Garden Hearts® Hearts of Romaine

Click here for a Garden Hearts® brochure in PDF

Save money AND increase quality?
We call it OPTIMIZING THE BOTTOM LINE!

Myths

Myth #1: Garden Hearts® hearts of romaine are too expensive.
While hearts may initially cost a bit more per carton, the yield is considerably higher, so the net cost for Garden Hearts® is actually lower.

Myth #2: Trimming conventional romaine will yield a heart.
This is not true! Every head does not make a heart! Most conventional romaine is grown for its dark green, loose leaves. Our hearts of romaine are specifically bred to form a densely packed, light green heart.

Myth #3: All hearts of romaine are the same.
Again, not true! At Boggiatto Produce, we have developed proprietary seed and special growing techniques to consistently produce an authentic, solid heart of romaine. This is what sets us apart from our competitors.

Facts

Fact #1 – Less Waste: Research shows that restaurant kitchens typically discard 25-50% of a conventional head of romaine. However, Garden Hearts® typically have a usable yield of 90-95%. Yield, alone, makes Garden Hearts® more cost-effective. Less waste also means lower costs for disposal.

Fact #2 – More Taste & Appeal: Because the heart is the youngest part of the romaine plant, you serve only the sweetest, most tender, and crunchiest part. Your customers will taste the difference.

Fact #3 – Reduced Prep: A carton of Garden Hearts® can be fully prepped in 15 minutes or less. On the other hand, a carton of conventional romaine can take 60 minutes or more to wash, sort and pare down to good, useable leaves. Given today’s labor costs that makes Garden Hearts® a sure winner.

Fact #4 – Less Space: Because most of the work is already done, Garden Hearts® take less counter space to prep. Although it contains double the head count, the Garden Hearts® carton is 30% smaller than a carton of conventional romaine. That also means Garden Hearts® need less refrigerator space for storage than conventional romaine.

Fact #5 – Cleaner Product: Because Garden Hearts® are considerably cleaner than conventional heads of romaine, there’s no need to wash dirt off every leaf. Simply cut off the base and rinse.

Fact #6 – Longer Shelf Life: Because Garden Hearts® are the young, tender, inner leaves of the plant, they naturally live longer than the older, tougher leaves that have been exposed to the elements. This means shelf life is greatly increased over conventional romaine.

Fact #7 – Consistency: No surprises! Garden Hearts® are available throughout the year and are known for consistently providing the best quality available in the marketplace.

Selection – Choose hearts that are cut close to leaf stems and are free from decay and browning. Look for tightly packed hearts with fresh, light green to yellow leaves that show no sign of wilting. Good-quality hearts of romaine will have moderately firm heads and tender leaves. Avoid hearts with signs of rust or oversized butts and plants with large, strong milky ribs.

Handling – Uncut, whole hearts of romaine retain nutrients best. Store unwashed in plastic bag until ready for use since surface water from washing encourages bacterial growth. To prepare, wash and drained completely or blot with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. A salad spinner, which uses centrifugal force to remove water from leafy greens, is a definite timesaver for this process. Never allow lettuce to soak, as the water tends to soften some leaves. Do not allow the temperature to go below 32° F, as this will damage the leaves.

By the case, be sure to keep the plastic liners and box tops closed, as this helps preserve moisture. Romaine hearts are ethylene-sensitive and should not be stored or transported with commodities that produce ethylene, such as apples. They are also sensitive to freezing injury. Do not place romaine hearts directly near cooler fans, as that will result in rapid dehydration.

Storage –

• Temperature – Keep refrigerated at 34° to 36° Fahrenheit.
  
• Relative Humidity – Maintain 90 to 95% relative humidity.
  
• Top Ice – No.
  
• Shelf Life – 14 to 21 days.

Product Specifications –

• Packs – (Cardboard carton with plastic liner)
  
  • Foodservice
    48 count Jumbo hearts
    48 count Petite hearts
    
  • Retail
    12 – 3 count cello bags (UPC 33383-65162)
• Weight – Jumbo: 22 to 25 lbs., Petite: 12 to 15 lbs., 12/3 count: 15 lbs.
  
• Carton dimensions – Jumbo: 19 x 16 x 10 inches.
  
• Carton dimensions – Petite: 19 x 16 x 6 inches.
  
• Carton dimensions – 12 – 3 count: 20 x 13 x 10 inches.
  
• Carton cube – Jumbo: 1.81 c.f., Petite: 1.08 c.f., 12/3 count: 1.6 c.f.
  
• Pallet count – Jumbo: 54, Petite: 84, 12/3 count: 56 per pallet.
  
• Labels – Garden Hearts®, Royal Hearts®, Salad Hearts®

Availability – P=Peak; A=Available

Retailer tips – Display hearts of romaine next to vegetables that can be added to salads, such as tomatoes, mushrooms, celery, radishes, onions, bell peppers, and broccoli. Educate consumers by pointing out the convenience and versatility of hearts of romaine through signs and demonstrations. Primary Garden Hearts® attributes include:

• More Taste
  
• Less Waste
  
• Less Prep Time
  
• Cleaner Product
  
• Longer Shelf Life

Foodservice Tips

• Use individual leaves to line salads or on deli sandwiches.
• To crisp romaine, plunge the leaves in ice water for a few minutes just before serving.
• Use whole leaves as a wrap for other ingredients.
• Jumbos are perfect for grilling.

Nutrition – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for romaine: Low-fat, saturated fat-free, low-sodium, cholesterol-free, low in calories, high in vitamin A and a good source of folate.

Foodservice and Retail Professionals – Garden Hearts® hearts of romaine are available year 'round. Order through your regular produce distributor. If your distributor doesn't carry our products, call us at 831.424.4864 and we'll help direct you or your distributor to a local service.

Distributors – Purchase Garden Hearts® hearts of romaine directly from our facility in Salinas, California or seasonally from Brawley, California. Call our sales department at 831.424.4864 to arrange for shipping. Remember, Garden Hearts® hearts of romaine are only available from Boggiatto Produce. Ask for them by name.

Click here to download a copy of our Garden Hearts® Brochure in PDF format