Southeast Produce Council

Innovation and Convenience Drive Growth at SEPC Southern Exposure

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:00:41 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — This year’s Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event highlighted a strategic industry shift toward value-added items, such as stuffed mushrooms and snack-ready cucumbers, as brands leverage specific consumer data to boost consumption and efficiency at the retail level.

Paul Williamson, Kelsey Coon and Amy Wood are shown at the Highline Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Highline Mushrooms is launching a line of stuffed mushrooms with fresh, gourmet flavors without the prep for the younger generation.

“We want to keep those dollars in fresh,” says Kelsey Coon, Highline Mushrooms’ sales and marketing manager.

Coon says Highline plans to expand its value-added line, as the company has had great feedback from retailers on the products available currently.

Highline has also launched its Grillmate line to pair with grilled meats. Coon says retailers also have responded well to this line and have asked for more pairings with produce.

Rochelle Bohm and Rich Mendosa are shown at CMI Orchards’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Rochelle Bohm, vice president of CMI Orchards, says the company is learning ways to drive consumption and using its Apple Crush tool to connect consumers to new apple varieties.

This broader campaign aims to build consumer interest in these new varieties and boost sales. With more than 78% of consumers purchasing apples, the industry just needs to drive slight upticks in consumption to reap rewards.

“All we really need to do is get consumers to pick up another extra pouch bag,” she says.

Amy Wood, Larissa Rice and Sean Steller are shown at the Phillips Mushroom Farms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Spicing up recipes with new mushroom varieties is one of the talking points at the Phillips Mushroom Farms’ Southern Exposure booth — varieties such as chestnut, pioppino and wood ear.

Organics are also of interest with specialty mushrooms, says Sean Steller, director of business development for Phillips Mushroom Farms. He says the company plans to roll out value-added packs, including vegan Buffalo-stuffed oyster mushrooms.

Steller says he’s seeing demand for larger packs, as consumers are looking for value. They are also seeking sliced mushrooms for convenience.

Chris Jones, Mike Faul, Justin Wright, Jeff Richardson and Brigita Dimenna are shown at the Great Lakes Greenhouses’ booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Snacking is a major trend, says Jeff Richardson, vice president of sales with Great Lakes Greenhouses.

“We’re seeing explosive growth in that category,” he says.

Richardson points to Great Lakes Greenhouses’ Persian cucumbers, which continue to grow in popularity. He says this is likely due not only to consumers’ interest in eating healthy but also snacking healthy.

“It’s gotten to a place where convenience is key,” he says.

Great Lakes Greenhouses has also offered unique pack sizes to add value at retail. Foodservice has taken a keen interest in mini cucumbers, too, he says.

Organic peppers are also popular.

“There’s that segment of the population that just wants to eat healthy,” Richardson says of the growth in the organics category.

Tony Losito, Tony D’Amico, Amy Wood, Joe D’Amico and Johnny Kampes IV are shown at the To-Jo Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Organics was a major talking point at the To-Jo booth, says Johnny Kampes IV, director of sales.

Kampes says another thing retailers have been asking about is smaller pack sizes, which To-Jo offers in a 6-ounce pack.

To-Jo plans to tap into more value-added stuffed specialty mushrooms to appeal to the younger generation’s interest in convenience. Kampes also says To-Jo is looking at its presence on retailers’ e-commerce sites.

Tyler Schneider, Peppe Bonfiglio, Dan Natelborg and Wesley Emerson are shown at Mastronardi Produce’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

A major trend with retailer visits to Mastronardi Produce’s booth was snacking and high-flavor items, says Wesley Emerson, account manager.

Mastronardi showed off its new packaging for Pop-Its, which offer consumers a quick and healthy snack with good flavor.

“We want the consumer to be happy with what they buy,” Emerson says.

Mastronardi also showcased its berry line with blueberries and its Wow Berries Dreamberry.

David Santucci, Bryan Shelton, Mark Currie and Amy Wood are shown at the Giorgio Fresh Co. booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Health and convenience are themes that are top of mind for the Giorgio Fresh team, says Bryan Shelton, vice president of sales and marketing. He says Giorgio is looking at adding new products that can help bring consumers into the mushroom category.

Shelton says Giorgio is also looking to optimize exotics.

“We’re looking at engaging the young consumer,” he says.

Shelton says Giorgio has started to deploy data to help refresh stores’ inventories, which he says will increase efficiencies for retailers.

Weather and Innovation Take Center Stage at SEPC’s Southern Exposure

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:45:40 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — Across the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure trade show floor, a recurring theme emerged: resilience in the face of erratic weather. While companies like North Bay Produce and AC Foods navigated the fallout of recent cold snaps and California storms, others such as Giumarra Cos. and Freshouse highlighted aggressive expansions in Florida and Mexico to ensure year-round availability for increasingly health-conscious consumers.

Harris Trock, Karl Ronhave, the Carrot Czar, Kaitlyn Anderson and Robert Dunning are shown at the Freshouse and Hapco Farms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

It was all about carrots at the Freshouse and Hapco Farms’ booth. The aptly named Carrot Czar waved to passersby, and those manning the booth handed out carrot-shaped pens and socks with carrot prints on them.

Karl Ronhave, procurement and sales manager, says the carrot program is doing well, especially as California faces unpredictable weather.

The company expanded its carrot program in Florida in 2025 and did so again this year. The program will move to Canada as the season begins there at MR Farms.

“We have a year-round carrot program,” Ronhave says.

John Pursel, Chuck Plummer and Ron Steele are shown at the AC Foods and Suntreat Packing booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Visitors to the Sumo Citrus booth want to talk availability, timing and season duration, says Ron Steele, vice president of citrus sales for AC Foods. Steele says he has also discussed many promotional opportunities with digital and coupled that with demoing Sumos in-store.

“It’s about consistency of what we do,” he says.

Visitors to the booth also had questions about the weather in California and its impact on the Sumo crop.

“It’s been a challenge, but our teams have performed brilliantly due to the learnings of years past,” Steele says.

Sarah Quackenbush, Hannah Gaither, Chuck Yow, Doug Rombach and Ryan Lockman are shown at the North Bay booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Much of the conversation at North Bay’s booth stemmed from how berries fared through the cold temperatures that hit earlier this year.

“Some held up and what doesn’t will have a short season,” says Chuck Yow, business development account manager for North Bay.

He says it may be a rough couple of months for blueberries, but the industry will “learn more as we go.”

A big trend, too, is the push for larger berries: the Erandy blackberry and jumbo blueberries. He says consumers like that the fruit has good Brix and are looking for those larger fruits year-round.

“As popularity grows in sales, we’re still in periods of lower availability,” Yow says.

Matt Mariani, Darryl Bollack and Brad Ryan are shown at the Mariani Nut Co. booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Matt Mariani, director of retail sales at Mariani Nut Co., says visitors to the company’s booth talked about availability.

“The crop is above average with good supply,” he says.

He says tree nuts are experiencing robust growth in the tree nut oil market as health-conscious consumers seek plant-based and nutrient-dense ingredients.

“We’re grateful for that,” he says.

Jesus Cavazos, Richard Armata, Leslie Hernandez, Fraymil Rodriguez and Priscilla Diaz are shown at the EXP Group’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Fraymil Rodriguez, chief operating officer of EXP Group, says imports of roots and tropical yams continue to grow.

“They’re right in our wheelhouse,” he says, noting that as ethnic cuisines and foods become more mainstream, consumers are branching out and trying new things.

“There’s room for growth,” he says.

Weather patterns have proven to be a bit of a challenge for imports, Rodriguez notes.

“It’s not predictable,” he says. “It’s not easy doing sales with retailers, because we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

But he says he and the EXP Group team are planning as best as they can, and it’s important to have a relationship with these retailers as well.

“We can tell retailers what’s going on, and having that established relationship helps us pivot,” he says.

Gary Caloroso, Kristina Lorusso and Rob Campbell are shown at the Giumarra Cos. booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Weather was on the mind of visitors to the Giumarra Cos. booth, says Kellee Harris, vice president of retail merchandising services.

Harris says many conversations also focused on the strong availability of Mexican watermelons.

Cesar Pacheco, vice president of sales for Nogales at Giumarra Cos., says watermelons from the state of Nayarit will run through the end of March, and the northern crop will begin around April 10 and run through the end of June.

He says this northern crop will start a week early to catch gaps.

“It’ll be a good season,” Pacheco says. “Acreage is up.”

He says conventional seedless and organic watermelon will be available in bins and cartons, as will mini watermelons and organic mini watermelons. Harris says demand for mini watermelons continues to grow.

“We’re starting to see an uptick in minis,” she says.

