Seen and heard at SEPC’s Southern Innovations

At the Pure Flavor booth, Chief Marketing Officer Chris Veillon spotlighted the Leamington, Ontario-based company’s greenhouse-grown Solara melons, which fit in the palm of one’s hand. The smaller melon translates to less food waste, said Veillon, adding that Solara melons are also the perfect size for a breakfast or acai bowl. As Solara melons are grown in greenhouses, they are consistent in both size and year-round supply. “The explosion of CEA [controlled environment agriculture] is a game changer,” said Veillon, who shared that Pure Flavor plans to launch another greenhouse-grown melon at IFPA’s Global Produce and Floral Show in Orlando. “The opportunities are endless in greenhouse,” he said.

Jennifer Sparks and Ken Hopps showcased Sun Belle’s Jumbo Blue blueberries. From now until January Sun Belle will offer Boom Berry crunchy blueberries from Peru. In January, the company will transition to Mexico for its supply of jumbo blueberries. Sun Belle also featured its malu variety raspberries from Mexico. Additionally, the company offers “strong availability of organic blueberries from Peru, followed by Chile and Mexico — all with promotable volumes,” added Hopps. Sun Belle is ready for the holiday season with its certified biodynamic fresh cranberries that are grown in Wisconsin. But the produce item that “really differentiates us as a company,” said Hopps, is Sun Belle’s Golden Berries, a tropical, tangy and sweet superfruit.

American Dream Produce, which farms in North Carolina and New Jersey, featured its organic tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and more under its Pretty Girl brand as well as its conventional offerings in the Pretty Boy line. When asked what inspired the Pretty Girl and Pretty Boy brands, William Augustine said he drew inspiration from the ice cream aisle. “When I’m shopping in the ice cream aisle, I want to pick up something different,” he said. “I always go for the ones in the glass jars. We wanted to do the same thing in the produce aisle with these unique brands.” Augustine was joined at the booth by Phillip Strickland.

At the State Garden Inc. booth, Kevin Keough and Tom Marrolli showcased the new Olivia’s Organics line of juices. Olivia’s Organics, which produces salad mixes, baby kale, cooking greens and more, recently introduced Olivia's Organics juices made with real fruit and vegetables and no added sugar. The nutrient-packed juices serve a dual purpose, said Marrolli, who explained that as they are made from excess produce that doesn’t make it into Olivia’s Organics’ packaged produce offerings, they help to cut down on food waste. “We’re upcycling what would have gone to waste, so the juice side of the business helps our growers and the planet,” he said.

Afresh is a software solution that uses “artificial intelligence to write the perfect produce order every day,” explained Co-Founder and CEO Matt Schwartz. Southern Innovations provided an opportunity for Schwartz to connect with growers, produce companies and retailers to “make sure that the tools retailers are using are perfect for produce” and ultimately, “add value and create fresher produce,” he said.

At the Tive booth, Colby Aaron and Rajathurai Nagarajah discussed the company’s new Tive Tag, which the company says is the thinnest, easiest to use label for end-to-end cold chain monitoring of temperature-sensitive products. The size of a sticker, the Tive Tag tracks temperature, light, humidity and shock, allowing retailers to save product in transit that’s about to spoil.

Noah Robbins, Lindsay Belfatto and Hunter Camps showed off Ark Foods’ newly launched chopped salads. The 100% plant-based line includes: Southern BBQ Ranch, Sweet Kale Lemon Poppyseed, Caesar-ish Kale Salad and Crunchy Sesame Ramen Salad.

What’s hot at Vick Family Farms of Wilson, N.C.? Murasaki sweet potatoes, said Charlotte Vick. The Japanese sweet potato variety features a dramatic purple exterior, creamy white interior and an extra starchy texture. “In the last 24 months, sales of Murasaki potatoes have doubled,” said Vick. “There’s not enough Murasaki to serve the market and supplies ran out at the end of June.”

Dave Masser of Sterman Masser, Inc. and Kathleen Triou of Fresh Solutions Network discussed the dynamic packaging refresh for the Side Delights brand. “It’s a major update to the potato category,” said Triou of the refresh. The new packaging features a more “stylized presentation” with just the right amount of information and inspiration, Triou added. Each bag of potatoes includes a single cooking tip on the back of the package, such as how to grill yellow potatoes or how to bake a russet. The packaging refresh extends across the brand, giving all approximately 30 products a “unified look and feel,” she said.

Kristyn Lawson and Paulina Villarreal sampled Chosen Foods Avocado Mash, Spicy Guacamole and Classic Guacamole. The line of hand-scooped Hass avocado guacamole comes packaged in four 2-ounce cups. “Single-serve sales are booming,” said Lawson.