Ocean Mist Farms has gotten rave reviews for its new Roastables line, introduced at the IFPA show in October, said Chris Drew, president and CEO.

“We understand that today’s consumers are busier than ever, with many households balancing two working parents. Our goal with these roasting kits is to give families back some of their precious time, without having to sacrifice nutrition or taste.”

This Roastables line features fresh, halved Brussels sprouts that are pre-washed and ready to roast.

They come in three bold, chef-crafted flavors: Lemon Caesar, Sweet Sesame, and Sun-Dried Tomato. And each is accompanied with a crispy garnish to add after roasting.

Designed for busy, health-conscious consumers, they offer a quick, wholesome, and flavorful meal solution the whole family will enjoy, said Mark Munger, senior director of marketing. Roastables are ready to eat in just 15 minutes.

“We collaborated closely with a culinary group in San Francisco to develop the chef-inspired flavor profiles for our new Roastables. One of our key objectives was to craft distinctive dishes that replicate the indulgent flavor experience of dining at a fine restaurant.”

New additions to the Roastables line are already in development, featuring other premium fresh vegetables from Ocean Mist Farms. Look for the second line extension this spring and the third this fall.

As with the Brussels sprouts, all vegetables in the upcoming line extensions are grown exclusively by Ocean Mist Farms, and the flavor development will follow a similar process of trials and consumer testing to identify the flavor profiles that best complement the vegetables.

It’s a perfect time to add new fresh-cut products to the marketplace, Munger said.

Consumers are time-starved and regularly seeking quick and easy solutions to produce tasty — and, ideally, nutritious — meals. Value-added meal solutions truly put the value in people’s time, he said.

Fresh-cut and other value-added fresh veg products have come a long way since the introduction of bagged salads in 1989.

“The category has evolved significantly, expanding well beyond the convenience of washed and pre-cut produce and well into new product innovations,” Munger said. “Today, value-added fresh produce items that are ready-to-eat/cook and quick to prepare have entered the meal kit category. These kits offer complete solutions that include seasonings, sauces, toppings, and other meal accompaniments designed to create a fully prepared dish.”

And these meal solutions are not going away any time soon. According to Global Market Insights, the processed fruits and vegetables market size was valued at just over $352 billion in 2023 and is projected to incur an additional 6.7% growth rate between 2024 and 2032. Increasing consumer demand for convenient, nutritious, and long-lasting food products is a key driver of this market expansion, Drew said. 

“We understand that today’s consumers are busier than ever, with many households balancing two working parents. Our goal with these roasting kits is to help families reclaim valuable time without compromising on nutrition or taste.”

The most popular fresh-cut products in Ocean Mists’ value-added line are Brussels sprouts and broccoli florets. For anyone who’s tried to cut up a broccoli or cauliflower head, Drew said, they know how time-consuming and messy it can be.