Shown in back from left, are Matt Quiing, Thomas Matier, Spencer Lightfoot, Hunter Tiveron; in front from left are Josianne Legare, Jocelyn Mastronardi and Pam Cherwak at Nature Fresh Farms’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Spencer Lightfoot, key account manager for Nature Fresh Farms, says a lot of conversations at the event were about organic produce and bringing organics into the Nature Fresh label.

And from there, Lightfoot says a lot of Nature Fresh’s efforts are set around marketing.

“We’re making sure our efforts with promotion align with good supply so we can promote it with consumers,” Lightfoot says.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Produce Shoppers at Southern Exposure

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 07:36:39 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — Fresh produce leaders are moving beyond basic displays to meet the growing consumer demand for functional health and culinary versatility. By focusing on “fibermaxxing” trends, mushroom micros and dietitian-backed insights, the industry is strategically positioning itself to capture the attention and the carts of younger, health-conscious shoppers.

Brandon Parker, Broc Davis, Mark Shuman, Luke Shuman, (back row) John Shuman, Jake Shuman, Adam Brady, Johnny White, Gene Edwards, (front row) Luke Shuman, Mason Goosby, Erin Waters and McKenzie Probst are shown at the Shuman Farms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms, says lifting the vegetable category is front of mind for the company.

“We’re treading water in the vegetable category,” he says. “We need to highlight the value of fresh vegetables.”

Shuman points to the revamped Shuman Farms University as a way to highlight the versatility and value of Vidalia onions. Shuman Farms University offers merchandising tips and consumer insights to drive sales and inspire consumption.

“It’s a discovery process for the younger generation,” he says. “We want to show how easy it is to add vegetables to meals.”

Adrienne Barrero and Lavanya Setia are shown at the National Mango Board’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Nutrition is a major trend, says Lavanya Setia, director of marketing for the National Mango Board. The organization debuted some new point-of-sale displays that really highlight the health benefits that mangoes offer.

She says this goes beyond just nutrients and macros to micros.

Many retailers who visited the National Mango Board’s booth wanted to talk about availability and what the season will look like.

“Retailers are trying to get ahead,” Setia says.

She also says the conversation is going beyond just mangoes and has started to delve into the different varieties available.

“Retailers are getting curious about the varieties and learn what different mangoes are good for so they can market them appropriately,” she says.

Bob Catinella and CarrieAnn Arias are shown at the USA Pears booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Fiber is a big focus for Pears USA as talk of “fibermaxxing” continues to build. Pears USA showcases new bins at Southern Exposure that talk to the health benefits of a diet rich in pears.

“It’s just begun,” Pears USA President and CEO CarrieAnn Arias says of the fiber wave that is hitting social media.

Arias says she’s seen more interest in pears as being a part of a fiber-rich diet, and she says it’s been a good move for the organization to bring on a registered dietitian to help keep the conversation up about pears and fiber.

“As consumers looking for pears a part of a healthy diet, we’re poised to capitalize,” she says.

There’s also a greater discussion of how fiber is a good partner to protein, which supports whole-body health. Pears provide a flexible option, Arias says.

Mike Stephan, Amy Wood, Ben Mossing and Leslie Harden are shown at Monterey Mushrooms’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Monterey Mushrooms debuted a new till with a top seal, which will protect mushrooms in transit. Mike Stephan, vice president of sales and business development for Monterey Mushrooms, says the visually appealing packaging also offers a visible best-by date and country of origin. Highlighting the nutritional value of mushrooms is important.

Stephan says Monterey has focused a lot on 18- to 42-year-old consumers as an emerging segment of shoppers. Mushrooms offer distinct flavors through various varieties, and there are numerous health benefits from a diet rich in mushrooms.

“They have the potential to become the next generation of mushroom consumers,” Stephan says of the shopper in that age range.

Kirby Maragulia, Rebecca Kilburn, Amanda Keefer and Andrea Wiggins are shown at the Healthy Family Project’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Amanda Keefer, senior director of marketing and communications with the Healthy Family Project, says the organization’s annual reception, which had to be relocated indoors, went well. She says she’s seen how the organization, launched in 2002, has shown growth and highlighted its mission of “do well by doing good” at Southern Exposure. Keefer says the Healthy Family Project helps companies flourish while doing good.

Keefer says that while there are many influencers who popped up in the fresh produce industry, the Healthy Family Project has leaned into dietitians.

“Dietitians are our trusted resources,” Keefer says. “They have firsthand knowledge.”

Healthy Family Project has launched a “5 Minutes with a Dietitian” initiative to help promote healthy produce and promote produce as a mood booster.

Innovation and Celebration Take Center Stage at SEPC Southern Exposure

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:21:00 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — The energy at this year’s Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure was palpable as industry leaders gathered to showcase the future of the produce aisle. The following highlights from the show floor capture how top brands are leveraging premium packaging, fair trade storytelling and new product categories to capture the modern consumer’s attention.

Taylor Hazelwood and Hailey Clark are shown at Sun Belle’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Taylor Hazelwood, vice president of sales for Sun Belle, says a trend she’s seeing is the evolution of the berry category and berry marketing.

“Anything that’s larger in size, the jumbos, the premium lines,” she says. “You’re seeing a little bit of a hit on convenience. You’re starting to see that come into play in some of the packs.”

Hailey Clark, marketing director for Sun Belle, says the berry category looks to pull in new shoppers.

“You have your traditional berry shoppers, but what about the person who is willing to spend a little more for a pack that they can throw in their kids’ lunchbox and they know it’s healthy?” she says.

Clark says Sun Belle seeks to keep not only its core customers happy, but it also looks to new consumers excited to try new flavors and eating experiences.

“It’s still healthy, it’s still reliable, it’s still a great option, but what can we do differently? What’s exciting?” she says. “I think the berry industry is diving into that a lot now, and it’s really fun, and we can do that through packaging, we can do that through variety-specific berries, through branding.”

Clark says branding helps build consumer loyalty.

“People look for brands; they become loyal to a brand if they have a really spectacular experience,” she says. “They want to look for that label again.”

Marianne Stamatelos, Shelby Dwyer, Madison Hopper and Kim Chackal are shown at Equifruit’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Equifruit celebrates its 20th anniversary in a big way at the SEPC event with a caricaturist sketching booth visitors.

Kim Chackal, co-owner and vice president of sales and marketing for Equifruit, says that as the fair trade organic banana company marks its “Bananaversary,” many people are surprised to learn the company has been in existence for that long.

“We did a great job building brand awareness,” she says. “We have great feedback on marketing. People see the Equifruit booth as a destination, and people understand the brand.”

But the focus now turns to how fair trade organic bananas can help lead the category into more growth, Chackal says.

Whitney Lett and Dan Murphy are shown at Fresh from Florida’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Whitney Lett, supervisor of retail and international trade for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, says Southern Exposure is a chance to reconnect with current partners and discuss promotions and plans.

The show is also about maintaining relationships, and she says she’s met with new retailers who learned about the programs available at the show.

“It’s night and day when you see them in person,” she says.

Nora Sherlock, Florida Watermelon Queen Shanie Keene, National Watermelon Queen Elanie Mason and Jill Barton are shown at the Jim Rash booth at Southern Exposure 2026.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

While a lot of the conversation at the Jim Rash booth focused on watermelon and a visit from both the Florida and national watermelon queens, many visitors talked about strawberries, says Jill Barton, president of Jim Rash.

“It’s a new commodity for us,” she notes.

Barton says Southern Exposure is a favorite event of hers, adding that she loves to connect with everyone at the show.

“This show is different because of the Southeast Produce Council,” she says.

The Squeeze on American Farmers Demands Better Tech, Stronger Collaboration

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:32:39 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — When Ashley Rawl, vice president of sales, marketing and product development at WP Rawl, was asked to describe the headwinds facing the fresh produce industry, he used the analogy of a shop vise, where the farmer is in the middle between market volatility and government regulation.

“On one side, we have volatility — whether it’s the weather, disease pressure, labor or H-2A; we really have no control over our input cost and not to mention the land values currently that farmers are grappling with,” he says. “Then on the other side, we have the rigidity of specs — the audits are for multiple different reasons … and then government regulation. Then we have the farmers that are in the middle trying to let this country eat for the lowest price in the world.”

Rawl was a panelist at the Southeast Produce Council’s 2026 Southern Exposure event. Moderated by Robby Cruz, vice president of produce and floral for Target, the panel also featured Steve Church, chairman of Church Brothers Farms, and Sarah Frey, founder and CEO of Frey Farms.

Headwinds Abound

Church says that while water, labor and food safety are perennial challenges and concerns for growers, a major up-and-coming threat is that the fresh produce industry is short about 80,000 drivers.

“That could be a problem that comes down the road here in the next year,” he says.

Frey says that while water issues often mean availability in the West, for her operation that is east of the Mississippi, she sees a potential clash with water usage for massive data centers needing to power and cool the servers for artificial intelligence. Frey says the agriculture industry needs to pay attention to the future implications of AI and water on farming businesses.

