Riviana Foods Inc., Houston, introduced Success Garden & Grains Blends, a boil-in-bag product combining rice with other ingredients. An initial two varieties include White Rice, Black Beans, Corn & Bell Peppers; and White Rice, Peas, Carrot & Red Bell Peppers.

Packaged in two pre-portioned, BPA-free boil-in-bags, Success Garden & Grains Blends are ready in just 10 minutes and offer a no-measure, no-mess meal solution to cooking.

"This past year, we've seen a high level of cooking engagement as more consumers opted to eat at home. For some, this has uncovered a newfound passion for cooking, while others have become tired and uninspired having to plan and prepare different meals every day," said Erica Larson, senior brand manager at Riviana Foods. "By introducing Success Gardens & Grains Blends, we're not only offering home cooks a time-saving shortcut, but also an opportunity to explore new culinary adventures and rediscover the joy of food."

Success Garden & Grains Blends began rolling out in select markets throughout the Northeast and Southeast in June. Consumers can purchase Success Garden & Grains Blends at grocery stores, including Publix, Hannaford and Big Y.

Bush Brothers & Company, Knoxville, Tenn., has introduced several flavorful new items.

Debuting this spring were Bush’s Sidekicks, a line of slow simmered beans seasoned with herbs, spices and vegetables. They may be consumed as a meal, side or mix-in with chicken, rice, tacos, pasta and more, the company says. Sidekicks feature plant-based protein, a good source of fiber, a gluten free ingredient list and no artificial preservatives.

Varieties include Taco Fiesta, Simmerin’ Caribbean, Southwest Zest and Rustic Tuscany.

In May, Bush Brothers introduced Sweet Heat Baked Beans. Officials say the new canned beans deliver bold blend of spices including brown sugar with a zesty kick of jalapeño.

Fresh Express Inc., Windermere, Fla., extended its salad kit line with four new varieties: Bacon Thousand Island and Kickin' Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad Kits; and Italian Balsamic and Spinach & Bacon Salad Kits.

"Throughout the past year, we've seen that consumers are increasingly looking to add convenience and flavor to their at-home meals, without sacrificing quality," said Fabian Pereira, vice president of marketing and innovation at Fresh Express. "Our new salad kits combine premium ingredients like honey butter cornbread crisps and smoked bacon with fresh, crisp lettuce and vegetables to make it easy for consumers to enjoy a chef-crafted and nutritious meal with minimal time spent in the kitchen."

Increased consumer demand has also driven strong growth for the value added salad (VAS) category. The VAS Kits category continues to grow and remains an important segment in Total VAS, with a 37% share. In 2020, VAS Kits were up 16.1%, while Total VAS was up 12.2%, and Total Chopped Kits were up 21.8%, according to IRI data.

Fresh Express Bacon Thousand Island and Kickin' Bacon Ranch Chopped Kits and Spinach & Bacon and Italian Balsamic Salad Kits are in the refrigerated produce department at retailers nationwide, with a suggested retail price of $3.69.

Fresh Express is a subsidiary of Chiquita Brands LLC.

Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago, kicked off summer with new products across its portfolio, including many in the Birds Eye line.

Officials say new Birds Eye Skillets feature restaurant-quality premium vegetables paired with sauces. Options include Garlic Butter Green Beans, Sesame Broccoli, White Wine Mushrooms and Balsamic Brussels Sprouts. Elsewhere, new Birds Eye Stir Fry combines premium vegetable medleys with Asian-inspired sauces. These varieties include Teriyaki and Sesame Garlic.

Officials say new Birds Eye Oven Roasters feature seasoned vegetables that are ready to roast and enjoyed within 20 minutes. Varieties include Parmesan Peppercorn Cauliflower and Zesty Ranch Broccoli. Another new offering is Birds Eye Rainbow Cauliflower. It includes white, orange, green and purple cauliflower florets and the product is ready in minutes in a Steamfresh bag.

Meant to please the family are Birds Eye Sheet Pan Meals, which deliver “all the deliciousness of a sheet pan meal—without the messy prep,” says Conagra. Four new flavors include Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Potatoes; Italian Sausage with Peppers; Chicken with Balsamic Flavored Sweet Potatoes; and Chicken with Rosemary Brown Butter Potatoes.

Since making its 2019 debut, A Dozen Cousins, Los Angeles, has extended its line of prepared, seasoned vegetables.

The business started with 10oz microwaveable packaged beans in seasoned varieties. Today, the line includes such varieties as Cuban Black Beans, Trini Chickpea Curry, Mexican Cowboy Pinto Beans, Refried Black Beans, and Creole Red Beans.

This year, the company has introduced three 8oz varieties of Rice Cooked in Bone Both. Flavors include Classic, Spanish and Sea Salt and product is suited to quick microwaving or stovetop preparation. Each promises 7g of collagen protein per serving. PF