VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — The Packer’s booth visits at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association Conference and Trade Show, April 23-25, included space-themed giveaways, large crops, new products and sustainable packaging.
The Cosmic Crisp team, decked out in astronaut suits, greeted CPMA attendees and handed out travel pouches filled with Cosmic Crisp apples from a space shuttle cart at the doors of the Vancouver Convention Center.
At the Pear Bureau Northwest booth, Jim Morris talked about the challenge of a large bosc crop this past season that required more attention from retailers. The bosc crop also had less russet, which caused some concern among consumers, he said.
“It does not affect the pears other than visually,” Morris said. “We worked to make consumers realize it’s the same eating experience.”
Morris said it’s too early to predict the outcome for this year’s crop. Harvest will begin in mid-August with Bartlett and Starkrimson.
At the South Mill Champs booth, Sandy Malouff-Quintana said visitors learned about the company’s commitment to the industry. Malouff-Quintana said the company is coming off of an excellent holiday season with great fill rates.
South Mill Champs recently announced a new farm in Mexico, as well as new sustainable bamboo and flow wrap packaging.
“Sustainability is very important to South Mill Champs and we’re committed,” she said.
Nichols Farms’ Andy Felts said CPMA was a good show for the company, which is a fourth-generation family farm that produces organic pistachios.
Nichols Farms offered tasting samples of its new organic pistachio flavors including rosemary and garlic, maple butter, hot honey and habanero lime. Felts also said the company is looking to get distribution in Canada.
“We’ve had a great response from all four flavors,” Felts said.
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