She says when her family started farming in southern Indiana, a permit wasn’t needed to drill a well. Frey says it was common to hit free-flowing water at 60 to 80 feet. Now the state is courting AI data centers, and that’s changing the conversation about water regulation.

“I think many in California are probably sitting back thinking, ‘OK, all right, and now it’s your turn to go through what we’ve been through,’” she says. “We share a lot of the same challenges.”

Death of the Open Market

Church also says disease pressure has been a major challenge for growers. He points to impatiens necrotic spot virus, which decimated about 30% of the lettuce crop in 2022. INSV once again hit Salinas, Calif. Then heavy rains put a lot of leafy greens underwater, which were unusable due to Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement rules. He says he’s optimistic that future research will help develop disease-resistant varieties.

“There are very few places in the world that you can grow good iceberg lettuce,” he says.

Frey says crop equalization is a key focus to ensure her family’s operation can offer retailers full crop utilization.

“One thing that remains sort of a core consistency is that no matter where we’re growing, we’re trying to figure out how we take up more pieces of the value chain,” she says. “How do you do more with less? And then how do you make more of what you have?”

Rawl says his family follows the sun and latitude throughout the season to continue to meet the needs of retailers. His family’s business grades performance weekly against planting plans and the execution.

“It’s almost an engineering process, the planting schedules today,” he says.

Church says it’s been an evolution, where 10 years ago about 50% of produce was grown on contract, but now it’s closer to 80% or 90%.

“It’s almost like you can’t grow more because there’s no more open market,” he says.

A challenge, Church says, to growing on spec is that retailers often don’t understand why a spec might need to change.

“I know Robby said the worst thing is to first hear about that problem when the truck’s in the warehouse,” he says. “There’s certain things that we have to work with the customer. I have two rules of customers: Rule No. 1, the customer is always right. Rule No. 2, if he’s wrong, revert to rule No. 1.”

Working With Retailers

Frey says building partnerships is incredibly important to the future of the fresh produce industry, as is working within the changing, growing season and being flexible.

“A truly great customer is the one that you don’t prorate,” Church says.

Rawl says that flexibility helps increase supply. He says sometimes that could be on sizing or other ways to mitigate any major weather issues.

“I think there’s ways we can back up and be creative, collaborative to get the product on the shelf and still make the farmer and the customers and the retail partner whole,” he says.

Frey says “no two growing seasons are alike,” and that’s where having those relationships with retail partners is key. She says proactive communication with retailers can help highlight if produce is coming in at a different size or spec. She says it’s critical those conversations are unfiltered and honest to work through market gluts and other things that might come up in the course of a growing season.

“The partnerships that we have that are most responsive to the needs for us to make sizing or spec change almost always seem to be the most competitive retailers, because it’s not that you’re just doing your grower partner a favor because they have a different size or a different spec,” she says. “It’s actually helping your bottom line as well … Being able to pivot quickly and work with your grower partner, get a new retail into the system, actually sort of puts you at a great competitive advantage because now you’re not selling the $8 or $9 watermelon. ... Now you might be selling a $5 or a $6 watermelon, and you’re beating your competition.”

Administrative Burdens and the Potential for Technology

Rawl says part of the aforementioned shop vise is the administrative burden of food safety and audits.

“Sustainability is the new food safety,” he says. “It’s another audit. It’s another thing that we have to do to be able to sell our product. And it’s not that we’re not doing it, it’s just that we’re being asked to prove it in five different ways for five different customers.”

Growers are getting squeezed while there is no universal sustainability standard now. One retailer might want carbon sequestration data while another wants water-use efficiency metrics, which means growers must conduct multiple audits.

“Farmers are the original environmentalists,” Rawl says. “If we don’t take care of our land, it’s not going to take care of us.”

Frey says a major challenge with a low-margin commodity is how to return more to the farm and that her family has explored value-added products to offset food waste. She says her family has started to offer watermelon juice for those melons unsuitable for retail. She sees sustainability as being “the right thing to do for the farm, it’s the right thing to do for for consumers and it’s the right thing to do for the planet.”

For Rawl and Church, technology has great potential in the future of farming. Rawl has used laser weeders equipped with AI to run constantly to achieve return on investment. Rawl has also installed real-time data sensors to monitor different parts of the farming operation, which he says has potential when coupled with AI.

“It’s going to be several years, but it’s building out models specific to crops,” he says. “It’s really, really early, but there seems to be some possibilities.”

Church says he’s used AI for forecasting, but a challenge to using AI is it will pick up data from the middle of the global pandemic when those market conditions were atypical.

“I do believe that it’s it is the future and I think that’s why we need a lot of young people who are trying to come in and work with AI,” he says. “Data is king. The more you know about data, the better off you’re going to be. And optical sorts inside of our processing plants, you know, that’s driven by AI. If you have any issues, really learn a lot from that.”

Future of Farming

In the end, Frey says that while there are significant headwinds in the industry, strong partnerships will be key with retail partners.

“We have some challenges, not just here today that we’re dealing with tactically, but we will have some challenges in the in the not-so-distant future that we’re going to need our partners to tackle those challenges with us,” she says.

Rawl says it’s important to remember how critical the domestic produce industry is in the U.S.

“A strong domestic food supply is a matter of national security,” he says. “We’re all part of that and this next generation is going to continue to make it better and better.”

‘From Fields to Families’: Southern Exposure to Showcase Connections and Innovations

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:41:16 GMT

About 3,500 produce industry professionals are expected to gather at Florida’s Orlando World Center Marriott for four days starting Feb. 26 for the 23^rd edition of the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure Trade Show and Conference.

“From Fields to Families” is the theme of this year’s event, which is fully booked with 313 exhibitors, says David Sherrod, SEPC’s president, CEO and a member since 1999.

“Our exhibitors and attendees come from all over North America, as well as Central and South America,” Sherrod says. “These companies provide fresh produce or services to retail and foodservice companies within our southeastern marketing area.”

Even booths sell out quickly, he says.

“We provide an intimate yet comprehensive experience for our membership,” Sherrod says.

The Marriott World Center was chosen because of its large number of guest rooms along with plenty of ballroom and expo space and on-site restaurants for customer dinners. Nearby hotels accommodate additional guests.

A Look Ahead

Southern Exposure is more than just a trade show, Sherrod says.

“All of our networking events sell out every year,” he says.

Pickleball has been added because of the sport’s increasing popularity, and the Tom Page Golf Classic at the Reunion Resort & Golf Club has a waitlist, with 288 players confirmed.

Early entry will be implemented this year for retail and foodservice buyers.

“We debuted this at Southern Innovations last September, and it was a huge hit with buyers and our Gold and Silver sponsors,” Sherrod says. “It also allows more time for attendees to visit our Bronze sponsors afterward.”

SEPC University educational sessions that will examine the state of agriculture and the “Power of Produce” also have
been scheduled, along with special guests that include:

Stephen Mansfield, New York Times bestselling author, global speaker and coach, speaking at the Southern Roots Women’s Luncheon.
Molly Yeh, American chef, cookbook author and host of Food Network’s “Girl Meets Farm,” appearing at the LINKS (Learning, Interacting and Networking with Key players in the Supply chain) session.
John Maxwell, world-renowned leadership author, speaker and coach, featured at the keynote brunch.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Trade Show Preview

SEPC’s trade shows are designed to “provide innovative networking, community and educational experiences while creating an environment for building authentic relationships and increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Southeast,” Sherrod says.

The buyer-to-seller ratio is the best in the industry, he adds.

“With nearly 700 buyers from over 150 retail chains, foodservice operators and wholesale facilities, produce sellers love to attend Southern Exposure each year,” Sherrod explains. “We’re small enough to know everyone, large enough to reach anyone.”

Here’s a look at some of the exhibitors in attendance this year.

Southern Specialties, Booth No. 403

Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Southern Specialties Inc. is no newcomer to Southern Exposure. The company was among a handful of businesses that exhibited at the first SEPC trade show in Lakeland, Fla., in 2004, says Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development.

“Southern Specialties looks forward to being front and center at Southern Exposure to meet and greet our customers and prospective customers from throughout the country,” he says.

The company plans to showcase its value-added Southern Selects lineup along with products and pack styles for foodservice, retail and club store customers.

“With over 200 SKUs of specialty products, including asparagus, French beans, peas, heirloom tomatoes, avocados, berries, tropical fruits and processed products, we are guaranteed to have something of interest for every customer,” Eagle adds.

Fresh From Florida, Booth No. 308

Representatives from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will be available to answer questions at Southern Exposure about the Fresh From Florida retail incentive program, which makes it easier than ever to source and promote Florida produce, says Susie McKinley, marketing and development division director.

