News

Truitt Bros. steps in to fill pumpkin-shortage void

November 18, 2009

In the wake of a Libby's canned pumpkin shortage, Truitt Bros. has announced the availability of its pumpkin pie filling for restaurants and foodservice operators.

Heavy rains in the Midwestern states during the 13-week pumpkin harvest season has led to the shortage of Libby's Pumpkin and no Libby canned pumpkin will be shipped after Thanksgiving, said Libby's parent company Nestle. And with a lackluster supply from the 2008 harvest, also depleted due to bad weather, West Coast organic suppliers are trying to fill the void.

Truitt Bros. Inc., the Pacific Northwest's premium food processor, has created a new Food Alliance-certified supply chain for pumpkin in the newest addition to its line of farm-to-table, shelf-stable items. Truitt's Pumpkin Pie Mix is seasoned with cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice, and can be used for pumpkin pies, milkshakes and smoothies.

The pumpkin mix uses Oregon-grown pumpkins from this year's harvest,sourced from Oregon-based Food Alliance-certified grower, Stahlbush Island Farms, locateddown the road from Truitt's processing facility. The mix is packed in shelf-stable, easy-to-use and store pouches, free of additives and preservatives.

Each 104-ounce pouch of Truitt's Pumpkin Pie Mix is enough to make seven pumpkin pies or as a ready-to-use ingredientfor harvest pumpkin soup, pumpkin pancakes or a variety of baked goods, such as pumpkinbiscuits, cornbread scones and custards. The narrow profile of the pouch packaging offersefficient shelf-stable pantry storage.

"Buying locally grown produce protects the livelihoods of family farmers," said Peter Truitt,president and co-founder of Truitt Bros. "Preserving products for year-round use through safenatural methods and no additives or preservatives means that the product remains true to its realflavor and texture."