Bakersfield, Calif.-based Grimmway Farms is bring new products and sustainable packaging initiatives to the first-ever virtual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Conference & Expo.
Grimmway, exhibiting at PMA for the 23rd consecutive year, offers a digital booth experience that allows visitors to tour its diverse growing regions and learn about the company’s expanding carrot and organic farming operations, according to a news release.
“Innovation has always been the root of our growth,” Eric Proffitt, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Grimmway, said in the release. “We listen and work closely with our customers to create items their shoppers want, and we’re committed to rigorous testing to develop products that will sell.”
According to the release, Grimmway is showcasing new items from its organic division, Cal-Organic Farms. Those new items include Rainbow Carrot Chips in 12-ounce retail packs and Baby Bok Choy in 3-count clamshell containers.
Cal-Organic’s colorful carrot chips, according to the release, are a new option for fresh produce snacks and are conveniently packaged in a resealable bag. The baby bok clamshell packaging, according to the release, protects the vegetable’s delicate quality through transit, which is especially helpful considering an increase in online grocery shopping and delivery.
Cal-Organic also is promoting its upcoming seasonal red carrot program as well as the firm’s new crop potato, dry onion and sweet corn programs, according to the release. Grimmway’s exclusive red bunch carrots will be available from December through March and its spring potato, onion and sweet corn crops are slated to begin shipping in May, according to the release
“Growth of organic produce continues at a strong pace, and despite economic challenges consumers show no indication of shifting their purchases away from organic fruits and vegetables,” Jeff Huckaby, president of Grimmway Farms, said in the release. “We continue to expand our certified organic acreage and we’ve established programs in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast to extend our growing seasons. This is helping us widen availability windows for seasonal commodities and recognize efficiencies that will help us meet increasing demand.”
Packaging initiatives
Grimmway and Cal-Organic are in the midst of packaging initiatives centered on improving the sustainability of materials used throughout the product lifecycle, according to the release. The company has converted more than 25 products to ship in cases with optimized dimensions, reducing materials used while improving palletization, the company said.
They have also engineered a case made of polypropylene which is 100% recyclable and weighs about half as much as a competing wax and fiber carton, according to the release.
“When it comes to packaging, our commitment to quality is twofold. We’re seeking solutions that will help us deliver our produce safely, however we’re also looking for materials that can meet this end while creating minimal impact on our environment,” Jason Higbee, general manager of Cal-Organic and corporate procurement at Grimmway. “When our packaging uses less material, weighs less and is the right size to protect our product, we can pack more vegetables into each delivery, resulting in less wax consumed and less fuel burned.”
The virtual venue will be a venue for Grimmway’s commitment to charitable giving.
The charitable group Brighter Bites was selected as the first-ever nonprofit recipient of the annual Sunset Rocks concert and the release said Grimmway is proud to sponsor the virtual benefit.