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet the people behind the Fresh From Florida brand and find out how we’re working to bring the best of Florida’s farms to your stores,” she says.

The Fresh From Florida team will host a reception of “light bites and drinks” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Magnolia Room 13-14 at Orlando World Center Marriott on Feb. 26, McKinley says.

And Fresh From Florida souvenirs will be available at its booth.

Pure Flavor, Booth No. 125

Leamington, Ontario-based Pure Flavor will feature its Trio on-the-vine and Cherry Picked tomatoes at Southern Exposure, says Matt Mastronardi, executive vice president.

“Trio on-the-vine is a colorful mix of snacking cherry tomatoes grown in controlled greenhouse conditions for consistent quality, freshness and eye-catching display,” Mastronardi says. “Cherry Picked is a premium medley designed to deliver the same exceptional quality and flavor every time, featuring hand-picked specialty tomatoes — Azuca, Tiki Tomatoes and OMG Tomatoes — selected for bold, naturally sweet flavors and vibrant colors.”

Pure Flavor is a longtime participant in Southern Exposure, Mastronardi says.

“The show allows us to share our latest innovations, gather customer insights and strengthen relationships that support our continued growth and commitment to high-quality produce,” he says.

USA Pears, Booth No. 720

Milwaukie, Ore.-based USA Pears has good reason to participate in Southern Exposure, says Bob Catinella, director
of merchandising.

“It provides a valuable platform for one-on-one meetings with retailers, giving us the opportunity to explore strategic activations designed to increase consumer engagement and drive greater consumption of USA Pears,” he says.

USA Pears has been attending the show for more than 15 years, he says.

This year, the trade organization plans to showcase its new display bins and point-of-sale materials that are designed to elevate visibility and drive engagement at retail.

“Our go-to-market strategy centers on clear, consistent communication that highlights the exceptional flavor, quality and health benefits of USA Pears, helping consumers choose pears with confidence and enthusiasm,” Catinella says.

Ocean Mist Farms, Booth No. 223

Last year at SEPC’s Southern Exposure, Castroville, Calif.-based Ocean Mist Farms unveiled the second phase of its award-winning Roastables ready-to-roast kits, expanding the original line of washed and trimmed Brussels sprouts to include broccoli and cauliflower florets.

This year, Ocean Mist will showcase and sample Roastables alongside its latest innovation, Heartichokes.

“These trimmed and quartered artichokes promise less prep and more possibilities,” says Jeff Hutterer, director of value-added sales. “A true first-of-its-kind item in the marketplace, buzzworthy Heartichokes were recently launched to strong anticipation and excitement.”

Jeff Fulton, vice president of sales and product management, emphasizes the value of in-person connection at shows like SEPC’s Southern Exposure.

“These shows allow us invaluable opportunities to strengthen existing relationships, connect with new partners and engage directly with attendees,” Fulton explains. “We genuinely enjoy the hands-on experience, from cooking up our new innovations booth-side to sharing samples and answering questions.”

Crystal Valley Foods, Booth No. 801

Miami-based Crystal Valley Foods has been exhibiting at SEPC’s Southern Exposure show for eight years and has been attending for much longer, says Katiana Valdes, marketing director.

“It is one of our favorite shows because it is the perfect size to allow for great interaction with customers, potential customers and peers,” she says. “The expo, where we are able showcase our product, is always well attended by buyers from a variety of channels across the country, and we are often able to meet new perspective customers and vendors.”

SEPC also does an excellent job making sure that all parts of the conference, such as the gala and other collaborative and educational events, are a great place to do business, Valdes adds.

Naturipe Farms, Booth No. 313

Southern Exposure presents a “vital opportunity to connect face-to-face with East Coast buyers, retailers and industry partners,” says Jim Roberts, president of Salinas, Calif.-based Naturipe Farms.

The event allows members of the Naturipe team to “showcase the full breadth of the business, including Naturipe Farms, avocados and snacks, while strengthening long-standing relationships and building new ones in a collaborative, relationship-driven environment,” he says.

Naturipe, which has attended the show for about 20 years, will highlight its premium berry lineup, including MightyReds, its biggest and best jumbo strawberries, and Sweet Selections blueberries, which will be arriving from Georgia around the time of the show, Roberts says.

The Naturipe team will also debut its newest innovation, SnackBites, “a flavorful, high-protein snack designed to meet growing demand for convenient, better-for-you options,” he adds.

Bland Farms, Booth No. 106

“Bland Farms has been part of the Southeast Produce Council for more than 15 years, and Southern Exposure continues to be one of the most valuable shows on our calendar,” says CEO Troy Bland.

The quality of engagement sets this show apart from others, he says.

“The ratio of retailers and foodservice buyers to exhibitors is exceptional, which creates real opportunities for meaningful conversations, not just quick handshakes,” he says.

Southern Exposure consistently delivers strong ROI for the company, Bland says, but more importantly, it strengthens the partnerships that drive long term success.

“It’s definitely a must-attend event each year,” he says.

This year, Bland Farms will showcase its upcoming Vidalia sweet onion crop, its premium sweet onions and its Sand Candy sweetpotatoes.

“We’ll also share updates on several investments, from our expanded refrigeration facility to new laser weeders for our organic program, and our growing partnership with Weber grills,” Bland says.

Robinson Fresh, Booth No. 202

Robinson Fresh, part of Eden Prairie, Minn.-based C.H. Robinson, will show off some tropical products — such as mangoes, limes and avocados — as well as grapes, dry vegetables and watermelons at Southern Exposure, says Jose Rossignoli, president.

“SEPC provides an important opportunity to connect with industry peers and our customers to share insights, exchange ideas and explore the challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future of the fresh produce landscape,” Rossignoli says.

“SEPC is a great forum to showcase our end-to-end integrated approach, demonstrate our commitment to the fresh industry and engage with the people and companies helping define the future of produce,” he adds.

Duda Farms Fresh Foods, Booth No. 107

This year’s Southern Exposure will be especially meaningful for Salinas, Calif.-based Duda Farm Fresh Foods, because the company is celebrating its 100^th anniversary, “a milestone that reflects our dedication to quality, innovation and service,” says Nichole Towell, senior director of marketing and innovation.

The company will feature two of its signature offerings — fresh-cut celery and tray-pack corn — products that highlight Duda’s focus on convenience, flavor and freshness for consumers, Towell says.

Duda exhibits at Southern Exposure because the show embodies Southern hospitality for the produce industry, she says.

“From the very beginning, we’ve been both an exhibitor and a sponsor, and this show continues to stand out as one of the leading regional events that brings together key retail partners and industry professionals,” she says.

“It’s more than a trade show; it’s a place to connect, collaborate and celebrate the shared commitment to fresh produce,” Towell says.

Topline Farms, Booth No. 117

Southern Exposure is an important opportunity for Leamington-based Topline Farms to connect with industry partners and “engage in meaningful conversations that support long-term growth across the produce sector in the Southeast,” says Dino DiLaudo, senior vice president sales and marketing.

This year, the company will highlight continued expansion of its greenhouse tomato portfolio, with a focus on roma and heirloom tomatoes, two of the fastest-growing segments in the category.

“Recent investments in advanced, LED-lit greenhouse production have strengthened our ability to deliver consistent flavor, freshness and shelf life at scale,” he says.

“We look forward to connecting with partners to share insights, explore category opportunities and discuss how sustainably grown greenhouse produce can complement regional programs and support fresh produce consumption across the Southeast,” DiLaudo adds.

Red Sun Farms, Booth No. 105

Red Sun Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, plans to present recent advancements from its Chef Collection relaunch, along with updates on its strawberry genetics and breeding programs at Southern Exposure, says Harold Paivarinta, vice president of sales and business development.

“Customers will gain insight into how key varieties have progressed since our last discussions at Southern Innovations, including improvements in flavor, yield performance and consistency,” he says.

The company also will highlight ongoing varietal development and evaluation across the tomato portfolio, he adds.

“Southern Exposure serves as a key forum for the fresh produce industry, enabling collaboration across the supply chain,” Paivarinta explains. “The event facilitates technical dialogue on innovation, supports data-driven discussions with customers and peers and offers educational sessions focused on market trends, consumer insights and emerging technologies shaping the future of fresh produce production.”

Ark Foods to Showcase Full Line of Produce at Southern Innovations

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:38:03 GMT

Farming company Ark Foods says attendees at the Southeast Produce Council’s upcoming Southern Innovations event can find its team at booth No. 504 for a look at the brand’s ever-growing portfolio.

“We set out to change how people think about fresh food,” says Ark Foods CEO Noah Robbins. “What started with a single vegetable — the shishito pepper — has grown into a diverse portfolio we are proud to grow and share. Finding the joy in vegetables should be easy, and that guides our belief that vegetables are the ultimate food every day.”

