Manufacturing process

Frequently asked questions about our frozen fruit mixes:

Are Fresh Fruit Express smoothies healthy?

Unfortunately, many smoothies are prepared with added sugar or honey. Too much sugar is one of the main reasons of various diseases like diabetes. So when you order a smoothie ask not to add sugar or simply order a Fresh Fruit Express smoothie (which does not contain any added sugar). By using frozen fruit of superior taste and quality, the Fresh Fruit Express smoothies maintain an optimal taste without added sugar or honey. Searching for the best tasting fruit so that we don’t need to add sugar: that is what our concept is all about.

Does Fresh Fruit Express smoothies contain sugar?

Each fruit contains natural fruit sugars. However, because fruit and vegetables are necessary for a healthy and balanced diet, fruit sugars are generally accepted. Smoothies are often labeled “calorie bombs”. Unfortunately, there are foodservice locations which indeed serve these kind of smoothies, especially because of the added sugars and other ingredients. The Fresh Fruit Express smoothies, blended with our own Fresh Fruit Express base juice, only contain between 160 and 210 kcal. Our Veggie smoothies contain between 140 and 160 kcal. So that's a relatively small amount. With our smoothies (150g fruit or 150g vegetables) you get 75% fruit and 60% of vegetables of your daily requirement.

What is the best way to blend our Fresh Fruit Express fruit and veggie smoothie mixes?

Smoothies are prepared with different liquids. A smoothie prepared with water, for example, contains fewer calories than with a fruit juice, but you do make a huge concession to the taste. Because sugars are often added to the fruit juices in the market, Fresh Fruit Express has developed its own smoothie base juice based on apple juice and mango puree, without added sugar. Naturally there is sugar in the mango puree and the apple juice and you will also find that on the nutrition declaration. Our Fresh Fruit Express smoothie base juice contains only apple juice and mango puree and is 100% fruit. So no additives, but an optimal taste. We believe that the combination of excellent taste and health is the best way to achieve your daily fruit and vegetable objectives.

Is there a quality difference in fruit?

There is of course a difference in quality in fruit. For example, there are 1200 types of blueberries, of which only 1 can taste the best. The difference in quality also arises, for example, through the way of ripening the fruit, the frequency of harvesting, the speed of freezing, etc. We have been working for years to select the best tasting frozen fruit varieties and this year after year. optimize. We work with carefully selected plantations and varieties in Morocco, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Serbia and South Africa, among others. We often harvest several times a year for even better quality. Our starting point is not price but always optimal quality.

What is the difference between frozen and fresh?

Many people think that fresh is better than frozen fresh. Fresh is usually qualified as “better” and more healthy. However, did you know that a so-called fresh banana is picked green in Ecuador and then gassed on the boat for two weeks to let the banana ripe in an unnatural way. That is why there is often little taste in such a fresh banana. And many vitamins are also lost on the way.

Fresh Fruit Express picks the banana from the plantation at the most optimal (taste) moment. The banana is then cut and frozen within 24 hours with a shock freezer (instant quick frozen). This provides you with a perfect 100% natural solution in taste and the vitamins are almost not lost.

On this page you will find pictures of our recent visit to the pineapple plantation in Costa Rica where you can see how things work. From 2017 we also use new more tasty pineapples. They have a much better taste because we harvest the pineapples 3 times instead of one time to get the best crop possible.

Can I add something to the Fresh Fruit Express smoothies?

Our smoothies have a perfect taste and are very healthy. Of course you can always add another ingredient. For example, we hear that athletes like to add proteins in the form of protein powder or peanut butter.

Can you combine smoothies with alcohol?

Getting healthy drunk is a slogan we often hear when somebody drinks our cocktails. Our Pina Colada (pineapple mango fruit mix - base juice - coconut powder - lemon juice - 3 ice cubes - Rum) and Tropical Cocktail (strawberry banana fruit mix - base juice - 3 ice cubes - Baileys) are already very popular in bars and discos and also the Gin Cocktail (blueberry fruit mix - basic juice - 3 ice cubes - gin) is doing very well. See also the preparation list and our new menu card.

Why do 75% of the consumers eat insufficient fruit and vegetables?

Figures from various Health Authorities show that the consumers do not eat enough fruit, vegetables and fish. Only about a quarter of the population meets the standards set by the Health Council Guidelines for Good Nutrition. One of the causes of insufficient fruit and consumption is lack of time to prepare it, high costs and especially children often just do not like fruit and vegetables. With Fresh Fruit Express fruit and vegetable smoothies you can quickly and easily get 75% of your required fruit or vegetables. Children especially like our fruit and vegetable smoothies.

What does Fresh Fruit Express do for the environment and climate?

1. Last September 2021 we installed 42 solar panels on our office.

2. From January 2022, we only have electric or hybrid cars with a plug for our sales managers.

3. Together with our logistic partner Leen Menken and all our foodservice wholesalers, we are working to bundle all the logistics of a lot of manufacturers. A project that will hopefully be realized in 2022.

What's in the Smoothie base juice?

Our base juice that we use to blend all smoothie mixes is a kind of flavor booster, making even our veggie smoothies taste really fantastic. Our basic juice consists of 94% apple juice made from sweet apples from Italy and 6% mango puree.

