Costco Connection - September 2011

reconfirming that all USDA, FDA and the more rigorous Costco specifications are met.

comparison between Kirkland Signature fro-

What’s old is never sold as new

FRANCE FREEMAN

I know suppliers are not required to list the harvest year on their frozen berry products and may sneak in older stock. I ask Leanne about Costco’s policy.

She reports, “We never buy old fruit or stockpile fruit to save money for Kirkland Signature frozen berries. Each year is a new harvest.”

Leanne hands me a recently completed
zen fruits (and vegetables) were nutritionally
comparable to the raw versions.

Frozen Strawberries

RETAILER

Costco Retailer A Retailer B

BRAND POUNDS

Kirkland Signature 6 Private Selection 4 Market Pantry 4

PRICE

$8.99 $8.99 $8.24

PRICE/LB

$1.50 $2.25 $2.06

COUN TRY OF ORIGIN

USA USA Mexico

INGREDIENTS*

Whole strawberries Whole strawberries Whole strawberries

Frozen Costco Triple Berries Retailer A

Retailer B

Kirkland Signature 4

Private Selection 1

Market Pantry 3

$10.99

$3.89

$10.79

$2.75

$3.89

$3.60

USA USA and Chile

USA and Chile e e

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries
Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries
a
a

*Ingredients are required to be listed in order of predominance; raspberries and blueberries are the most expensive ingredients, something to keep in mind when comparing brands.

Prices may vary due to shipping. Comparison shop took place on July 21, 2011 in Issaquah, Washington.

Kirkland Signature frozen strawberries are also stricter than USDA Grade A requirements.)

I count five points of inspection from the field to final pack, including a seven- to 10-day test and a hold after freezing to confirm berry quality and safety. Brad knows of no other retailer requiring this extra quality-assurance step.

At the processing plant, the just-picked berries are washed and repeatedly hand- and machine-sorted before being individually quick-frozen (IQF) in a quick-freeze tunnel.

Freezing is a natural preservation method and IQF its star performer. This more expensive process preserves the integrity of delicate foods such as berries by sealing in juices, maintaining the original shape of each berry, locking in important nutrients and providing less potential for microbial growth.

Commitment to quality

Growers of Kirkland Signature frozen berries are required to follow strict guidelines and labor practices. All berries are traceable from the warehouse back to the field, continuously quality tested and required to pass pesti-cide-residue tests. (Test scores always show lower levels than what the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] and the Environmental Protection Agency deem acceptable.)

If there is ever an issue, Costco is capable of quickly identifying where the product came from, when it was packed and where it was shipped.

Independent third-party micro-testing is conducted on a myriad of issues. No berries are shipped without a clean bill of health.

An additional safeguard is Costco’s in-
house quality-assurance laboratory, which
randomly pulls bags from warehouse freezers,
zen whole strawberries, at $1.50 per pound,
and another, higher-priced brand.

Health to warm your heart

Toward the end of our visit we talk about the nutritional attributes of frozen berries.

Brad reports, “Frozen berries are just as
healthy for you as fresh.”
He is correct, as proven by the FDA in
1998 when they found single-ingredient fro-

tıpsFRUITFUL

YOU CAN KEEP healthful and colorful Kirkland Signature frozen berries at your fingertips year-round. Here are a few ways to use them:

■ Grab a handful and whirl them into smoothies.

■ Throw them on instant oatmeal (before microwaving), yogurt or ice cream.

■ Stir into cake, pancake or muffin batter.

■ Keep berries handy as dieting aids and sore-throat pacifiers.

■ Hide a secret stash in the freezer for late-night foraging (shhh).

per cup and kosher certification by BCK.

At just 50 calories per cup, Kirkland Signature strawberries, available in a 6-pound bag, are also an excellent source of vitamin C (one serving has more vitamin C than an orange) and a good source of fiber. (Both items are certified kosher and packaged in BPA-free, resealable poly bags.)

Leanne mentions receiving emails from members who find it hard to believe sugar is not added to the frozen berries, because even their juices taste sweet. She replies to them all by simply stating, “If you pick quality fruit you don’t need anything else.” C

Here’s a great recipe for a berry crisp: Preheat oven to 350 F. Pour a 4-pound bag of frozen Kirkland Signature Rader Farms Nature’s Three Berries in an 11 x 13-inch glass baking dish. Cut together ¾ cup ( 1½ cubes) room-temper-ature butter, 1½ cups flour and 1½ cups sugar, and sprinkle mixture over berries to cover as much as possible. Bake until berries are bubbling and topping is slightly browned, about 40 minutes. Serves 8 to 12 depending on appetites. Serve in bowls with Kirkland Signature vanilla ice cream. (Thanks to my friends Susan Hathaway and Kerry Comunale for this great serving idea.)