Produce is on every menu. It\u2019s a healthy part of any diet, and it meets the consumers\u2019 desire to see fresh food on the menu. Chefs rely on a consistent supply and quality when it comes to fruits and vegetables. The new Markon app offers ways for produce buyers to meet those needs.<\/p>\n
Because produce is a commodity, prices go up and down often, depending on factors such as weather, sourcing, quality and supply and demand. A sudden change in price or availability can take foodservice directors and kitchen managers by surprise. With the app, it\u2019s simple to stay up to date.<\/p>\n
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Real-time information direct from Markon lets you know whether prices are peaking or quality is at its best, according to Marcia Przybysz, Gordon Food Service North American Category Manager for Fruits and Vegetables. The app provides suggested substitutions and other solutions to make buying decisions, save on labor costs, reduce waste, manage plate costs and more.<\/p>\n
The app opens to a touch screen with five options that lead to a wealth of information about products, recipes and Markon\u2019s approved suppliers. Three tools on the app\u2014the Fresh Crop Report, Product Catalog and Yield Calculator\u2014put expertise and solutions at users\u2019 fingertips.<\/p>\n
The app makes a weekly Fresh Crop Report market update accessible to produce buyers, Przybysz says. The weekly report contains a list of highlights, an \u201cAsk a Markon Chef\u201d section, a menu feature, serving tips and links to recipes and videos to navigate products that are often volatile.<\/p>\n
Easy-to-understand indicators\u2014arrows, stars and dollar signs\u2014advise on the volume, quality and price, along with chart that tells the growing region. \u201cIf you look up broccoli and find out the price is higher or the quality is lower, the app gives substitution suggestions,\u201d she says. \u201cAll of this guidance is intended to help with menu planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
This information can be especially helpful if you use a cycle menu, says Gordon Food Service Healthcare Segment Manager Dana Fillmore. The app can help find a starchy vegetable or a green leafy vegetable to replace a similar product that sees a sudden price spike.<\/p>\n
Fillmore says another fabulous feature of the app is a calculator that helps guide purchasing decisions. Using industry average yield rates and labor costs, it\u2019s possible to compare the true cost of food prep in the kitchen with products that are ready to use.<\/p>\n
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\u201cInstead of buying a whole pineapple and cutting it yourself, the calculator can provide data that may show it\u2019s more economical to buy pre-cut, packaged pineapple,\u201d Fillmore says. The pre-cut product provides 100 percent yield and saves kitchen time and labor, savings that contribute to improved plate costs.<\/p>\n
The calculator has two purposes, Przybysz notes. One is the ability to compare bulk items to ready-serve produce. The other is to highlight Markon\u2019s commitment to the foodservice industry higher yields in every case compared to packer label products. That can play a big role in product waste, which adds up to significant cost over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarkon packages with the foodservice operator in mind, with higher average usable pounds in each box,\u201d she says. \u201cThat yield also can be compared to other brands so you can get a better picture of portioning and plate cost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only is the catalog and easy way to find items, but Przybysz says it\u2019s a convenient resource for product information that\u2019s important to operators\u2014seasonality, sourcing, product claims, nutritional facts and even storage and handling tips.<\/p>\n