Prepared Foods profiles new prepared ethnic foods for foodservice menus.

With diners returning to restaurants, the restaurant industry is battling labor shortage and 62% of operators say they are concerned about finding skilled workers. US Foods addressed this problem with as many as 18 new offerings earlier this summer. Officials say the items were created reduce demands for back of-house-preparation and skilled labor.

Featured was Chef’s Line Crispy Italian Tomato and Mozzarella Arancini. Made in Italy with Italian Carnaroli rice and filled with tomato, mozzarella and a signature vegetable blend, this bite-sized Arancini brings this popular Roman street food to any operator’s menu. Officials say it provides approximately three hours of labor savings compared to creating from scratch. The product also travels well for take-out or delivery sales.

Another interesting twist was Cross Valley Farms Apple Pineapple Pico De Gallo. It’s made with quarter-inch cut Granny Smith apples, onions, pineapple, jalapeño peppers, cilantro and key lime juice. A nice alternative to the traditional pico de gallo. Provides approximately two hours of labor savings compared to creating from scratch.

Although Covid concerns closed this year’s National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show, it didn’t stop NRA officials from honoring as many as 24 new on-trend products with 2021 Food and Beverage (FABI) Awards.

One honoree was eight-time FABI award winner Sevillo Fine Foods and its Fire Roasted Mexican Street Corn. The product features super sweet yellow corn kernels individually roasted over an open flame for char-grilled flavor and appearance. The roasted corn then is tossed in an elote style chipotle lime mayo sauce and quick frozen for freshness and crisp corn texture.

Sevillo, Salt Lake City, Utah, processes slow roasted tomatoes, fire-roasted vegetables and fruit, bruschettas and spreads, pickled vegetables and sun-dried tomatoes. Products are distributed exclusively through DOT Foods.

Foodservice distributor Sysco Corp., Houston, introduced eight new Cutting Edge Solutions products exclusively for Sysco operator customers. Items were grouped in one of four themes including “innovative and takeout friendly,” “labor savings,” “comfort foods” and “on-trend, plant-based ingredients.”

“Our Cutting Edge Solutions platform helps our customers stay on-trend and ahead of the competition with new and innovative offerings for dine-in, takeout or delivery while also providing labor saving solutions to support their success in today’s environment,” says Judy Sansone, Sysco’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Officials say Sysco Simply Plant-Based Cauliflower Tortillas are gluten-free, vegan tortillas and wraps that are free of egg, dairy, and soy.

“They perform like traditional tortillas and are an excellent alternative for those customers who want to eliminate or limit gluten in their diet,” says Sysco.