2013-01-29 09:18:32 - On the cutting edge of fresh-cut: Vegetables with near-zero nitrates, real-time microbial testing and a new salad line featuring taste treats from creamed pear to popcorn.

BERGAMO, ITALY; JANUARY 30, 2013 – Agronomia Group, the innovation leader in healthful, tasty and safe fresh-cut vegetables for the large-scale retail trade, today announced it will be launching a new product line and presenting several innovations aimed to set new standards in the fresh cut sector at the upcoming FRUIT LOGISTICA 2013 trade fair in Berlin.
Agronomia, a privately-held company headquartered in Bergamo, Italy, supplies major food retailers throughout Italy and Germany. The company’s stated mission: Eating well, eating healthy, every day.
• Gourmè salads. Gourmè is an exclusive new line based on recipes created by Agronomia that brings innovation to light eating at a competitive price without compromising on the pleasures of good eating.
Gourmè salad bowls contain everything

needed to enjoy a satisfying, healthy and tasty light meal: fresh, high quality vegetables -- including specialty leaves like Little Gem Lettuce-- accompanied by unique, flavorful dressings and a key ingredient in each, such as creamed pear and toasted walnut kernels, juicy raisins and crisp green apple slices, olive paté – even popcorn!
“We are proud to launch the Gourmè line at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2013 said Guglielmo Alessio, President & CEO of the Agronomia Group. “We see Gourmè as being the lunchtime meal of choice: it satisifies your appetite but doesn’t leave you feeling heavy and keeps you energized for the rest of the day
“We are equally proud to present the innovations that have put Agronomia on the cutting edge of fresh-cut. Agronomia has years of experience and invests heavily in R&D and innovation. For example, we are one of the first companies in the fresh-cut sector to introduce a water ultrafiltration system into our process. This gives us control of Total Bacterial Load and reduces our impact on the environment. The result of this unique combination of experience plus R&D is a complete and controlled agricultural food production system that adheres to -- and even exceeds -- the strictest quality, safety and environmental standards
Agronomia will also be highlighting the following innovations at FRUIT LOGISTICA 2013:
• Vegetables with near-zero nitrates. In 2008, the Agronomia Group initiated Outground, a research program with the aim of developing ready-to-eat vegetable products with low nitrate content, by adopting innovative detached soil cultivation. Today, Agronomia’s innovative method is yielding high-quality baby-leaf and leaf vegetables with only trace quantities of nitrates. Outground produce is tasty, visually appealing, stores well and maintains a longer shelf life.
• MRT - Microbiological Rapid Testing. MRT for ultrarapid microbial testing is a cutting edge innovative system intended to replace the conventional method of cell culture. MRT’s high sensitivity enables the detection and counting of microorganisms instead of days. MRT is able to perform Total Bacterial Counts and Total Coliform Counts as well as identify E. Coli, Enterococcus Faecalis, Pseudomonas, Listeria and Yeast & Molds.
“Finally, we have fresh-cut vegetable testing with immediate and relevant results said Alessio, adding that Agronomia is the world’s first company to adopt this innovative technology for Fresh Cut and holds exclusive rights to Italy and Germany.
Agronomia Group will be exhibiting at FRUIT LOGISTICA, Messe Berlin, February 6-8, 2013 at Hall 4.2/C-19.


About Agronomia
Agronomia Group is an Italy-based grower, processor and provider of healthful, tasty and safe fresh-cut vegetables, produced using innovative, cutting edge agricultural and industrial technologies. The company’s watchword, “Knowledge and nature working together is based on Agronomia’s years of experience in private label production for large-scale retail chains, coupled with a significant investment in R&D and innovation. The result of this unique combination is a complete and controlled agricultural food production system, which enables Agronomia to provide a wide range of products that adhere to -- and even exceed -- the strictest of quality and environmental standards. Agronomia Group certifications include: BRC, IFS, GLOBALG.A.P., Reg. 834/2007 e 889/2008 (organic), Reg. 1221/2009 EMAS, ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and QS Scheme. The privately-held company is headquartered in Bergamo, Italy; maintains two production facilities in northern and southern Italy, and offices in Germany and Czech Republic. Named customers include Italy’s Agora Network (Iperal, Tigros, Sogegross), Autogrill, Billa, Coop Italia, Conad, Despar Italia, Esselunga, Eurospin, Il Gigante, Gruppo Lombardini, Penny Market and Germany’s Rewe chain.
For more information: www.agronomia.biz | www.gourmesalads.biz
Media contact: Jonathan Sierra, jonathan.sierra@agronomia.biz