At Southern Innovations, Ark Foods says it will spotlight its wide-ranging lineup, including:

Bagged chili peppers — a colorful assortment for any occasion.
Chopped salad kits — innovative blends that elevate convenience and flavor.
Mini heirloom tomatoes — flavorful varieties tailored for everyday snacking.
Bulk chili peppers — fresh, high-quality options for retail and foodservice partners.

“We are thrilled to exhibit at Southern Innovations this year, and we look forward to connecting with others, celebrating innovation within produce and sharing what we’ve been working on,” says Lindsay Belfatto, vice president of sales for Ark Foods. “We have some exciting new products on the horizon that we are eager to bring to market.”

Looking ahead, Ark Foods says it will continue to build on its foundation and strengthen its presence with retailers and partners who care about quality, reliability and sparking joy for the end consumer.

“Whether you’re a home cook looking for inspiration or a retailer searching for the next big flavor, Ark Foods has something to drive your imagination,” Robbins says.

SEPC’s Southern Innovations is set for Sept. 10-13 in Charlotte, N.C.

Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 4

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:37:29 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla.— The Healthy Family Project held its annual Thank You Reception at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2025, with more than 200 produce industry professionals attending.

The Healthy Family Project and its partners raised more than $260,000 to support Feeding America food banks, The Foundation for Fresh Produce and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Miller Townsend, Amber Maloney, Reagan Morrison and Jason Deis are shown at the Wish Farms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Visitors to Wish Farms’ booth learned about how the company is in the height of its Florida strawberry season.

“This show is always good for us because it’s in our backyard and it really promotes Southeast produce,” said Amber Maloney, director of marketing at Wish Farms.

Wish Farms also showed off its Florida-grown pineberries and its new jumbo blueberry label.

As the season rolls into California strawberries and Florida blueberry season, Maloney said retailers can expect a really good crop for Florida blueberries.

“We have some beautiful organic blueberries and the Georgia blueberry crop until mid-April,” she said.

Sonia Klinger, Chris Badaoa, Ray Mastronardi, Jim Papaefthimiou and Gary Campisi are shown at the Del Fresco Pure booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Del Fresco Pure showcased its new organic seedless cucumbers to go along with its portfolio of organic produce.

“We’re really excited to launch this,” said Ray Mastronardi, vice president of sales at Del Fresco Pure. “There has been an uptick in organics. Our customers have been asking for organic cucumbers and we’re happy to meet that demand.”

Del Fresco Pure will offer a full year-round program and will have a full Canadian, 365-day line of Canadian organic seedless cucumbers.

“We’re really excited to expand our organic program,” Mastronardi said. “It’s a category customers are asking us to expand on. We think there’s a bright future.”

David Reyes, Luis Rodriguez, Elizabeth Smart and Clarisa Batiz are shown at the Divine Flavor booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Divine Flavor said the peak season of bell peppers out of the south of Mexico and the peak season of imported table grapes was a main topic of conversation for event attendees. The company is looking ahead to its hot house tomatoes and table grapes. Divine Flavor also plans for an expansion in acres and commodities.

“The most important thing is we’re solid in our current items,” said Clarisa Batiz, vegetable category manager for Divine Flavor. “We’ve closed our production gaps, and we have a 365-day window of product availability.”

Mike Stephan, Lawrence Tuck and Andrea Smith are shown at the Monterey Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Monterey Mushrooms recently debuted a top-seal film for its products out of its Madison, Texas, facility and expects to roll it out to all four of its farms by the end of September. Monterey Mushrooms also looks to get more into exotic mushrooms, with shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

Mike Stephan, vice president of sales and business development for Monterey Mushrooms, said the company works with retailers to help integrate exotic mushrooms into their portfolio and to be selective in what exotic mushrooms to offer.

“Everyone knows [retailers] get pressure to provide them, and we’re there to guide [retailers] into what’s more successful,” he said.

Rebecca Waxman and Amanda Keefer are shown at the Healthy Family Project booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

This year’s Healthy Family Project booth at Southern Exposure tapped into the event’s theme of “Produce Means Family.” With messaging that ties into food insecurity in the U.S., Healthy Family Project shared that 13.5% of all U.S. households experience food insecurity. More than 6.8 million households struggle with severe security and meal disruptions, and more than 50 million people rely on food assistance.

Amanda Keefer, senior director of marketing and communications with the Healthy Family Project, said she and the Healthy Family Project team were happy with its sold-out reception. And, Healthy Family Project had its largest group donation from its campaign with Publix.

“Having been with the company for many years, it’s great to see just how excited they are in making an impact,” she said of the Publix donation.

Your next read:

Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 3

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:27:51 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Southeast Produce Council said “aloha Orlando” with a Hawaiian theme for its event held at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

Randi Ricks, Thomas Joyner, David Bradley and Robin Narron are shown at Nash Produce’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

The smaller North Carolina sweetpotato crop this year was a major topic of conversation for visitors to Nash Produce’s booth. The hot dry weather during transplanting and then the rain that came after a hurricane and a tropical storm severely impacted the crop.

Robin Narron, sales support and marketing director for Nash Produce, said the company wants to encourage retailers to promote sweetpotatoes without promotions, due to the smaller crop.

“We’re having conversations with our customers about the issues and shortages and we’ll work with them to get to next season,” she said.

The profile of the potato is smaller, Narron said, and the crop is down 30% to 35%.

“We ship year round and work closely with our customers to fulfill all obligations and take care of their needs,” she said.

Chris Wilson, Debbie Rogers, Bob Tillemans, Therese Mauch are shown at Zespri’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

The upcoming New Zealand kiwifruit season had the Zespri booth buzzing. Debbie Rogers, national account manager for Zespri, said the first arrivals of SunGold kiwifruit should be around late April or early May.

Zespir will showcase its Kiwi Brothers on packaging and displays, and it will also debut fully compostable labels on fruit this year.

“We’re excited to get the season underway,” Rogers said.

Tony Losito, Joe D’Amico Jr., Tony D’Amico, Johnny Kampes IV and Adam Cooney are shown at To-Jo Mushroom’s Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

To-Jo Mushrooms debuted new stuffed mushrooms in three varieties: ricotta, seasoned ricotta and spinach ricotta.

Johnny Kampes IV, national sales account manager with To-Jo Mushrooms, said the reception to the new products at the event was great, and retailers kept asking when the products would be available.

“We’re looking [a matter of] weeks,” Kampes said of when the new stuff mushrooms will be available for retailers.

Justin Henkel, Justin Wright and Jeff Richardson are shown at Great Lakes Greenhouses’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

First-time Southern Exposure exhibitor Great Lakes Greenhouses had a great show, said Jeff Richardson, vice president of sales.

“It’s been a great journey,” he said. “People want to be here. It has a family atmosphere. It’s one thing to say it, but [SEPC members] live it.”

Richardson said a big topic for visitors to Great Lakes Greenhouses’ booth is the availability of its organic bell peppers. Great Lakes Greenhouses grows the peppers on 25 acres, which the company decided to transition to meet demand.

“Our customers asked for more organic peppers,” he said. “We’re fortunate that we grow a great bell pepper, and the demand exceeds our expectation.”

Michael Anne Evans, Clara Alcantara, Pat Young, Amanda Brown-Estelle, John Brooks, Jeff Murray and Moe Adams are shown at IFCO Systems’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Sustainable packaging was the hot topic at IFCO Systems’ booth. The company touted its improved sustainable packaging offerings for fresh produce, which boasts a reduction in damage, reduces waste, is a lower-cost and offers greater freshness, said Clara Alcantara, marketing coordinator for the Americas for IFCO Systems.

“A lot of our retailers are moving toward autonomy, and our RPCs are a great fit,” she said, noting the RPCs offer consistent sizing which is necessary for automation.

Brad Ryan, Rick Mulac, and Darryl Bollack are shown at the Mariani Nut Co. Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo courtesy of Mariani Nut Co.)

Darryl Bollack, regional sales manager for the Mariani Nut Co., showed off the company’s new kettle cooked walnuts.

“With the current shift in healthy snacking, this is an opportunity to create a line of healthy snacking walnuts,” he said.

Bollack noted the new walnuts come in a clear standup pouch, so consumers can see exactly what they’re buying.

“The goal is to create something in the snacking category,” he said. “We have three unique flavor profiles all with 6 grams or sugar or less.”

Bollack said initial feedback on the new kettle cooked walnuts has been great, noting Mariani offered samples at an event at a high-end retailer, and the retailer sold out of all flavors in its 15 stores.

Your next read:

Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 2

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:06:13 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the theme of “Produce Means Family,” the Southeast Produce Council’s recent Southern Exposure decor reflected a Hawaiian island tropical feel.

