Packaged salads have changed the vegetable dining experience throughout the world. No longer are we forced to buy a head of lettuce, cut it up and then use it in our meals. Now we simply reach in the bag, toss it in a bowl and the salad has practically made itself.

The success of packaged salads has spawned many packaged salad brands, making working in the industry an attractive choice. But before you just hop into the industry and start working for salad suppliers, there are a few things you need to educate yourself on when it comes to practices and protocols. Here are some tips on how to educate and train yourself for the packaged salad industry.

1. Educate yourself on the safety and quality controls required as part of your packaged salad manufacturers education and training.

2. Read marketing and research reports on packaged salad manufacturers and the industry at large.

3. Interact with salad manufacturers and determine the protocols they follow from getting the lettuce from the ground to the consumer.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Refresh yourself or take courses in the safety of packaged salads

It's no secret that any time you're dealing with fresh produce, keeping the salad from becoming contaminated by bacteria or viruses is of supreme importance. Take the time to educate yourself on the latest guidelines on how a packaged salad manufacturer needs to operate within the United States.

I recommend: Check out the website for the Center for Food and Safety and Applied Nutrition for the latest safety guidelines when it comes to packaged salad. Simply click on the pdf file and you'll be taken to the latest guidelines. The Department of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points also holds a conference for all produce growers, inclusive of packaged salad manufacturers. Once you complete the course you have fulfilled all FDA requirements for the current term.

Check out packaged salad manufacturers research reports

As part of your training and education in the area of packaged salad, take the time to read research reports. These comprehensive guides will educate you in all aspects of the business. You'll understand how the supply chain works, where the market share is strongest or weakest and be able to gain a perspective of the industry as a whole.

I recommend: Check out the website for Food and Beverage Reports. They offer a comprehensive guide published by Mintel International Group Ltd. about the entire packaged salad industry. Take the time to educate yourself on everything from sales, to operations, to profit margins and protocols. Research and Markets also offers a similar report dealing with the industry.

Interface with salad manufacturers and learn the process of how they produce packaged salads

Check out the food safety reports of packaged salad manufacturers to familiarize yourself with the self-imposed guidelines that companies often place on themselves above and beyond what the government requires. There are often transcripts of conferences and laboratory findings, as well as guides which take you through each company's quality control process.

I recommend: Check out the website for Fresh Express as they have a comprehensive section dedicated to their "Fresh Initiative" which details the quality controls from when the seeds are planted to when the consumer takes a bite. Ready Pac also offers a comprehensive glance at their procedures, inclusive of access to some of the lab results from their on-site facility.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A food science degree is helpful for working in many aspects of the packaged salad industry. You'll learn everything from how bacteria and viruses are safely removed from the lettuce to how to prolong the shelf life of produce.

Purchasing packaged salad to use at your business saves precious time as well as provides convenience. The minimally-processed vegetables are ready for consumption the minute you open the bag. There's no washing of the leaves or cutting of vegetables (unless you have other vegetables you wish to add), and it looks very professional.

With more companies trying to find a better and healthy alternative to serve their customers, prepackaged salad manufacturers might be the best option. To find the ideal salad manufacturer to meet your needs, you can:

1. Locate organic salad suppliers to serve your salads more "green."

2. Score deals from packaged salad manufacturers who sell in bulk quantities.

3. Stock up on packaged salad from deli salad manufacturers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for salad brands that feature an organic seal

To qualify for the organic seal, the lettuce inside the bag should be grown, handled and processed free of fertilizers and pesticides. Governed by the National Organic Program (NOP), there's a strict guideline salad manufacturers need to follow. Purchasing salads made by these suppliers is great for your business because it means you're providing the highest quality food. It may cost a little more than traditional prepackaged salads, but the superior product provided is worth it.

I recommend: One of the most popular packaged salad makers is Dole Food Company, Inc. It currently produces several brands of organic prepackaged salad recognized by the NOP. Another popular packaged salad maker is Earthbound Farm and its Organic Salads. Breaking through the market first, it offers mixed greens, spinach, arugula, romaine, mache and salad kit options.

