Salanova, a unique lettuce range from Rijk Zwaan has been crowned Innovation of the Year at Fruit Logistica 2006.
It is the first year Fruit Logistica has included the awards for innovation and Salanova fought off nine other competitors to win first place. Nominees were short listed from a range of entries, and visitors to the trade fair voted by ballot for the winning product.
Specially developed to offer the consumer the least amount of preparation possible, the range offers uniform-sized leaves that can be removed simply by cutting off the stem, making it ‘one cut ready’. Fewer cuts mean the products are less prone to discolouration, potentially retain a higher nutritional content and have a substantially increased shelf life.
A number of varieties are available in the Salanova brand including green incised-leaf, multi-leaf butterhead and oak leaf. The products also have up to four times the leaves of conventional varieties.
Accepting the award, Jan Doldersum, Rijk Zwaan, said: “I’m very proud. It was a real challenge as there were many competitors and as it was the first one it’s really nice to win. We have always believed in this product and this award shows that other people believe in it too.”
Second place went to RipeSense Ltd, a pear-packaging concept from New Zealand developed showing fruit’s ripeness using aroma sensors.
German company Transimpex secured third place with its BetaSweet Carrot, offering up to 40 per cent more beta-carotene than conventional carrots.
Other products in the running were Pick-a-Tom; a tomato pot plant which lets consumers pick their own tomatoes at home, BroccoCress; cress offering 30 times more of the antioxidant sulforaphane glucosinulate (SGS) than fully grown broccoli and EAP a unique machine that extracts the arils from pomegranates.
Also in the running were Chiquita bananas with a Rainforest Alliance Seal and Dole Space management: a strategic category management analysis tool aimed at optimising the efficiency and profitability of supermarket fresh produce departments.
Flying the flag for British innovation was Amcor Flexibles with its microwave SelfVent Pouch - a microwave vegetable that does not need to be pierced prior to cooking. Despite being an Australian company, the packaging was developed in Ledbury, and claims to retain up to 7 per cent more nutrients than boiling.
The winning Salanova brand will be available from Tesco and Marks & Spencer from May.
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