PALM DESERT, Calif. — TED speaker, writer and internationally recognized artist Eric Wahl led an engaging keynote that was a mixture of art, humor and inspiration at the 2024 West Coast Produce Expo.
“Your children may end up with a job that doesn’t even exist right now,” he said of how fast technology is evolving and changing.
Meanwhile, expo exhibitors were eager to engage booth visitors to showcase sustainability efforts and product developments.
Jen Doxey with Fox Packaging said sustainable packaging is a big topic of conversation for those who visited the company’s West Coast Produce Expo booth.
“We continue to evaluate sustainable solutions,” Jen Doxey said, noting the company is considering post-consumer recycled and a reduction of plastics.
Doxey said the company continues to work with its supply chain retailers to learn more about sustainable packaging offerings.
Diego Morales said he used his time at the West Coast Produce Expo to catch up with customers and grow the company’s West Coast presence. He said growing conditions have impacted the lime crop this year.
“It’s going to be a hard season for limes with a lot of small sizes,” he said.
Morales said he and several lime growers are working toward creating a lime board, which will be an exciting development in the future for the industry.
The team at Naturipe Farms talked with attendees about the company’s good crop of California strawberries.
“We’re in peak supply,” Jerry Morgan said.
Morgan said Naturipe will promote supplies for all berries in June and have ample supplies for retailers to promote the whole berry category.
“It’s one of the few times of year that we have all four berries,” Morgan said.
The team at the North Shore Living Herbs and Greens booth talked to visitors about the company’s pricing and packages and what stores the company distributes into. Suzette Overgaag said she also talked with attendees about the company’s products.
“It’s high-quality and fresh,” she said of the rooted herbs. “It also extends shelf life.”
The team also talked to booth visitors about the company’s merchandise displays and about its eight events for shippers, as well as planned new product releases.
The team at Green Life Farms used their time in Palm Desert to reconnect with current customers and build new relationships.
“We’re a grower-shipper looking for new relationships as our acreage grows year over year,” Albert Gomez said, noting the company’s strong production in green onions.
Garrett Patricio, president of melon grower-packer-shipper Westside Produce and Classic Fruit Alliance, said the company focused on its ability to supply melons 52 weeks out of the year.
Patricio said the company supplies honeydew, cantaloupe, mixed melons and a little watermelon for all sectors.
“It’s a one-stop shop for customers looking for melons,” he said.
Related:
