Product-Strawberries Page Two

Strawberries
Regions/Availability •
Pack Information •
Handling/Merch.•
Food Safety •
Nutrition •
Recipes •
Organic •

Peppers

Green Beans

Raspberries

Blackberries

Strawberries
Pacific Gold Farms strives to supply premium strawberries year around by following the different growing seasons of California.

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Handling / Merchandising of Strawberries at Retail

Proper Handling checklist:
The following checklist should be followed upon every arrival of fresh Pacific Gold Farms strawberries:

Don’t break the cold chain
Strawberries destined for retail distribution through a central shipping warehouse must be kept cold until loads have reached their final destination.
Always remove Tectrol ™ bags immediately upon arrival. Improper handling of bagged pallets can result in off-flavor. Strawberries on pallets that have been bagged and treated with carbon dioxide will warm during transport as a result of their own respiration.
Optimum temperature for strawberries is 32-34 degrees with high humidity (90-95%)
Remember, breakdown begins at 36 degrees and the general rule is that for every hour that berries are kept at room temperature, they lose a full days shelf life.
Strawberries must not come in contact with moisture, misters, etc. Moisture will cause rapid breakdown of the berry. Ethylene gas does not affect strawberries.
With proper cold chain management, strawberries can be displayed on dry tables for maximum exposure and movement. Rapid turnover is the best defense against shrink.

Share the following handling checklist with your in-store Produce clerks:

Immediately unload berries into the cold room. – keep at 32-34 degrees
If the Tectrol bag is intact – remove immediately
Inspect berries for quantity, pack size, ripeness – report any discrepancies
Store berries in a cool dry area of cooler. Berries should not come in contact with moisture, and should never be placed near meat or dairy products.

Merchandising Tips:
Plan your orders in advance, and order aggressively, especially when on ad when your sales can triple.

Offer your customers multiple packaging options. Research shows that 17% more strawberries are sold when customers are given a choice. Pacific Gold Farms offers many options in packaging to fit all your customer needs.
Avoid out of stock conditions so you don’t lose potential sales
Cross merchandise with complimentary items to maximize sales
94% of consumers eat strawberries, and one-third of your heavy strawberry users will switch stores if you are out of stock.

Tips to share with your customers:

Consumers can store their clamshell strawberries directly in refrigerator as these containers provide an optimal environment for the berries.
Do not wash berries until just before serving. Rinse under cool water, and remove the green caps only after washing to preserve flavor.
Under ideal conditions, Pacific Gold Farms strawberries should have a shelf life of 2-5 days in a consumer’s refrigerator. However, for best flavor they should be consumed as soon after purchase as possible.

Food Safety

Pacific Gold Farms, and the California strawberry industry as a whole, are leaders in food safety practices. We are committed to adhering to the strictest food and worker safety guidelines set forth by California Department of Health Services, the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture. To ensure quality and safety every day, Pacific Gold Farms contracts with a third party audit company that monitors field and working conditions. We are proud to say that our strawberries are “Prosafe” certified.

For more information on Pacific Gold Farms food safety programs please click on this link to preview our field audits through the Davis Fresh Technologies web site.

Strawberry Nutrition

Pacific Gold Farms strawberries are nutritious, versatile and taste great! Strawberries are fat free, high in antioxidants, and a good source of Fiber and Potassium. In fact, one serving of strawberries also provides more than 100 % of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 8 medium berries (147g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 50 Calories from Fat 0

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0g 0%

Saturated Fat 0g 0%

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 0mg 0%

Potassium 240mg 7%

Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%

Dietary Fiber 4g 14%

Sugars 8g

Protein 1g

Vitamin A 0% - Vitamin C 140%

Calcium 2% - Iron 2%

Folate 20%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000
calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher
or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories:	2,000	2,500
Total Fat	Less than	65g	80g
Sat Fat	Less than	20g	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg	2,400mg
Potassium		3,500mg	3,500mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g	375g
Dietary Fiber		25g	30g

Calories per gram:
Fat 9 • Carbohydrate 4 • Protein 4

Strawberries contain more folic acid than any other fresh fruit. Folic acid reduces the risk of some birth defects and lowers the risk of heart disease.
The American Dietetics Association advises eating strawberries as a great way to help get your five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Why 5 A Day the Color Way?
Eating 5 or more servings of colorful fruits and vegetables a day is part of an essential plan for healthier living. That’s because deeply hued fruits and vegetables provide the wide range of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals your body needs to maintain good health and energy levels, protect against the effects of aging, and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.*

Be sure to include RED in your low-fat diet to help maintain:
• A healthy heart
• Memory function
• A lower risk of some cancers
• Urinary tract health

Specific phytochemicals in the red group that are being studied for their health-promoting properties by the Produce for Better Health Foundation include lycopene and anthocyanins. Get a variety of red every day by eating fruits and vegetables such as strawberries.

*Low-fat diets rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer, diseases associated with many factors.

Strawberry Recipes

There are many ways to eat your strawberries every day. To help you enjoy them in a variety of dishes, we have included some of our favorite recipes:
Breakfast:	Dessert:
Strawberry Ricotta Souffle Strawberry Breakfast Pizza Strawberry Breakfast Salsa Fast Fresh Strawberry Sauce	California Skinny dips Chocolate Dipped Strawberries Classic Strawberry Pie Strawberry Crown Tart Strawberry Cheesecake in a Glass Strawberry Almond Cream Napoleons Strawberry Club Sandwiches
Salad:	Frozen Recipes:
Strawberry Summer Salad Strawberry Poppyseed Salad	Frozen Strawberry Fool Berry Blender Ice Cream Strawberry Sorbet