March is the month during which the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) honors frozen food. National Frozen Food Month celebrates the invention of frozen food and also promotes it. In March, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) will honor 34 recipients with the Golden Penguin for the top frozen food promotions during the month. Throughout March, the organization Plastics Make it Possible hands out awards to those who have innovated in plastics to make delicious frozen foods more convenient and lock in nutrition.
What is National Frozen Food Month?
History
In 1851, James Harrison, a British journalist who emigrated to Australia introduced the first commercially viable ice-making machine. In 1924, the easy and quick freezing method known today was invented by Clarence Birdseye. Birdseye went on to introduce Americans to flash freezing in 1929. Clarence Birdseye became an iconic frozen food brand and a household name in the UK.
In 1934, the Icelandic Fisheries Commission was instituted with the aim of motivating fishermen to quick-freeze their fish. 1953 saw the introduction of the frozen TV dinner by C.A. Swanson & Sons, offering convenience and taking away the need to slave over an oven at the end of the workday. In the mid-1970s, a retail chain opened mini-supermarkets that only sold frozen food. Last year, approximately 26 percent of all American consumers purchased frozen food of one type or another.
Advantages of Frozen Food
In addition to being a quick and easy alternative to cooking, frozen foods have plenty of advantages.
Longevity
Frozen foods can last for a very long time. This allows consumers to shop for the month and can cut down on trips to the store. While taste may diminish over time, frozen foods remain safe to eat. Although there is a perception that they last forever, it is advisable to read the label.
Nutritional
Frozen foods are also healthy. The nutrition found in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and meats is locked in at the time of freezing. The key to unlocking the nutrients is to cook the food as directed on the packaging.
Cost-effective
In addition to being cheaper than fresh food alternatives, frozen foods also save time and spare the effort to prepare meals from scratch. Next time you are at the store, compare the prices of frozen produce to fresh produce. Buying items such as frozen vegetables in bulk towards the end of a season will help you avoid higher prices associated with seasonality.
Portion Control
Lastly, the portion size of frozen meals translates into very little waste. There are portion sizes to suit a variety of appetites.
Promotions
Suppliers and retailers will all be vying for one of the 34 Golden Penguin awards for the best-frozen food promotion during the month of March. To do so, they will be offering a variety of specials throughout March. Keep an eye on print media for discount coupons. You might also check on mainstream media sources for advertised specials, sweepstakes, and promotional bonuses at the point of sale in stores.
Additional Information: March Frozen Food Month Toolkit
Cannonball Express Transportation
Cannonball Express Shipping Company has been providing top-of-the-line service at a reasonable rate. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, we provide nationwide refrigerated LTL services, as well as, local delivery services. Contact us today!
Nationwide Shipping Company Services:
- Refrigerated LTL deliveries in the lower 48 states
- Refrigerated Cross dock
Local Shipping Company Services:
- Redelivery Services
- Truckload & LTL Capabilities
- PUP
- Cross dock
- Transload
- Warehouse and Distribution capabilities from multiple Omaha Locations