Frieda’s impactful new jackfruit label takes the guesswork out of selling and enjoying this trending tropical fruit
LOS ALAMITOS, CA (October 2016) — Nothing creates excitement in the produce department like a large display of fresh, whole jackfruit—the latest “it” ingredient. The Wall Street Journal just dubbed jackfruit as one of “The Next Hot Trends in Food,” thanks to its appeal to vegetarians as a meat substitute.
“You cannot miss a pile of jackfruit at retail—it’s definitely a ‘wow’ item that sets stores apart from the competition,” said Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce.
Due to its size and lack of signage or labeling, curious shoppers may have felt intimidated to purchase the large tropical fruit. At the recent PMA Fresh Summit in Orlando, Frieda’s introduced a solution with its new eye-catching ElastiTag label, which showcases the jackfruit’s unique interior flesh while also explaining how to eat the giant fruit. Simple step-by-step instructions can be found on the reverse of the label, along with the URL to Frieda’s “How to Open a Jackfruit” video. Frieda’s new label is large enough to double as POS signage “like a wearable ‘take me home’ sign,” Caplan described.
“What people may not realize is that fresh, ripe jackfruit is very sweet and fragrant, and has qualities of many of your favorite tropical fruits—all in one bite,” said Caplan.
“Jackfruit at retail can weigh anywhere from 8 to 25 pounds, so it’s important that both retailers and consumers know how to handle and prepare it. Although it takes time to extract the edible pods, one jackfruit can yield a great amount of fruit, so we recommend sharing it with friends and family.”
Frieda’s suggests making jackfruit the center of the luau or island-themed party and inviting friends over to learn how to open the fruit together, then sending guests home with their own portions. Allowing shoppers to process their own fruit, rather than fresh cut, gives them greater control over the shelf-life as the pods tend to oxidize when exposed to air.
Frieda’s also offers labeled jackfruit in two packs—4 count (each fruit is 10 pounds) and 2 count (each fruit is 20 pounds).
Retailers looking to stay on trend and offer a wide produce selection will certainly pique their shoppers’ curiosity by displaying fresh jackfruit with Frieda’s impactful branding and fun yet educational messaging.
About Frieda’s Inc.
Frieda’s Specialty Produce celebrates a 54-year legacy of inspiring new food experiences for friends, family, and food lovers everywhere. Credited with introducing more than 200 specialty fruits and vegetables to U.S. supermarkets, Frieda’s has helped launch unique items like kiwi fruits, Stokes Purple® sweet potatoes, habanero peppers, Sunchokes®, and organic finger limes. Founded in 1962 by produce industry icon Dr. Frieda Rapoport Caplan, subject of the 2015 documentary “Fear No Fruit,” the family company is now owned and operated by Frieda’s daughters, Karen Caplan and Jackie Caplan Wiggins, in Orange County, California. Find Frieda’s on Facebook, @FriedasProduce, and Friedas.com. Inspire. Taste. Love.