Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 1

Editor's note: Want to see more photos from Global Organic Produce Expo 2024? Check out these additional links along with this story.

• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 2
• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 3
• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 4
• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2024 — Part 5 (Videos)

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — How does the fresh produce industry earn the business and sustain the trust of today’s conscious consumers committed to responsible purchasing?

GOPEX 2024 explored this intersection of fresh produce and conscious consumerism with industry leaders from across the supply chain Jan. 22-24 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Increasingly, consumers make purchasing decisions they believe will improve their health and the health of the planet — while also having a positive social, environmental and economic impact. These enlightened and powerful consumers are driven to purchase from companies who share their concerns, causes and desire for stronger, healthier communities across the globe.

GOPEX creates a gathering place for understanding this ever-evolving global fresh produce marketplace and connecting the dots from farm to fork.

In addition to a full schedule of fun, sun, networking opportunities, BizMatch and an innovation-filled expo floor, GOPEX 2024 offered a robust education program that dove into what drives the conscious consumer to purchase, beginning with the opening general session, "Produce Trends and the Conscious Consumer," which featured data and insights from Alex Kalausich, produce lead of Fresh Foods Group for Circana.

Additional educational sessions held Jan. 23 covered topics ranging from regenerative ag to food safety to omnichannel retail promotions to innovation to what retailers want from their produce partners. The sessions concluded with "Conscious Leadership Unleashed," an inspiring session from keynote speaker Vaishali Jadhav, leadership development instructor for the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Institute.

On the expo floor, exhibitors and attendees were eager to talk organics, sustainability, innovation and more.

“It’s amazing to be back at GOPEX with an energized organic community having conversations around what’s new and next,” said Sandi Kronick of North Carolina-based Happy Dirt. Kronick said Happy Dirt, which essentially functions as the marketing and logistics arm for its network of 16 farmer partners, was attending this year’s GOPEX to look for new partnerships.

Happy Dirt seeks to help its partner farmers and additional network of some 100 farmers to be a viable family business once again, said Kronick. “We want our farmers to be sustainable. The supply chain is about people, not products.”

“If you look at the organic sector, consumers want to know where and how their food is grown,” said Chris Veillon of Pure Flavor. As a vertically integrated greenhouse grower, Pure Flavor is focused on offering a consistent supply of the organic and conventional items consumers want most, which today, means healthful, flavorful and convenient snacks, said Veillon, pointing to Pure Flavor’s mini cucumbers, mini peppers, grape tomatoes and more.

“This is an important show to further cement our place in the organic fresh produce industry,” he said.

“This is our fourth or fifth GOPEX,” said Kari Molter of Molter Produce. “We’re excited to see people we with work with during the year as well as meet new buyers.”

The company featured its organic gala apple from Michigan. “We want to let retailers know this apple can solve their year-round program needs,” said Aaron Molter.

HLB Specialties featured an array of organic tropical delights, including organic papaya, ginger, yellow dragon fruit and guava.

“Guava has been the hit of the year at retail,” said Melissa Hartmann de Barros of HLB Specialties. She attributes its popularity to its health benefits, vitamin C and fiber content and easy, on-the-go snacking size.

Hartmann de Barros also sampled yellow dragon fruit, which she describes as sweeter, juicier and more flavorful than pink dragon fruit. HLB Specialties has created a Lunar New Year-inspired package for its yellow dragon fruit to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Pero Farms’ Shannon Curry and Scott Tyo showed off the company’s multitude of convenient retail and foodservice vegetable offerings, including its new Vegetable Stir Fry, comprising broccoli, cut green beans, and broccoli, carrots and red cabbage slaw.

“And it’s not just for making a stir fry,” said Tyo, who added the bagged veggies make a delicious, nutritious and convenient addition to soups and salads as well. “It’s very versatile."