Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure 2024 — Part 2
TAMPA, Fla. — Flavorful and convenient snacking innovation was a key trend at the recent Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure event at the Tampa Convention Center, March 7-9.
Healthy snacking innovation was front and center at the J&C Tropicals booth, which featured its Fruitavore fruit jerky made from just four ingredients: mango, papaya, strawberry and dragon fruit.
“We’re not just selling produce; we’re sharing a tropical culinary experience,” Christian Hosford said of the snack he describes as “very clean and fresh.”
Related: J&C Tropicals develops tropical fruit jerky
Fruitavore fruit jerky is packaged in a cool and colorful canister that contains 10 individually wrapped jerky snacks with a suggested retail price of $9.99 per pack.
And as “sustainability is a major initiative for J&C Tropicals,” Hosford says the canister packs are made from 100% recycled cardboard.
Produce snacking was also prominently featured at Nature Fresh Farms, where the Canadian greenhouse grower showcased its Sweet Snaps Peppers, a pack of sweet and snackable multicolored peppers, which Niels Peter Klapwijk calls an example of “true innovation in the pepper category.”
Nature Fresh Farms also featured its Hiiros Tomatoes, available nationwide in the U.S. and Canada, as well as its greenhouse-grown organic strawberries.
Where does Nature Fresh Farms see produce snacking trends headed?
“Snacking is still massive,” Klapwijk said. “Even in this inflationary time, consumers want to spend on high-flavor tomatoes and more.”
On the heartier snacking side, the Side Delights team was excited to unveil its new Amazables oven-crispy-skin-style microwavable U.S. No. 1 grade russet potatoes, available with two custom sauces created exclusively by Litehouse, as well as a plain variety.
Side Delights said the gluten-free sauces were developed to maximize the taste of a russet potato with complementary flavors, including Loaded Potato sauce with cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives and Buffalo Ranch sauce with creamy ranch dressing, classic Buffalo sauce and a hint of celery.
“Litehouse has been a great partner,” said Lela Reichart, who added the baked potatoes are gluten free, flavorful and convenient.
Meanwhile the microwave convenience of the Amazables line makes them a perfect fit for late-night snacking, college dorm room noshing, hotel-stay sustenance and more.
As the product line matures, expect to see new flavors rolling out said Reichart.
Related: Side Delights launches Amazables produce line
While the cherry tomato snacking trend isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, what's also picking up is demand for flavor-packed snacking tomatoes.
“We’ve seen a lot of interest in cherry tomatoes,” said DelFrescoPure’s Ray Mastronardi.
In response, the Canadian-based greenhouse grower says it trialed scores of cherry tomato varieties before identifying The Original Cherry Tomato, a tomato-on-the-vine variety that Mastronardi says is highly flavorful.
Also on the convenience, fresh snacking front, Calavo featured its AvoFresco Guacamole in Classic and Picante — both at its booth and in the Bright Ideas Fresh Arrivals showcase at SEPC.
The guacamole packs each contain four 2-ounce guacamole cups for convenient snacking at home or on the go. AvoFresco Guacamole is also available in tubs.
Related: Seen and heard at SEPC’s Southern Exposure — Part 1
