “This means that consumers can eat a Vitalvegetables® product and know exactly what nutrients they’re getting.”
The research programme is funded by Horticulture New Zealand, Plant & Food Research and the Department of Primary Industries Victoria, with Horticulture Australia Ltd, matched funds from the Australian Government and support from the New Zealand vegetable sector.
Vegetable varieties that are naturally high in nutrients are initially identified from a global collection of seeds. Products are marketed through a group of Vitalvegetables® marketing partners with experience and knowledge of their regional market.
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