What is so special about the fruit in the Fresh Fruit Express smoothie mixes?

1: We harvest later, which gives it more flavour.

2: We only use varieties that have a lot of flavor. For example, Kent Mango from the north of Peru.

3: We sometimes harvest up to 3x on the same field to ensure that the entire harvest has a great taste.

4: We work with permanent cooperatives that know the high standards we set for our fruit and veggie smoothie mixes.

What is the difference between store bought smoothies and our smoothie mixes?

With store-bought smoothies, you lose total control over the quality and quantity of the ingredients used. They can contain artificial sweeteners, large amounts of fat or sweetened dairy products, making them high in sugar, fat and calories.

You can also blend a smoothie with water instead of our smoothie base juice, but then you lose a lot of flavor.

What is the difference between fruit and a smoothie mixed with the same fruit?

When you mix fruit, the fibers are broken into small pieces. As a result, the body has to make less effort to digest them and you are less likely to feel full.

You can also blend a smoothie with water instead of smoothie base juice, but then you will lose a lot of taste.

Our 400 ml smoothies contain no added sugar and are between 150 kcal and 210 kcal with basic juice. With water, that is between 33 kcal and 93 kcal for each glass of 400 ml.

Can you also make smoothie bowls from our smoothie mixes?

You can certainly do that and that is already being done a lot. For example:

You blend a bag of blueberries (Blueberry mix) and a bag of strawberry banana (Tropical mix) with 100 ml of smoothie base juice. You then top it with, for example, raspberries, strawberries, granola, nuts, coconut and chia seeds. See also our magazine on this website.

Below you will find some examples from one of our customers.

What could be an important reason for the blender not working?

The main reason is that you have too many devices in a group. Put the plug in a different socket and the problem is solved.

Where can I send the blender when the blender is broken?

Click on the link below.

/downloads/return-instructions-en.pdf

Which is better: fresh fruit or vegetables or frozen?

Scientific studies show that the amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber in frozen fruit or vegetables is as large or greater than in fresh fruit or vegetables. This has to do with the time between harvest, preparation and freezing. For example, it takes a while for fresh spinach to find its way from the field to the supermarket.

How fast do you lose weight with smoothies?

With smoothies you can lose up to 2 kilos per week in a healthy way (even more in the first two weeks). With the help of smoothies that you use as a meal, you stay satiated longer while consuming fewer calories. We do advise you to seek advice from a dietician.

Why do we consciously choose a base juice of apple concentrate and mango puree for our smoothies?

In making our smoothies, we opt for a base juice composed of apple concentrate and mango puree. This choice is made with a focus on both sustainability and optimal flavor balance.

1. Efficient transport and reduced environmental impact

Our apples are mainly sourced from Italy. By removing the water from the juice at the source and only re-adding it in the Netherlands, we save significantly on transport costs. This means less weight is transported, reducing fuel consumption and lowering CO2 emissions. This efficient transportation method aligns with our vision of sustainable production.

2. Optimal taste experience

The combination of apple concentrate and mango puree provides a smooth, balanced base that perfectly complements our smoothies without an overpowering applesauce effect. NFC apple juice, which is cloudier and has a stronger flavor, could influence the character of other ingredients. By choosing apple concentrate and mango puree, we allow the pure, fresh flavors of each ingredient to shine, creating a smoothie experience that’s perfectly balanced.

With these choices, we aim to offer a smoothie that is not only delicious but also responsibly produced – for you and the environment.

Frozen or Fresh: The Smart Choice for Smoothies

When making smoothies, you often have to choose between fresh and frozen fruit. While fresh fruit may seem appealing, frozen fruit offers a range of benefits that make it a smart and practical choice.

Benefits of Frozen Fruit

1. Reduced Food Waste: Frozen fruit has a longer shelf life than fresh fruit, allowing you to use only the necessary amount and store the rest. This significantly reduces food waste.
2. Year-Round Variety: With frozen fruit, you have access to a wide range of fruit varieties regardless of the season. This means you can enjoy your favorite flavors and nutrients all year long.
3. Cost Savings: Frozen fruit is often more affordable than fresh fruit, especially when out of season. This makes it a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality or nutritional value.
4. Convenience: Frozen fruit is usually pre-washed, peeled, and sliced, saving you time in meal and smoothie preparation.
5. Optimal Nutritional Value: Since frozen fruit is frozen at peak ripeness, vitamins and minerals are well preserved. In some cases, frozen fruit contains more nutrients than fresh fruit that has been stored for a long time.

Safer and Longer Shelf Life

Lower Risk of Contamination: Frozen fruit is washed and frozen immediately after harvest, reducing the risk of bacterial growth and contamination.

Longer Shelf Life, Less Spoilage: Stored at extremely low temperatures, frozen fruit has a significantly lower risk of mold formation and bacterial growth.

Conclusion: Frozen Fruit is the Smart Choice

Whether you're looking for convenience, savings, variety, or optimal nutrition, frozen fruit is an excellent choice. With its longer shelf life, safe processing, and ease of use, frozen fruit is the perfect base for delicious and nutritious smoothies!