Evan Dobratz, Lance Thompson, Bill Bertrand and Matt DiNitto are shown at the BrightFarms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

The recent opening of BrightFarms’ three new greenhouses in Macon, Ga., Lorena, Texas, and Yorkville, Ill., was a major highlight for visitors to the company’s booth at Southern Exposure. The team at BrightFarms touted the greenhouses’ advanced production systems, which will help the company expand its reach.

“[It] will allow us to bring the ... freshest, pesticide-free leafy greens to families,” said Matt DiNitto, director of sales East for BrightFarms.

DiNitto said the new greenhouses integrate into the company’s existing network distribution across the East Coast and Midwest.

Ross Williams, Jessica Palma, Jessica Williams and Caroline Dubose are shown at Titan Farms’ booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Visitors to Titan Farms’ booth learned more about the partnership between Titan Farms and Watsonia Farms, with Titan Farms distributing organic peaches grown by Watsonia.

Ross Williams, president of the Ridge Springs, S.C.-based grower-packer-shipper of peaches, said the addition of organic peaches expands the company’s portfolio and helps retailers add more offerings through one distributor.

“We hope to couple value with organics to help offset freight,” he said. “It’s a more local item, and we think it will bring a lot of value to the retailer and the consumer from the tastier peach state.”

Jed, Jerry, Joe and Jeph Watson are shown at the Watsonia Farms/Jerrold A. Watson & Sons booth at Southern Exsposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

And, at the Watsonia Farms booth, fourth-generation grower Jeph Watson said visitors wanted to learn more about seasonal product availability and, of course, organic peaches.

“[They’re asking] how we can help them with certain products at certain times,” Watson said.

Naomi Kausen, John Pursel, Ron Steele and Anne Goltz are shown at the AC Foods booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

It was all about Sumo Citrus at the AC Foods booth. Ron Steele, vice president of citrus sales for AC Foods, said in years prior at SEPC, the team at AC Foods had a lot of conversations about the brand and introducing retailers to Sumo Citrus.

Now, that’s changed thanks to a lot of marketing and planning, more people recognize the Sumo Citrus brand. He said so many people came up to the booth and shared with the AC Foods team how their families love Sumos.

“[They’ll tell us] ‘These are amazing,’” he said. “‘It’s an amazing piece of fruit.’”

Steele said consumers have now come to expect an exceptional eating experience.

Geoff Kosar, Agnes Boutros, Dan Natelborg, Paul Mastronardi, Wes Emerson, Conor Chilvers and Crissa Kudroch are shown at the Mastronardi Produce booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo courtesy of Mastronardi Produce)

Fitting for the Hawaiian theme of this year’s Southern Exposure, Mastronardi Produce brought back its Aloha striped peppers.

Mastronardi also launched its Bomb Squad medley featuring its Flavor Bombs in 12-ounce or 1.5-pound containers.

The company also celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Compari tomatoes. Paul Mastronardi brought the tomatoes to North America in 1995. To mark this 30th anniversary, Mastronardi Produce revamped its packaging and display boxes.

The company also showcased its Secilia greenhouse tomatoes on the vine available in 12-ounce or 1.5-pound containers.

“We’re highlighting our whole portfolio lineup of berries,” said Geoff Kosar, vice president of marketing. “We launched our summer series at IFPA and it continues to perform well for us.”

Your next read: Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 1

Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 1

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:37:32 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — Speaking at one of the education sessions at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event, chef Jeff Henderson shared his journey from federal prison to high-end restaurants. When asked what his favorite produce items to cook with were, Henderson said the “holy trinity,” which includes bell peppers, onions and celery.

“The go-to vegetable that I eat probably four times a month is cabbage,” he said. “I love caramelized cabbage, burnt up a little bit, just butter, nice, salt and pepper. I love butternut squash, but it’s seasoned. I do a lot of butternut squash soups and things like that, but I blend butternut squash with sweetpotatoes. My family being from the South, we love the collard greens, mustard greens, big old lettuces, microgreens and all those great things.”

Henderson also shared how, during a filming of the show, “Family Style,” he worked with a family to incorporate carrots, cauliflower into a spaghetti or pizza sauce to incorporate more vegetables.

“The kids didn’t see the white or the orange [of the carrots or cauliflower], and they would tear that pizza up and spaghetti meatballs, and that’s how we got them to eat a little bit healthier,” he said.

Rich Pazderski, Sloan Lott and Jeff Rhoden are shown at Bland Farms’ Southern Exposure booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

The team at the Bland Farms highlighted the upcoming Vidalia onion season, which will begin around mid-April. In fact, Sloan Lott, director of sales for Bland Farms, said that’s what most of the conversations stemmed around for visitors to the company’s booth.

“They’re always excited about Vidalia season,” he said.

Lott said this year’s crop will be smaller in size and volume, given some colder rainy weather in the growing season, but after last year’s bumper crop, retailers can expect a more normal crop size.

“It’ll be a good crop,” Lott said. “It’ll be a more normal year.”

Lott said Bland Farms also has sweetpotatoes available now through late September.

John Sheehan, Paul Williamson, Sabrina Pokomandy, Jose Cambon and Kelly Hale are shown at the Highline Mushrooms booth at Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Highline Mushrooms displayed its bright, colorful packaging designed to help increase mushroom consumption. The company’s new rPET tills “allows the consumer to see everything they’re buying,” said Kelly Hale, vice president of sales, marketing and distribution for Highline Mushrooms.

Hale said the new packaging really highlights the product and taps into the adage that the consumer buys with their eyes.

“We think they’ll buy more,” Hale said.

Tim Harrington is shown at the Stemilt Growers booth at SEPC Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Cosmic Crisp’s continual rise was a big part of Stemilt Growers’ display. There has been a continual growth for the variety, especially with a down year for Honeycrisp volume.

Tim Harrington, merchandising representative for Stemilt, said he expects to see Cosmic Crisp rise to No. 1 or No. 2 in SKUs this year; movement on organic Cosmic Crisp has also been great for the company.

“We have a large variety pack of 2-pound, 4-pound and 4-count EZ Band,” he said.

The upcoming cherry season was a big part of Stemilt’s display, with the grower-shipper-marketer showing off its Kyle’s Pick, Closer to the Moon and 5 River Island cherries.

Cherry season will begin in California at the end of April, and Harrington said Stemilt expects to rebound this year with its Washington-grown cherries with good volume from May to early September.

Shelby Dwyer, Marianne Stamatelos, Madison Hopper and Ashley McPhee are shown at the Equifruit booth at SEPC Southern Exposure.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Equifruit’s Café Banana Badass theme was a hit with Southern Exposure attendees who were in desperate need of a caffeine boost. Equifruit served up custom lattes with a mission, highlighting that it costs a consumer only $5 more a year to switch to Equifruit Fairtrade bananas, which is less than one latte in the real world.

The Equifruit team said the booth, and its mission, proved to be extremely popular, with show attendees queuing for their cup of joe at Equifruit’s coffeehouse.

“It hasn’t stopped,” Madison Hopper, creative content manager for Equifruit, said of the visitors to the booth.

Alan Abe, Gary Caloroso, Kellee Harris and Chris Henry are shown at The Guimarra Cos. booth.

(Photo: Christina Herrick)

Kellee Harris, vice president of retail merchandising services at The Giumarra Cos., said this was her first SEPC Southern Exposure event, although Giumarra has exhibited and attended the show for many years.

“This is the best show for consistent traffic,” she said. “We saw who we targeted [to see] and then some.”

Harris said booth visitors asked the team about grape and avocado availability.

“A lot of people are asking about it,” she said, given the talk of tariffs. “Every day is different. We’ve got supply and no one knows where we’re going long term.”

Walmart braces for a ‘volatile’ year in produce

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 10:56:34 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. — When asked to describe 2025 in one word, Laura Himes, vice president of fresh for Walmart Sourcing said “volatile.” Josh Waters, senior vice president of category management for produce and commodity grocery for US Foods echoed Himes’ sentiment, summing up 2025 as “uncertain.” Himes and Waters made the remarks during a panel discussion at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure conference.

Jim Thomas, vice president of supply chain and sustainability at Sweetgreen, said “rollercoaster.”

Moderator Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods for FMI, The Food Industry Association, asked panelists what they thought is one of the biggest challenges for 2025. Waters said “staying on top of everything,” and Thomas said “control what you can control.”

It’s been a tumultuous start to 2025, with President Donald Trump threatening 25% tariffs to Mexico and Canada, which would have a big impact on the produce supply chain this year. As of now, Canadian and Mexican imports have an exemption from tariffs through April 2.

During the panel, FMI and 210 Analytics presented “The Power of Produce 2025" report .

“If you look at the actual absolute price, across all fruit and beverage [with] an average of $3.13 in 2019, that is now $4.22 in 2024,” said Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics. “That led to a list of changes among consumer behavior and that affected foodservice and retail.”

