Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure 2024 — Part 4

TAMPA, Fla. — Sustainability and sustainable packaging solutions were hot topics at the Southeast Produce Council's recent Southern Exposure event at the Tampa Convention Center, March 7-9.

EarthFresh showcased several of its sustainable packaging solutions for potatoes, including recyclable poly bags and compostable paper bags, the latter of which Earth Fresh says use less carbon to produce, reduce the amount of waste in landfill and put nutrients back into the soil.

Canadian greenhouse grower Red Sun Farms featured its sustainable packaging offerings from washable labels made of BOPP to recyclable solutions, including 100% recyclable PET trays for mini cucumbers and recyclable bags for tomatoes on the vine, as well as mono structure films for a variety of products.

Red Sun Farms also shared its compostable solutions for organic grape tomatoes.

“We’re currently launching paper lidding on our organic grape tomatoes on our Costco packs,” said Red Sun’s Leona Neill.

At SEPC Southern Exposure, Lipman Family Farms featured scores of products and packaging in the sustainable vein, including a simple band around two-packs of its Grown True line of organic zucchini and organic cucumbers. Lipman also featured its hothouse brand Suntastic in cucumbers as well as mini sweet, multicolored peppers.

Colombia is now the world’s fifth-largest supplier of avocados, said Manuel Michel at the Colombia Avocado Board booth at SEPC. And its output is growing rapidly.

“Volume was up 40% in 2024,” he said.

There’s also a strong sustainability message surrounding avocados from Colombia, explained Michel, who said the country’s climate and growing conditions mean that most avocado orchards don’t require irrigation.

Oppy featured its home compostable Eco Farms Avoworks net bags and tags made from 100% tree fibers. Oppy says the avocado packaging is biodegradable within 12 weeks, is certified marine degradable, free from microplastics and petrochemicals, and features CO2-neutral fiber production.

Related news:

• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 1
• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 2
• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 3