Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® Finds Niche in Market
"Fresh Cut Magazine" February 2003

Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® ready-to-use, individual lettuce leaves, by Mills Family Farms, provide the natural, processed-free and preservative-free freshness of whole-head leaf lettuce combined with the ease and no-waste convenience of value-added salad greens.

Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® are premium lettuce leaves that are individually selected, separated from the core with a patented "no-cut" system, meticulously cleaned and carefully packed. Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® are available all year round, Mills Family Farms' patented "no-cut" method seals in freshness (when handled properly the product can stay fresh up to 21 days) and eliminates the use of preservatives.

Each leaf is gently hand-separated from the core, leaving its vital tissue naturally intact. The patented method protects every leaf from dehydration and leaf shock that can occur with processing methods when lettuce is chopped or cut. Unlike bagged lettuce, each leaf is kept whole allowing the vegetable’s natural quality, nutrients and delicious flavor to remain unchanged.

"The public is demanding fresher and healthier menu options," said Jim Mills, Senior Vice President for Mills Family Farms, who pioneered the whole leaf lettuce concept along with the late Jake Hougham. "In lettuce, that means perfect form, crunch, taste and nutrition for the consumer, and convenience, ease-of-use and cost effectiveness for the restaurateur. We have developed Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® as the solution."

Offering convenience and minimum handling Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® ready-to-use individual lettuce virtually eliminate preparation, and labor costs are cut dramatically. Mills Family Farms also addresses the restaurant industry’s space crisis by providing small refrigerator-friendly 5 lb. or 10 lb. cartons, and offering 100 percent usable product – cutting out garbage, waste and hassle. The unwaxed cartons are completely recyclable. In addition, Mills Family Farms Wholeaves® also offers a stable pricing program allowing for dependable planning and budgeting without surprises.

Mills Family Farms, based in Salinas, Calif., is a vertically integrated grower and shipper. For nearly a half century, they have been supplying the foodservice industry, retailers, wholesalers, and brokers nationwide with quality lettuce.