As consumers, their families, and friends celebrate the holidays this December and give thanks together at holiday dinners or social get-togethers, Prime Fresh Handling is proud to be a part of their traditions. How so? “We’ve been preparing for months for the seasonal uptick in fresh food shipments across the U.S. and around the world,” says Cristina Moscoso, general manager-West Coast, Prime Fresh Handling. Whether it’s fresh produce, vegetables, fish, seafood, meats, dairy, or sensitive specialty products, “We take great pride in carefully expediting and shipping holiday meal ingredients to keep food pipeline flowing.”

That allows Prime Fresh Handling’s retail, wholesale, and restaurant clients, and other food distributors, farmers, and manufactures – as well as shippers and forwarders, of course – to offer their customers the freshest, most in-demand foods for a fantastic holiday meal or perfect party spread.

The Tale of the Turkey
So, what’s on the table for holiday get-togethers? Favorite holiday dishes vary considerably state-to-state and country-to-country. Certainly, traditional meals remain highly popular. Did you know that in the 16th century, the British discovered wild turkeys in the U.S., brought them to Europe and King Henry VIII chose turkey as his meat of choice for Christmas? Today, a roast turkey graces many holiday tables in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and in other countries across the globe.

That said, variety is the spice of life and today, holiday dinner tastes vary widely. Delish, a popular “foodie” website, recently compiled its list of favorite holiday dishes in individual U.S. states. As for “sides,” research shows that many American consumers prefer such “classic dishes” as green bean casserole (particularly the folks in Utah and Georgia), mashed potatoes (Kansas residents are fans), and cheesy fondue potatoes (especially in cheese-loving Wisconsin). The main course on many tables across the country could be turkey or alternatively, in Montana’s Big Sky Country, a cast-iron skillet steak. In Hawaii, a holiday dinner is often comprised of a kalua pig and cabbage.

In many U.S. states, Italian Americans dine together on Christmas Eve with seafood and fish, recognizing the “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” Across the globe too, diversity rules. In Mexico and within Mexican American households, tamales rule; they’re tasty treats of masa and meat filling wrapped in a corn husk. In the Philippines, in contrast, the holiday favorite dish is “lechon” or roast suckling pig, while in the U.K. it’s mince pie.

In Israel and Jewish households across the globe, “latkes,” crispy potato fritters fried in fresh oil, are traditional for Hanukkah. Latkes symbolize the miracle that occurred when the oil of the menorah in the ransacked Second Temple of Jerusalem stayed aflame for eight days, yet there was only enough oil for one day.

The Colonel Sanders Effect
Chicken remains a popular holiday dining choice on many tables across the globe, and not always in traditional ways. For example, in the 1970s, a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise in Japan ran a marketing promotion over Christmas, not a big religious holiday for most of the population, as they’re of the Shinto and Buddhist faiths. But the promotion was a stroke of brilliance. Today, more than 50 years later, on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Japanese folks are seen out and about everywhere with a bucket of KFC in hand.

“As the month progresses, and however you slice it in terms of holiday traditions, be it known that Prime Fresh Handling is working ‘round the clock to assist our multiple clients worldwide with expert logistics, shipping, and handling with all their perishable products,” Moscoso stresses. “So, as consumers head out to browse and buy fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and even cut flowers as holiday setting – they’ll discover the widest selection of options – all fresh and waiting.”

“We strive to keep that perishables product pipeline flowing,” says Moscoso. “And as 2022 winds down, I’d like to wish all of our customers, as well as other business partners, PFH employees, and the public at large, a happy holiday season and good health and prosperity in 2023.”

Global Services 

Whether it’s a box, a pallet, or a companywide logistics operation, Prime Fresh Handling is skilled in achieving safe, on-time delivery of time- and temperature-sensitive products between any point of origin and destination around the world.

In fact, PFH is also known as a global leader in perishables transportation of fresh produce, fish, cut flowers, and plants – plus vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, as well. With dedicated state-of-the-art facilities in Europe, South America, and across North America, PFH leverages industry-leading technologies such as vacuum cooling, sorting, re-packing, barcoding, labeling, and temperature and quality monitoring to guarantee consistent, safe, and fresh delivery.

Contact Prime Fresh Handling 

For information, contact PFH General Manager, West Coast: Cristina Moscoso at 323-328-8650, via email at infopfh@prime-fresh.com, or visit www.prime-fresh.com.