Buy in bulk from packaged salad manufacturers, and think outside the plastic bag

When feeding a large crowd, odds are you need plenty of salad to keep them fed. Search out salad suppliers who sell in mass quantities, where you should be able to fill your refrigerator while saving on overall costs. Buying in bulk can be more cost-efficient in the long-run.

I recommend: Fresh Express from Chiquita Brands, L.L.C. can fulfill two needs you may have: it has an entire organic section, and you can buy its prepackaged salad brands in bulk. In addition to offering prewashed lettuce, it sells salad kits that are easy to prepare. Contact Ready Pac Produce to order any of its packaged salads. As a packaged salad manufacturer, Ready Pac has been a leader in providing premium, fresh produce for almost 40 years. The company offers distribution from coast-to-coast.

Secure a variety of packaged salads from deli salad manufacturers

As you plan your menus or stock your shelves, don't forget to think about deli salad manufacturers--not all salads need to be lettuce-based. There are a wide variety of deli salads available that complement different meals and satisfy multiple people's tastes.

I recommend: No matter the type of packaged deli salad that you're looking for, Reser's Fine Foods sells it all. Offerings range from standards like potato and macaroni to broccoli, apple, pea and more. Spring Glen Fresh Foods operates a USDA-approved manufacturing operation and ships its products anywhere in the continental United States. The company has a complete packaged deli salad list with sizes and item codes so you're ready to order.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be extra cautious when handling packaged salads as they're at a higher risk of contamination. Since the ingredients aren't cooked and your employees may handle the salad often while preparing, the risk of bacteria infecting the food is extremely high.

The packaged salad industry can be a profitable one, as long as you know your ingredients. You must know what makes certain salad mixes taste differently as well as which type of lettuce provides different tastes and textures. By knowing the specific ingredients, you can help customers and vendors work well and efficiently with your business. Being informed and up-to-date on packaged salad ingredients can put your business above that of the competitors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Arugula

Known by other names such as roquette, Roman rocket or Italian cress among others, arugula is a spicy leaf that's thought to have a peppery or mustard-flavored taste.

I recommend: Check out Ochef.com from Food News Service to learn more about arugula.

Frisee

Frisee has bitter and curly leaves. This type of lettuce is also called curly endive. Oftentimes a small amount of frisee can go a long way, as its bitter flavor can be overpowering.

I recommend: Visit Cookthink to learn more about frisee and to see a photo of what it looks like.

Radicchio

Radicchio, also known as Italian chicory, has a pink hue, which can add color to any mixed salad. Its texture is similar to cabbage, in that it has a chewy nature.

I recommend: Learn more about radicchio at GourmetSleuth.com.

Lamb's lettuce

Lamb's lettuce has small, circular-shaped leaves and adds a nutty flavor to mixed salads. This type of lettuce is popular in Europe and might be difficult to find stateside. However, it can be easily grown from seed on your own as long as temperatures are kept constant.

I recommend: Learn more about lamb's lettuce at The Worldwide Gourmet.

Romaine

Romaine, also known as cos, has dark green leaves that are very fragile. It is occasionally damaged in shipping, which makes it one of the least widely grown types of lettuce. The common type of romaine is sweet romaine, which has long, thin leaves. It is best for users to tear the romaine into pieces, as cutting the leaves can cause them to turn brown. Romaine is commonly used in Caesar salads.

I recommend: Learn more about romaine lettuce at FoodReference.com.

Iceberg

Iceberg is a popular lettuce choice, and it is commonly found sold in tight, round heads of lettuce as well as chopped up in packaged mixes. It has a crisp texture and adds a crunch to salad mixes. Too much iceberg can be detrimental to a mix, as it also has a watery flavor.

I recommend: Learn the other common terms for iceberg lettuce at The Cook's Thesaurus from Lori Alden. Scroll down the page to find the iceberg lettuce entry.