The Game-Changer in Foodservice: Simplot® Harvest Fresh®

One of the most important parts of joining the Simplot team is learning about the diverse product portfolio, particularly for a chef. My name is Zachary Greatting, Culinary Content Chef at Simplot Global Food.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and visit Simplot’s avocado plants. Our avocado portfolio is exciting and diverse, but this trip allowed me to examine how these products are produced and packaged firsthand. For a chef working in marketing, it was exciting to learn all of the incredible benefits of harvesting, processing, and freezing avocado products firsthand so that I can effectively tell the story to our operators. After all, convincing foodservice professionals to move away from preparing their avocado provisions in-house can pose some challenges.

The trip was organized by Nick Williams, the Product Marketing Manager responsible for the Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado portfolio. He gathered a team that included packaging, research & development, procurement, and culinary to visit both plants while they were running two new Harvest Fresh® Avocado products: Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Everything Bagel Flavored Avocado Spread and Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Hand Scooped Chunky Avocado Pulp. Almost immediately after arriving, we suited up and headed into the factory for a tour. Cleanliness and organization are paramount when packaging foodservice products, and we were all impressed with the facility and team.

The layout and operation were reminiscent of a winery, with large bins of hand-picked avocados, sorting machines, temperature-controlled rooms, and forklifts. These various technologies combined with 300 team members per shift working in tandem to handle the process can only be described as perfect choreography. Seeing such a large team work in an organized fashion is truly impressive. We headed inside to watch the run of the new products. Layers of sorting protocol allow only the perfect avocados to make it to the hand-scooped line. As we worked our way through the sea of green, it was fascinating to watch every avocado be hand-split and hand-scooped. When I first heard about the new hand-scooped product coming out, I assumed there must be a complicated system of machines making this happen, but this product is truly hand-scooped and processed with such care our customers are receiving something assuredly unique.

As a chef, I’ve always been a bit of a purist when it comes to ingredients, especially when it comes to avocados. There’s something special about slicing open a fresh, perfectly ripe avocado, with its smooth, creamy texture and rich flavor. However, after visiting Simplot’s processing plants in Mexico, watching Simplot's dedicated team hand-scoop avocados at peak ripeness and treating the fruit with meticulous care, I had a shift in perspective. Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products offer an incredible solution without compromising on quality or flavor. Simply put, these products are a game-changer.

I was thoroughly impressed with the handling and processing of the avocado products Simplot is manufacturing in Mexico. Let’s dig into why these products are an ideal choice for operators, from saving time and labor to ensuring consistent quality year-round.

Significant Time Savings

In foodservice, every minute counts. Slicing, pitting, and preparing avocados can be time-consuming, especially when you’re managing a high-volume kitchen. Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products come ready to use; whether you need diced, sliced, halved, or puréed forms, Simplot has already done the prep work. You simply pull what you need from the freezer, slack, and add directly to your recipes.

Since the avocados are frozen at peak ripeness, there’s no need to worry about ripening time or preparing large batches of avocados only to watch it brown or have an unexpected slow service causing expensive waste. This saves valuable prep time, allowing your kitchen staff to focus on other areas that need attention, and we all know that list never ends.

Labor Savings and Operational Efficiency

In addition to saving time, Simplot’s avocado products help to reduce labor. There’s no need for staff to spend time cutting, peeling, and pitting avocados; tasks that can be both time-consuming and hazardous in a busy kitchen setting. Why waste your time training staff on the proper techniques to deal with avocados? Cut the bags open, or peel the trays back, and you are off to the races.

With labor shortages remaining a pressing issue across the foodservice industry, Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products offer an invaluable solution. Simplot has optimized every step, from sourcing and harvesting to packaging, making avocados a ready-to-eat, efficient choice for kitchens of all sizes.

Consistency and Quality You Can Trust

After seeing the care the Simplot team in Mexico dedicates to hand-scooping each avocado, I was reassured that this portfolio lives up to the highest quality standards. Simplot® Harvest Fresh® avocados are sourced from the best areas of Mexico, where the climate and soil conditions create an ideal environment for growing premium avocados. Simplot uses advanced flash-freezing methods to lock in the creamy texture and fresh flavor of peak-ripe avocados which allows for an extended frozen shelf-life.

Consistency is key in the foodservice industry, and Simplot delivers just that. No more dealing with the variability of avocados, where one shipment might be overripe and the next underripe. With Simplot’s avocado products, you know exactly what you’re getting every time.

Reduced Food Waste and Extended Shelf Life

Avocados have a notoriously short shelf life, and it’s easy to over-order and end up wasting product if they ripen faster than expected. This leads to financial losses and increased food waste. Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products solve this issue. Since they’re flash frozen at peak freshness, you can take out only what you need for each day and leave the rest in the freezer without worrying about spoilage.

This extended shelf life also offers a financial advantage, helping food service operators manage inventory more effectively and reduce the waste that comes with fresh produce year-round.

Versatile Product Range to Suit Every Menu Need

Simplot offers a diverse range of avocado products that cater to various culinary applications. Whether you need slices for sandwiches, diced avocado for salads, puréed avocado for sauces and guacamole, or our new flavored avocado spreads to level up your menu, Simplot has an option that’s perfectly tailored to your needs. This versatility enables food service operators to explore new menu options without worrying about additional prep work.

One of the most compelling aspects of Simplot’s avocado line is the incredible flavor and texture. With my Chef hat on, I was initially skeptical, but after tasting these products firsthand, I was genuinely impressed. Experiencing a product cutting in the plant was an eye-opening experience showing Simplot’s diverse avocado portfolio has the same rich, creamy taste that you’d expect from a fresh avocado, with none of the browning or textural issues often associated with lesser-quality options.

A Practical, High-Quality Solution for Foodservice Operators

After visiting Simplot’s production facilities in Mexico, I have a newfound respect for Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products and the meticulous effort that goes into ensuring every batch meets rigorous standards for both safety and quality. For foodservice operators looking to streamline their daily tasks, reduce labor, and ensure quality and consistency, Simplot® Harvest Fresh® Avocado products from Mexico are an exceptional choice. They offer all the flavor, nutrition, and appeal of avocados prepped in-house with the added benefits of convenience and sustainability that comes with seeing less of your product go to waste.

If you haven’t considered Harvest Fresh® Avocado products for your kitchen, I highly encourage you to try Simplot’s products. They’re a game-changer in foodservice, and I’m confident they’ll earn a lasting place in your kitchen, just as they have in mine.