The report showed that 83% of consumers surveyed planned to make one or more changes to grocery buying patterns and 44% of consumers said they planned to eat out less due to the increased cost of food.

“Even though fresh produce did not have the inflation seen in the total store or seen in other areas of produce across the store, we continue to see consumers believing that fresh is expensive,” Roerick said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever lose that reputation. How can we make sure that people understand that it is not all about price; it is about value?”

When Stein asked panelists what the biggest opportunity for 2025 was, Himes said “produce in the center of the plate.”

And when Stein asked the best thing suppliers can do to help in 2025, Waters said to stay on top of trends and continue to think about the consumer.

“Continue to think about what does the customer need,” he said. “Make sure that we’re there meeting them where they can stand.”

Southeast Produce Council awards 2023 member scholarships to 43 recipients

Fri, 19 May 2023 19:56:56 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council has awarded 43 SEPC Member Scholarships totaling $64,500.

Scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet the application criteria of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with the SEPC and has personally attended at least one SEPC event within the last 12 months, according to a news release. Applicants, who must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 semester hours, had to submit necessary paperwork, including an essay, to be reviewed by members of the SEPC scholarship committee.

Staying in step with this year’s overarching SEPC them, “Inspiring Innovation Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” the essay prompt asked students to discuss where they have experienced food waste in their lives, what are innovative solutions to reduce or prevent food waste, and if they thought even the smallest of ideas can be scaled for a global solution.

SEPC Member Scholarship recipients receive one $1,500 scholarship annually. Past recipients are eligible; however, they must have maintained a 3.0 GPA, and first preference is given to new applicants, according to the release.

The recipients of the 2023 SEPC Member Scholarship are:

Recipient name	Member name	Member company
Kade Adams	Kerry Adams	Rouses Markets
Kayelyn Austin	Garry Bergstrom	Southeast Produce Council
Gary E. Baker	Gary Baker	Merchants Distributors LLC
Colton Barton	Jill Barton	Jim Rash Inc.
Austin Belknap	Blake Belknap	Rainier Fruit Co.
Kennedy Belknap	Blake Belknap	Rainier Fruit Co.
Kordelia Bergstrom	Garry Bergstrom	Southeast Produce Council
Bryan Biederman	Bryan Biederman	Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers
Ani Brown	Kohl Brown	Harvest Fresh Partners
Sebastian Cimino	Jaime Cimino	Always Fresh Farms
Lillian Davis	Dan Davis	Starr Ranch Growers
Marco Di Laudo	Dino Di Laudo	Topline Farms
Tahlia Dilaudo	Dino Di Laudo	Topline Farms
Conner Edmondson	Tim Edmondson	Edmondson Farms
Joshua Eubanks	Allen Eubanks	Eubanks Produce Inc.
Douglas Ford	Kent Ford	Taylor Farms
Maxwell Fuehrer	Milton Fuehrer	Michigan Fresh Marketing
Michael Fuehrer	Milton Fuehrer	Michigan Fresh Marketing
Ellen Hendrix	Kevin Hendrix	Hendrix Produce
Morgan Jenny	Brian Jenny	B&W Quality Growers
Lindsey Kastensmidt	Matthew Kastensmidt	Tom Lange Inc.
Isabella Lott	Sloan Lott	Bland Farms
Gabrielle Matejowsky	Sarah Matejowsky	Sunkist Growers Inc.
Charlotte Minerva	Michael Minerva	Village Farms
Kaylee Nelsen	Sean Nelsen	Fowler Packing
Alexis Olsen	Melissa Olsen	US Foods
Claire Paivarinta	Harold Paivarinta	Red Sun Farms
Olin Paivarinta	Harold Paivarinta	Red Sun Farms
Matheson Parker	Brandon Parker	Shuman Farms
Haley Pilcher	Alison Pilcher	Coastline Family Farms
Lowri Richards	Gini Richards	Monterey Mushrooms
Peyton Rudman	Shawn Rudman	Gulfstream Produce
Steven Shaw	Tracy Shaw	Healthy Family Project
Hudson Sherrod	David Sherrod	Southeast Produce Council
Mason Shuman	Mark Shuman	Shuman Farms
Brittany St. George	Kimberly St. George	Dole Food Co.
Riley St. George	Kimberly St. George	Dole Food Co.
Sophia Tanner	Matthew Tanner	Pacific Trellis Fruit
Kasey Tipton	Mike Tipton	Schnucks
Charles White	Johnny White	Shuman Farms
Avery White	Johnny White	Shuman Farms
Madison Wing	Rick Estess	RPE
Kylie Wynne	Jadey Wynne	US Foods

SEPC: No 2020 Southern Innovations

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:35 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council , Millen, Ga., has cancelled Southern Innovations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual event was scheduled for Sept. 16-19 in Savannah, Ga.

David Sherrod, SEPC president and CEO, said the decision was made with a “heavy heart.”

“Our sincere desire was to provide a beacon of shining a light for an in-person event to provide hope and healing for our industry and country,” Sherrod said in a news release. “However, we recognize that the current environment is not allowing for Southern Innovations to occur as planned.

“We have exciting efforts underway to connect our SEPC members in new and unique ways, and we are focused on delivering an incredible Southern Exposure in Spring of 2021,” he said in the release.

The SEPC plans to launch a platform to provide membership and industry resources, “to create the rich values of face-to-face experiences” provided by the council, according to the release.

“Four months ago, we started praying that the world would be back to normal soon and that we would be able to gather back up as a family in Savannah for our annual Southern Innovations event,” Brandon Parker, SEPC board chairman, said in the release. “Even the best-laid plans just sometimes do not work out.”

Registration for Southern Exposure, scheduled for Feb. 25-27, is set to open in mid-September.

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Industry must work together to reduce plastic, panel says

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:27:41 GMT

View photos from 2020 SEPC’s Southern Exposure here.

TAMPA, Fla. — Keep the customer in tight focus and work with other produce suppliers to reduce plastic and increase the recycling of packaging.

Those were two key takeaways in 75 minutes of discussion in a session called “The Plight of Plastics” at a Feb. 28 Southeast Produce Council University session at Southern Exposure 2020.

Anabella de Freeman, Walmart’s senior manager of sustainable produce was the panel moderator, and said packaged produce now accounts for 53% of produce department sales. What’s more, she noted surveys have shown that many millennial consumers prefer packed produce because of its convenience.

The counterpoint to that, de Freeman said, is that containers and packaging make up about 30% of total municipal solid waste.

While plastic packaging only has a useful life of months, it can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.

Adhesive paper labels can make clamshells impossible to recycle and very few collection points also make it difficult to recycle plastic packaging, she said.

“Importantly, the customers sometimes don’t know what or how to recycle,” she said. “So even if you as growers and retailers are trying to do as much as possible — if the customer doesn’t know what to do what the package after they use it, then part of the equation is not working,” she said.

De Freeman said the industry cares and has a sense of urgency that more must be done.

“The call to action today is (to) use less plastic, and make it recyclable,” she said.

Setting goals

By 2025, de Freeman said Walmart’s goal is to reduce plastic use as much possible from products they sell. A second goal is to make packaging recyclable; she said all of Walmart’s private label packaging will be 100% recyclable by 2025, with a goal for 20% recycled content in those packages.

A third goal, she said, is to help educate consumer about how to recycle, including using labels to clearly show which recycling stream is appropriate for the package.

“Let’s keep our focus on the customer at all times and work with an end to end approach,” she said.

Berry pledge

Janis McIntosh, director of marketing innovation and sustainability for Naturipe Farms , Salinas, Calif., described the pledge by berry growers and trade associations in the U.S., Mexico and South America to use 100% recycle ready packaging for all fresh berries by 2025.

McIntosh said clamshell plastic packaging has contributed to the success of the berry category, but marketers are seeking to reduce plastic use by as much as one-third with top seal films to replace clamshell lids and also to create more recycle-friendly labels for the clamshells by 2025.

Another important development in recent years, she said, is the opening of new recycling plants in the U.S. that can take low-grade plastics and create new packaging.

In all changes to make more recycle-ready packaging, McIntosh said the industry can benefit from working together.

“Change is good, but it is better together — and that means competitive collaboration,” she said.

Shelf life extension

The use of plastics can be reduced significantly, and shelf life of produce can be extended by double or triple with use of Apeel Sciences plant-based solution, said Natalie Shuman, director of trade and retail marketing for California-based Apeel Sciences .

She said that Apeel’s technology will be used on long English cucumbers marketed by the Houweling Group this year.

“So, with Houweling’s alone, they will be able to eliminate upwards of 85,000 pounds of plastic packaging from their packaging stream,” she said. That’s equivalent to 85 million plastic straws, or enough plastic wrap to wrap the entire Empire State Building, Shuman said.

