Aug. 18, 2009, Kingsville, Ont. – Food & Beverage Executive Magazine recently announced its 2009 Innovation Award Winners, with Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET® taking top honours in the tomato category with an emphasis on packaging and merchandising.

A panel of judges from the magazine dedicate a month to research products, features and designs that have gone above and beyond expectations in innovation within their category in the past year. “Each year, our magazine honours the leaders in their respective industries as innovators,” said publisher Gerard Vander Schauw. “We are pleased to present an award to Mastronardi for their innovation in the tomato category.”

Some of the nationally recognized tomatoes grown and marketed by Mastronardi under its SUNSET® brand include the Campari® Tomato, Splendido™ Grape Tomato, Champagne™ Cherry Tomato, Kumato™, ONE SWEET™ Tomatoes, and gourmet MEDLEY™ tomatoes, to name a few.

“We continue our worldwide research and development each year of unique, flavourful, gourmet tomatoes,” said executive vice-president Paul Mastronardi. “It is with great pleasure that we accept this award as the leading innovator for 2009 for the tomato category.”

He added that to grow the tomato category, “we need to educate consumers on how to use specialty tomatoes. It’s more than just chopping them and putting them in salads.”

He used the SUNSET® Kumato™ tomato as an example. “It offers a unique tomato experience. Its deep colour nurtures intense flavour and aroma that I have yet to see in any other specialty variety. It’s a beautiful piece of fruit."

Innovation begins with bringing the right tomato to market after conducting extensive trials and market testing, he said, “and we appreciate being recognized as a tomato innovator.”