Wholesale Fresh Produce vs. Canned: Best Choice for NYC

Wholesale fresh produce is a main ingredient on restaurant menus. But there are instances when fresh produce isn’t available. Be it because it’s out of season or lower inventory due to higher demand — buying canned produce may be the best option.

Fadaro Foods is a wholesale fresh produce supplier for NYC and delivers to all five boroughs. Many recipes and menu items call for fresh fruits and vegetables. Those with menus that feature a lot of sweets and baked goods may benefit from purchasing ingredients with a longer shelf life and require less cooler space. Canned produce becomes a viable option. But can you use canned produce in place of fresh? What are the benefits of fresh produce vs. canned produce?

Canned Produce vs. Fresh Produce

For restaurants, fresh may be the best option when it comes to taste, but it’s not the only option. If there’s a shortage of fresh ingredients or they’re not in season, there may be a need for a restaurant to purchase the canned or frozen alternative. In baking, the recipe may call for the canned option. Canned food isn’t a bad option or a last resort. It’s the most affordable option when it comes to quantity. There is still nutritional value, and canning is a form of food preservation meant to lengthen the life of the fruit or vegetable.

Nutritional Value of Fresh Produce

There are at least nine different families of fruits and vegetables. Each of those families contains hundreds of different plant compounds. These compounds are beneficial to health. By providing a variety of types of colors of produce on a dish, restaurants can provide people with a beneficial mix of nutrients. It also creates eye-appealing and flavorful meals.

Nutritional Value of Canned Food

Fruits and vegetables used in canning are picked at peak freshness. This ensures the best flavor and nutrient quality. Canned foods can be just as nutritious as fresh and frozen foods because the canning food preservation process preserves many nutrients. The minerals, vitamins, and protein remain relatively uncharged by the process of canning.

Canned Food Preservation

Canned food is often found on grocery store shelves and in large wholesale quantities. Canning is the process of placing foods in jars or cans and heating them to a specified temperature. At that temperature, the food is preserved, and the high heat destroys microorganisms. It also inactivates enzymes and preserves the safety and quality of the food. The three scientifically tested and approved methods of canning for food preservation are pressure canning, water bath canning, and atmospheric steam canning.

Pros and Cons of Canned Food

Wholesale canned food is made with quantity in mind and is the cheapest option. The shelf life of one to five years that comes with canned food also makes it ideal to be ordered in large quantities. In the battle of fresh vs. canned, most people agree that fresh produce tastes the best. The sodium and salt content are much higher in canned products.

Pros And Cons of Fresh Food

Fresh vegetables are nutritious. But the storage of fresh vegetables can often result in them being contaminated with harmful bacteria. Depending on the time of year and the availability in your area, fresh fruits and vegetables may often be more expensive. Choosing vegetables and working with a wholesale supplier who brings in vegetables during their peak season and handles them with care will save your restaurant money in the end.

Fresh Food Storage and Preservation

Preserving fresh food can extend the life of your ingredient. It can also transform the item to benefit a different menu item or become a different ingredient on another dish. Preservation and storage techniques could include: freezing, boiling, blanching, pickling, fermenting, heat processing, and drying.

How To Choose Between Canned and Fresh Food

When choosing canned vs. fresh produce, be sure to take into account each menu item. Break it down by recipe. Take into account the cooking technique. 

Canned vegetables are budget-friendly and keep for a long time. 

This will likely cut down on the amount of food waste your restaurant produces and save money. Sometimes, fresh beats out canned in terms of taste and quality. But that is not always the case. 

Frozen fruit, which can come from a fresh bulk purchase, is the best option for smoothies. Soups are also a forgiving base for vegetables of all kinds. Tomatoes are a fruit that cooks like a vegetable that can be utilized differently based on how it is delivered, fresh or canned. For sauces, the canned option is preferred, and it actually packs more nutrients. Thanks to an enzyme that’s released under heat. 

Lemons and other produce can often be purchased fresh in bulk and then juiced and frozen. This preserves both the flavor and is the most cost-effective. Thinking about each ingredient and the purpose on the menu will benefit your restaurant in a number of ways. 
Fadaro Foods also compiled a great wholesale produce guide which might come in handy when making selections for your next restaurant order. 

Best Wholesale Fresh Produce Options

There are many great options when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. Wholesale produce is often essential for restaurants. It’s also a cost-effective way to purchase fresh inventory. To ensure the freshest ingredients finding a wholesale supplier who can deliver daily is the best option. When looking for a supplier consider the price, quality, product variety, knowledge, simple ordering methods, and delivery schedule that works with inventory management and urgent calls.

Finding a restaurant produce deliverer like Fadaro Foods, which sells fresh vegetables and fresh fruit daily, is crucial for restaurants. Fadaro Foods is a restaurant wholesale food supplier that delivers throughout New York City’s five boroughs and offers quality wholesale food ingredients at prices that ensure quantity and profit for restaurants they work with.

When choosing wholesale food goods for your restaurant, it’s important to choose a food supplier that will help your business grow. Through frequent deliveries and ensuring quality products at competitive quantity prices, Fadaro Foods ensures one does not have to be chosen over the other. View our full catalog of wholesale food products and schedule your delivery today.