Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure 2024 — Part 7

TAMPA, Fla. — The energy and enthusiasm at Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2024 filled the Tampa Convention Center — as did a host of new products, promotions and packaging from the world of fresh produce

“It’s a great show, as always,” said Westfalia’s Christina Ward of SEPC Southern Exposure 2024.

Westfalia, which recently marked its 75th anniversary, exhibited at SEPC “to celebrate [the occasion] with our peers at the show, where we’re connecting with buyers and sharing the story of our 365-day supply of fresh avocados, customizable ripening solutions and actionable sustainability,” Ward said.

Healthy Family Project shared details of its Mission for Nutrition kits for retail dietitians, school dietitians and those in private practice. Sponsored by USA Pears, the Watermelon Board, Envy, Pero Family Farms, Shuman Farms, and Yo Quiero, the kits were also featured in the Bright Ideas showcase at SEPC.

Each kit contains What’s in Season counter cards for a seasonal display, mini magazines, recipe demo ideas, a roll of “I'm a Healthy Eater” stickers, materials from Mission for Nutrition partner brands and more.

“I’m very passionate about the Mission for Nutrition kits because in-store dietitians are always starved for resources and they’re the ones out there talking to people,” said Healthy Family Project’s Amanda Keefer. “They have such power to connect with consumers on health and nutrition.”

“It’s a bumper crop with plenty of apples,” said Chelan Fresh’s Darrin Carpenter. “This season we’re talking with retailers and asking them to promote, promote, promote. Retailers are doing their best, and they’re about to get into other seasonal fruit in the coming weeks. We’re hoping to compete and keep our share of space.”

Chelan Fresh also took SEPC as an opportunity to promote its SugarBee conventional apples, which are officially available year-round now, Carpenter added.

Florida Classic Growers has a positive outlook for the future of Florida citrus, thanks in part to the success of its Citrus Under Protective Screen, or CUPS, growing system that uses precision agriculture inputs while minimizing the amount of fertilizer, water and pesticides.

The Florida-based grower co-op has been expanding its citrus acreage grown under screen.

“Florida citrus is coming back with a positive message,” said Justin Martin. “We’re finding success.”

Bako Sweet’s Bailey Slayton said the brand is gearing up for a “big Easter push” with its bulk and value-added sweet potatoes, as well as recipes on its website and social media platforms.

At SEPC, the brand also featured its new display bins in colorful orange and green. “They really pop in-store,” Slayton said.

Sun Belle, now part of the Frutura family, along with Dayka & Hackett, seized SEPC as an opportunity to exhibit under a collective banner.

Sun Belle and Green Belle offer conventional and organic blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, golden berries, cranberries, pomegranate arils, cherries and red currants.

“It’s peak season for Mexican blackberries and blueberries, and we’re seeing good volume,” said Janice Honigberg, who also showed off the new, yet-to-be-released Sun Select label for the brand’s premium berry packs.

At SEPC on March 9, Honigberg said the company would start shipping blackberries under the Sun Select label in the next couple of weeks.

Dino Dilaudo of Topline Farms showcased the company’s full line of organic hothouse produce that is grown in Canada 12 months a year. A feast of colorful produce was on display at the Topline booth, including cucumbers, mini cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, grape and roma tomatoes, as well as mini and bell peppers.

“Organic is still a growing area," Dilaudo said. "Because Topline grows under lights, it allows for reliability of supply."

Dilaudo also highlighted Topline’s introduction of more environmentally friendly packaging.

“Sweetpotato acreage has been down for two consecutive years in North Carolina,” said Jeff Thomas from the Scott Farms booth at SEPC. While the size of this year’s crop is “a bit smaller,” the “quality is excellent,” he added.

Sixty percent of the U.S. sweetpotato supply is grown in North Carolina, Thomas said. Two years ago, the state had 105,000 acres planted to sweetpotatoes. That figure declined to 90,000 acres in 2022 and to 70,000 acres planted in 2023, he continued.

Thomas said Scott Farms is focusing on its long-time retailer customers to ensure they receive a steady supply of sweetpotatoes.

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
• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 4
• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 5
• Seen and heard at SEPC's Southern Exposure — Part 6