Frozen When Produce Shopping (NAPSA)—AsAmericans strive to eat healthier and add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, a recently concluded “market. bas- ket” study has a simple message for consumers: think frozen. In partnership with the Frozen Food Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to foster- ing scientific research, public awareness and education regarding the nutritional valueof frozen foods, the University of Georgia recently conducted a unique study comparing the nutrient content of eight commonly purchased frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables. The study mimicked consumer Research reveals frozenfr vegetables can be nutritionally equal to—and in some cases better than—their fresh counterparts. some frozen fruits and vegetables is greater than that of fresh- purchasing and storage habits of stored produce. This determina- blueberries, strawberries, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, green peas and spinach. To account for variables such as growing conditions, country ofori- gin and time in the supply chain, composite samples were prepared from fresh and frozen fruits and tion likely owes itself to the nutri- ent degradation that occurs in fresh produce duringstorage. “Our research shows that frozen fruits and vegetables are nutrition- ally equal to—and in some cases better than—their fresh counter- parts,” said University of Georgia vegetables purchased from six Associate Professor Dr. Ronald Each fruit and vegetable was analyzed under three conditions: frozen; fresh (on the day of pur- Jar, vitamin A wasgreater in frozen independent grocery stores. chase); and fresh-stored (after five daysof storage in a kitchen refrigerator). Americans may, on aver- Pegg, wholedthestudy. “In particu- fruits and vegetables than select fresh-stored fruits and vegetables.” Frozenfruits and vegetables are picked and frozen at their peak ripeness, locking in the nutrient age, store perishable fruits and valueat the pointoffreezing. vegetables for up to five days or “Frozen fruits and vegetables more, based on biweekly grocery can play an importantrole in help- shopping habits, according to the ing Americans easily add more Grocery Shopper Trends.” The study results reveal that to meet daily recommendations,” Food Marketing Institute’s “U.S. fruits and vegetables to their diets the nutritional value of many said Produce for Better Health Foundation President and CEO Dr. Elizabeth Pivonka. “Freezing amin A, vitamin C and folates—of www-frozenfoodfacts.org. frozen fruits and vegetables are generally equal to that of their is nature’s pause button.It is a fresh counterparts. In fact, the natural and effective way to prestudy found that the nutritional serve food nutrition and quali yvalue—namely the amountsofvitFor more information, visi
