12 Aug What you need to know about frozen food: A first-hand experience
This post was sponsored by American Frozen Food Institute. All opinions are my own.
Almost every morning I throw frozen berries into my blender, which are the base of my smoothie. On pancake days, I use these frozen berries to make a berry compote that I top my pancakes and yogurt with. I’m often asked how healthy frozen fruit—or other frozen foods—is, and when I was invited to join the American Frozen Food Institute on a farm tour to see firsthand how Washington Red Raspberries are grown, harvested, and frozen, I jumped at the chance. by the way. From the field to the freezer, I learned about Washington State’s frozen raspberry nutrition and how facilities and farms ensure frozen food quality and safety.
At the Farm
The first stop of the tour was Enfield Farmswhere I got to see how raspberries and blackberries are grown in the fields and tasted the berries first hand. Raspberries grown for freezing are specific varieties that allow the process of harvesting and freezing so that they remain intact.
Washington State Raspberries for Freezing
Washington state blueberries for freezing
In the fields
Later that day, I also visited Markwell Farms where I had the opportunity to ride the raspberry picker and the picture below shows how they pick the raspberries that are ready for harvest while leaving the berries that are not fully ripe on the bush. Workers then go through the picked raspberries and remove any branches and then place the raspberries in a bin that goes to the processing plant. These raspberries are frozen within hours of harvest.
Riding the raspberry picker
A look inside the dial
In the Processing Plant
Enfield Farms has a processing plant where the fresh picked raspberries are cooled VERY quickly before they are packed and stored in the freezer. The facility is impeccably clean and runs quite smoothly with a combination of smart technology and employees who continue to monitor the quality of the frozen raspberries. The raspberries I saw were packaged in frozen bags that I buy regularly in New York and now I feel even more confident about buying them! It was also awesome to learn that during the process, there is virtually no food waste. Any “imperfect” raspberries are canned (see picture below).
Raspberries are picked and frozen within a few hours
“Imperfect” raspberries are pureed in preserves
Freezing and Nutrition
Research shows that freezing produce within hours of harvest preserves their nutritional content. The freezing process locks in flavor, color and nutrient content. Freezing is a pause button that helps maximize the nutritional value of frozen foods, including raspberries.
Safety and Quality
The moment fruits, vegetables and proteins are harvested, degradation of the product begins due to enzymatic activity, organisms that can spoil food, oxidation and dehydration. However, high-quality food producers manage these issues in the following way:
- Enzyme Activity: To stop enzyme activity, vegetables, rice and pasta, and some fruits are blanched (or quickly exposed to boiling water or steam) before freezing. This process preserves the nutrition, color and texture of the food and also stabilizes the product before freezing.
- Destruction of microorganisms: Freezing stops the growth of microorganisms by making the environment too cold for them to thrive. Freeze it doesn’t they kill microorganisms. The facilities and processing plant are immaculately clean and hygienic and bleaching is also used to reduce the microbial load. Strict personal hygiene before and after freezing is an essential part of this process and helps to minimize the risk of contamination and spoilage. I observed all these factors firsthand in the factory.
- Oxidation: The product limits exposure to oxygen, water and light during processing and packaging. This helps to significantly reduce product degradation due to oxidation.
- Dehydration and Freezer Burn: When food is not properly sealed, it can lead to food dehydration and eventually freezer burn. To prevent this, facilities use airtight packaging materials, including moisture-resistant packaging and ensuring that food is stored at a constant temperature of 0°F (±5°F).
Bottom line: I am 100% confident in buying frozen foods, especially frozen raspberries. Frozen foods, including raspberries, use temperatures to keep foods at their peak freshness, locking in nutrients. Freezing allows you to enjoy your favorite fruits and vegetables all year round. It’s another tool in your arsenal for a healthy, balanced diet. The next time you’re grocery shopping, take the time to browse the frozen food aisle and stock up on some of your favorites, including frozen raspberries.
With farmer Mark Van Mersbergen at Markwell Farms
