Frequently Asked QUestions
About Harvest Shreds®
I love meat! Is this for me?
The fast answer is absolutely. We love meat too! But we also love nurturing our bodies and protecting our planet. We have not found anything that helps either of those without a significant sacrifice in taste, texture, craveability, and a clean label. Until NOW! Harvest Shreds rivals meat in every conceivable way. It has that satisfying hearty texture of shredded meat with crispy, caramelized bits. It is jammed full of flavor and is a quick meal solution that satisfies and fills you. Start with the Naked, Subtly Seasoned and add a pinch of any global seasoning and you will see the flavors explode.
How does Harvest Shreds differ from other plant proteins?
There is a wide variety of plant-based protein available in today’s market. If you look closely, you will notice that nearly all of them are ground or heavily processed into a formed shape – often with binding agents like methyl cellulose that don’t pass muster in clean labeling. We went the other direction, bringing to market a “whole muscle” shredded product. There is a significant difference in the way it chews. In a blind taste test, you would be hard pressed to realize you were not chewing meat. We have even fooled journeyman butchers.
The other thing you will notice is that we have used our penchant for global adventure to celebrate cultures that are meat centric. We offer a gently flavored product called Naked, Subtly Seasoned. Our food service chefs love that for the ability to create something uniquely their own. Just add a favorite spice blend as you sauté—like Bulgogi for Korean or Barbacoa for Mexican—and see how our shredded product not only chews like shredded meat, but also delivers the flavor-packed experience of eating food that is fire-grilled or slow roasted over an open fire. Some chefs don’t even season further…because the craveable flavor is already built in.
What makes Harvest Shreds so craveable?
At Fifth Taste Foods, we are experts on craveability. We started with our line of global chile crisps, oo’mämē, which has a foundation of umami, the savory Fifth Taste, as its base. Umami amplifies other tastes that are present and magnifies a dish’s deliciousness. There are a variety of ingredients in Harvest Shreds that bring an essential taste that rivals the meat-eating experience. Our proprietary blend of umami-rich seasonings, like red miso and shiitake mushrooms, gives it that I-want-more-ish quality.
Where does the protein come from?
We use an isolated soy protein product which is non-GMO. Creating a product that chews like meat and rivals its texture was high on our list. We found this product to be superior to other sources of plant protein in producing the whole muscle texture we set out to create.
Are your ingredients real?
YES, THEY ARE!! There is a lot of discussion in this space about fake meat and lab-created products. That is not us. A chef created our products, as a result of extensive testing in a kitchen, using culinary ingredients only. You will not find any confusing ingredients or preservatives on our labels. This is food for people, made by people. We challenge you to find a cleaner label – no methyl cellulose in our products!!
Are your products vegan?
Yes, they are! We are thrilled to offer an exclusively vegan product.
Where can I buy Harvest Shreds?
We are focused on restaurants, foodservice and other wholesale customers. If you are interested in sampling for your food service operation, please reach out to us at mark@FifthTasteFoods.com. Harvest Shreds is available through distributors and food service companies, and is served in a variety of corporate campuses, colleges and universities, and restaurants/chains. You can find a list here.
How can I reach Harvest Shreds/Fifth Taste Foods?
Cooking with Harvest Shreds
Harvest Shreds is fully-cooked under sous vide and sold frozen. It takes the guesswork out of safe preparation.
What is the best way to use Harvest Shreds?
Depends on who you ask! Mark likes to layer his for breakfast, with tortillas, fried peppers, and onions, all topped with poached eggs. MK leans toward the No Banh Meat – a sandwich offered by one of our restaurant clients. It is a hero of a sandwich, stuffed with Harvest Shreds, quick pickled vegetables, chiles, herbs and a drizzle of a tangy aioli. Katy likes it on a mezze platter with pita, so she can build her own North-African feast. The one thing we all agree on is that you can add it to any dish that needs some game-changing, planet-saving plant protein.
Try it on bowls, breakfast scrambles, tacos, and stir-fries. We love it on salads or in lettuce wraps. Or top pizzas, tostadas or jazz up your avocado toast. Anywhere you need to add protein pronto, reach for Harvest Shreds.
How do you prepare Harvest Shreds?
Keep Frozen Until Ready to Use.
1. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Break into chunks or shreds, using hands, two forks or a paddle attachment.
3. For best results, cook in a hot skillet or flattop coated with oil over medium-high heat until shreds are sizzling, slightly charred, caramelized and crispy. Boiling and microwaving are not recommended.
Use within 7 days of thawing and the Use By date on package. Do not refreeze.
Check out this < 1 minute video for more details.
How long will Harvest Shreds last?
Harvest Shreds is frozen and will last up to 18 months from production in the freezer. Consume by the package’s use by date.
Better for You. Better for the Planet.
We believe strongly in our collective responsibility to be stewards of our one planet. Radical changes are hard. But taking steps toward a better use of our natural resources can be a daily practice. Whether you are a vegan, a vegetarian or just want to eat meat one less meal a week, we want to make that an option. And because we take immense pleasure in breaking bread and celebrating at the table, we want that to be enjoyable and downright craveable – no compromises! We’re creating craveable, healthy, plant-based eating for everyone.
When compared to a 3-ounce burger (half the size of a standard burger!) with 7 grams of saturated fat, Harvest Shreds drops that to 1/2 gram! And we have not skimped on protein. A three-ounce serving of Harvest Shreds packs a full 16 grams of protein, all while delivering a craveable, chewy mouthful, bursting with flavor.
With your help and support, our impact on climate can be significant. The production technique for our soy protein tops the lists for planet-friendly, minimal impact proteins, compared to alternative sources. In contrast to cattle production, our soy protein reduces impact in the following ways:
94% lowered carbon dioxide emissions
86% reduced blue water use
99% reduced land use
And, of course, the expansion of a plant-based regimen results in reduced exploitation and an increased consciousness toward the treatment of animals.