Tanimura & Antle Introduces Scalloped Clamshell Packaging For New Artisan Lettuce Products
February 2009
New Packaging Engineered to Protect Each Petite Head and the Environment
SALINAS, Calif. (February 23, 2009) – Today, Tanimura & Antle makes it four- and six-count packages of ArtisanTM Lettuce selections of fully mature, petite head lettuces available in new, proprietary scalloped clamshell packaging designed to ensure freshness and a shelf life longer than any packaged salad. The packaging has been customized to not only protect each lettuce head by cradling it in separate “scallops,” but to also showcase the product’s freshness and quality for a visually appealing appearance and unique look, whether it’s in the fridge or on a store shelf. This innovative package uses as much as 12 percent less material than a typical square clamshell, making it a more environmentally-responsible product. Additionally, the new clear labels on the four- and six-count clamshells enhance the eye-catching leaf colors, textures and varieties.
“With our new top-of-the-line scalloped clamshell packaging, we’re able to maintain the freshness and integrity of our product and provide our customers with not only convenience, but also an easy way to help preserve the earth’s limited resources,” said Rick Antle, chief executive officer, Tanimura & Antle. “The introduction of this packaging goes hand-in-hand with our core business values of bringing only the highest standards of quality to the market.”
Every package of Artisan Lettuce Variety offers variety, color, texture, freshness, crispness and flavor. Lettuce varieties include Red and Green Petite Gem, Red and Green Petite Oak, and Red and Green Petite Tango. Each variety has been researched and developed to meet Tanimura & Antle’s high standards of quality. Artisan Lettuce products come in a range of head counts to meet the needs of a variety of customers, including two- and four-count packages for retail, six-count packages for club stores and 8 pound cartons for foodservice.
By offering whole heads that can be left intact until ready for use, Artisan Lettuce provides a fresher alternative to packaged salads and blends. When properly stored, the product has a shelf life of more than two weeks. Additionally, Artisan Lettuce is a highly versatile product, perfect for everyday foods such as salads, sandwiches, burgers and garnishes. The variety of individual heads provided in each package eliminates the need to purchase multiple heads of lettuce, and unlike packaged salads, allows for customized blends. Artisan Lettuce is easy to prepare – just one to two cuts, rinse, crisp and serve. The petite size and shape of each Artisan Lettuce head allows for quick and easy preparation, as well as flexibility in size and cuts.
Artisan Lettuce is grown on Tanimura & Antle farms in Salinas, Calif., from approximately mid-April through mid-October, and in Yuma, Ariz., from approximately mid-October through mid-April, making the product available year-round. Artisan Lettuce is backed by the nationally recognized Tanimura & Antle’s brand, a leader in the lettuce category and an established grower with more than three generations of family-farming experience.
About Tanimura & Antle
Tanimura & Antle is an industry leader whose commitment to premium quality produce has remained strong since its formation in 1982. The Tanimura & Antle families combined more than 50 years of experience and knowledge to establish a produce company unrivaled in its quality products, innovation and dedication to growers, customers, consumers and employees. Today, as one of the largest independent lettuce growers in the United States, Tanimura & Antle farms more than 40,000 acres of rich, fertile farmland and ships a full line of premium fresh produce products throughout North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.taproduce.com.
