ORLANDO, Fla. — Country music star, bestselling cookbook author, and busy mom of four Jessie James Decker knows firsthand how hectic meal planning can get. But when it comes to serving delicious, elevated meals at home, she refuses to sacrifice flavor for convenience.
That passion for quick, restaurant-quality dining brought Decker to the show floor at the 2026 International Fresh Produce Association Global Produce & Floral Show, where she teamed up with Fresh Express to showcase the brand's latest culinary innovations. Joining registered dietitian and nutrition educator Steph Grasso as part of the brand's “Fresh Expressionists” initiative, Decker helped introduce two bold new offerings: the Roasted Poblano Caesar Chopped Salad Kit and the Fire-Roasted Queso Chopped Salad Kit.
Designed to capture popular restaurant flavor profiles, the new kits reflect Fresh Express's push to meet evolving consumer preferences and bring excitement back to the produce aisle. For Decker, partnering with Fresh Express was a natural fit that aligns perfectly with her everyday cooking style.
“I think one of the biggest things families are looking for is food that's easy to prepare but still tastes amazing, and that's where Fresh Express really shines,” Decker says. “Their salad kits take care of so much of the preparation, but what makes them exciting to me is the variety of flavors, dressings and toppings. You're not just opening a bag of lettuce. You're getting the foundation for something really delicious.”
For Decker, who often balances a busy lifestyle with home cooking, the versatility of ready-to-eat blends makes incorporating fresh produce into everyday meals simple.
“I can add chicken, shrimp or whatever ingredients I have on hand and turn it into a complete meal,” Decker explains. “I think when people realize how easy it is to make fresh vegetables part of meals they already love, they're much more likely to reach for them again.”
Central to the “Express Yourself” campaign is treating salad kits as a canvas for culinary self-expression, encouraging home cooks to experiment with familiar recipes.
“I want people to look at a Fresh Express salad kit and think about all the possibilities,” Decker says. “I love taking familiar foods and giving them a fresh twist. My Loaded Cheeseburger Bowl is a perfect example. I use Fresh Express American Salad Blend and add ground beef, tomatoes, pickles, sweet potato fries, cheese and burger sauce. It's everything you love about a cheeseburger, turned into this amazing bowl.”
Decker adds that making salads the centerpiece of a meal aligns naturally with her personal philosophy on food.
“That's what makes cooking fun for me,” she says. “You don't have to follow a recipe exactly. You can take something you already love, experiment with different ingredients and create something completely your own. I hope people see these recipes and realize that salads can be the star of the meal, not just something on the side.”
Making Nutrition Practical and Enjoyable
Complementing Decker's culinary perspective, Grasso brought her approachable philosophy on healthy eating to the exhibit floor, cutting through the noise of conflicting digital health advice.
“One of the biggest challenges I see as a registered dietitian is that people think healthy eating has to be perfect or complicated,” Grasso says. “It really doesn't! I always encourage people to focus on what they can add to their meals rather than what they need to eliminate. Adding more vegetables is a great place to start.”
Grasso says convenience products like ready-to-eat greens and salad kits play a crucial role in eliminating preparation barriers that often make healthy eating feel like a chore. By offering rich textures and vibrant flavor profiles, the kits make it easier for consumers to construct well-rounded, satisfying meals that they genuinely look forward to.
One of Grasso's favorite recipes she created using Fresh Express is Shrimp Mango Nachos using Orange Sesame Salad.
“It's such a fun example of how you can think beyond the traditional salad bowl and create something really exciting,” she says.
Addressing common consumer misconceptions about packaged greens, Grasso adds that salads are often unfairly dismissed as boring or insufficient for a full meal.
“That really comes down to what you're putting into your salad,” she says. “Fresh Express salad kits give you a flavorful starting point with fresh vegetables, dressings and toppings. Then you can build a balanced meal by adding protein like chicken or chickpeas, fiber-rich ingredients like beans or roasted sweet potatoes, and healthy fats like avocado.”
Ultimately, shifting consumer behavior comes down to reframing how produce is presented. Rather than viewing salad as a rigid dietary obligation, Grasso says the key to long-term habits lies in flavor and enjoyment.
“As a dietitian, I think we have an opportunity to change the way people look at salads,” Grasso says. “Instead of just telling consumers that vegetables are good for them, we should show them how to turn vegetables into meals they genuinely enjoy. When people discover how delicious and satisfying a salad can be, they have another reason to make fresh vegetables part of their regular meals.”