“We are really excited about this and invite you to join our cause,” she said.

Fiber fabulous?

Thermoformed fiber packaging is a viable option to traditional plastics, said Brad Dennis, the vice president of sales and marketing at CKF Inc ., Rexdale, Ontario. The company’s Earthcycle packaging, he said, is made from blend of hardwood fibers and recycled corrugated. The North American-sourced packaging is certified by European certification standard OK Compost and is home compostable and recyclable, he said.

“We can’t keep up with orders,” he said. The packaging, which removes 90% of the plastic compared with a plastic clamshell, can also be used with top seal film to extend shelf life, he said. Dennis also said the fiber packaging can match the packaging speed of clamshell lines in the packing shed.

Kathy Lawrence, director of new business development for Proseal America, Inc ., Richmond, Va., said the company manufactures equipment that reduces plastic packaging by replacing the clamshell lid with a top- sealed film. “You can reduce the amount of plastic by 20% up to 45% just by replacing the lid of a clamshell with a film seal,” she said.

Creating new labels that more easily removed from clamshells is one key focus for Yerecic Label , said Elizabeth Yerecic, key account manager and team leader for product development the company. The company has introduced a line of labels branded Sustainable that make clamshells easier to recycle.

Closing thoughts

De Freeman of Walmart said work should continue extending the shelf life of both packed and naked produce and educate consumers about recycling packaging options.

She also encouraged attendees to download Walmart’s recycling playbook , which assigns packaging color-coded scores of green, yellow and red based on the material used.

“Finally, collaborate with your competitors, because we are serving a bigger cause,” de Freeman said.

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Cause marketing is win-win for companies and charities, speaker says

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:39:05 GMT

View photos from 2020 SEPC’s Southern Exposure here.

TAMPA, Fla. — Corporate charitable giving can be a win-win for both produce marketers and the causes they support, author Joe Waters told attendees at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure conference on Feb. 28.

Waters is the creator of a blog called Selfish Giving, specializes in discussions of partnership between nonprofit groups and for-profit companies.

Any company that wants to venture into “cause marketing” to expand their appeal to consumers should first look inward and identify what they value, he said. Finding a purpose for your company for the community and the world that goes beyond profit is part of that process, Waters said.

“Everything that comes after your values is how purpose is executed in the world,” he said. “I think regardless of what you come away with this program today, beginning with charity is definitely the first great step for your organization,” Waters said.

Sponsorship of events is a big trend for companies, he said, and those event sponsorships can be used for marketing purposes. For example, when a shoe company sponsors a marathon race, the company is looking to directly expand its influence with those participants.

Both the nonprofit and the corporation can profit from cause marketing, he said.

“The idea with a cause marketing partnership is about both sides profiting,” he said. Cause marketing has become a “legitimate” part of the marketing mix for companies, he said, and should be considered as an extension of a company’s purpose.

Consumers respond to and want cause marketing from the companies they buy from, particularly important demographic populations of moms and millennial consumers.

Waters estimates “cause marketing” can contribute between 5% and 40% to the overall success of a business.

Companies have a choice whether they want to support a specific nonprofit or work with a broader cause. Some larger brands have their own nonprofit groups they create, such as McDonald’s and its Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Brands can work with charities that may widen their appeal. For example, the beer marketer Stella Artois began work with the nonprofit water.org and attracted younger consumers.

“They found by working with water.org, they became less of an old person’s brand, and so they had a really big result in mind in working with this particular nonprofit,” he said. “And more and more brands are working with nonprofits for that very reason.”

For the produce industry, funding charities with relevant causes — such as feeding children with the Produce for Kids and Brighter Bites charities — makes sense, he said. But there also is room to explore other causes.

Picking what nonprofit to support can be done by executive decision by the CEO, gathering consensus from the company’s employees or letting consumers of the brand have a role in the decision, Waters said. The CEO shouldn’t make the decision without input, he believes.

“If you’re a CEO, and you want to make the decision, you should talk to your employees, you should talk to your customers to decide which nonprofits, which causes you want to work with,” he said. “I think that’s really the best model.”

Produce marketers could also consider the charities their retail chain customers or potential customers are supporting.
Causes that trigger emotion resonate with consumers, he said.

In addition, companies should consider how nonprofit groups communicate with their supporters, he said.

“One of the things you can do is go to the social media sites of nonprofits that you want to work with and look at the size of their (social media) audience and how they are communicating with people,” he said.

Charities that benefit veterans also have a passionate following, he said.

Purchase- triggered donations can sometimes be the “poster child” of bad corporate behavior, he said, citing the example of KFC “buckets for the cure” promotion several years ago with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Some critics complained that the anti-cancer group shouldn’t link itself to high-fat foods.

Companies also must avoid ambiguous language with purchase-triggered donations, he said. The U.S. Attorney General’s office is giving greater scrutiny to claims such as “a portion of proceeds goes to cancer causes in your area.” Firms may be prosecuted if nonprofits and business don’t use concrete language related to purchase-triggered donations. Consumer can also be annoyed if they feel the donation related to the purchase is too small, he said.

In the end, Waters said the image of a brand can be shaped by consumer perceptions.

“The truth is your brand what people are saying about you online, and you need to be thinking about that,” he said.

Businesses need to lead with messages on the value of the nonprofit and keep self-promoting marketing to a minimum.

“You want to build that audience into an audience that knows likes and trusts you, and this is why cause marketing is so effective,” he said.

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Zespri to unveil new packaging at Southern Exposure

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:27:06 GMT

Zespri will show off a new proprietary clamshell pack for its SunGold kiwifruit at the Feb. 27-20 Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2020 show in Tampa, Fla.

Zespri’s new one-pound package is designed vertically, according to a news release, and displays the SunGold kiwifruit. The custom, proprietary clamshell is designed only for Zespri, and its vertical design was designed to grab the attention of shoppers and drive sales.

The new one-pound packaging will roll out in May to coincide with the start of the season, the company said, and Zespri will support the new launch with heavy marketing support.

“Our new custom packaging size and graphic sleeve features our new visual identity with a refined logo that captures the burst of flavor consumers get when they bite into SunGold kiwifruit,” Sarah Deaton, Zespri’s shopper marketing manager, said in the news release. “The new look better reflects who we are as a company today and our desire to stand out by being bold, playfully unexpected and real. It also supports our commitment to protecting the environment and reducing the use of plastics. The new clamshell, although taller, uses 8% less plastic than the old clamshell.”

Zespri’s goal, according to the release, is to reduce its packaging footprint, and the company’s new packaging is made from 100% recycled materials and is fully recyclable.

The two-piece clamshell, the company said, will include embossing on the top to reinforce the Zespri brand and support its global brand strategy to drive sustainability. By taking away the printed label on the clamshell and replacing it with the embossed logo, the release said the packaging becomes 100% recyclable.

Zespri has joined the New Plastics Economy , which the release said is dedicated to keeping plastic in the cycle of being reused and not wasted.

In addition, Zespri said it is looking to find non-plastic alternatives and has tests ongoing on alternative materials.

The custom packaging can be showcased on Zespri’s new display bin, which is designed to let the new packaging stand out.

The release said the packaging also is stackable, which makes it easier to merchandise.

“We’re confident that our new packaging will help differentiate Zespri SunGold in the fresh produce category,” Deaton said in the release. “Additionally, consumers today are making more considered purchasing decisions and looking for brands that have a purpose and a set of values they personally identify with. Zespri meets those brand values through health, nutrition and driving sustainability where we can.”

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Del Monte Fresh and Mann Packing showcase at Southern Exposure

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:18:03 GMT

Del Monte Fresh Produce and Mann Packing Co. will showcase fresh, fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as snack solutions, at the Southern Exposure trade show.

Del Monte will be at booth No. 313 and Mann will be at booth No. 315 at the show, Feb. 27-29 in Tampa, Fla., hosted by the Southeastern Produce Council.

Attendees can take a closer look at Del Monte’s Better Break convenience line, a solution for busy consumers on-the-go looking for prepared meals. Better Break products are based on fresh vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli , sweet potato , kale and corn . Each serving has a sauce and contains 130 calories or fewer and 4 grams of protein. It takes three minutes to heat them in a microwave.

Also, Mann Packing, a Del Monte company, will feature its Caulilini Baby Cauliflower Florets at this year’s expo. The baby cauliflower is an Asian-style variety that features long edible stems and blonde, open florets. It is entirely edible — from flower to stem — and has a sweet, tender stalk that turns bright green when cooked.

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SEPC event still on, with focus on safety and transformed business

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:09:32 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council is transforming its Southern Innovations conference in September with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind, practicing safety measures for attendees, and focusing presentations on the change caused by the virus.

The event is still scheduled for Sept. 17-19 in Savannah, Ga., with the theme of Fresh on My Mind, an especially important message during the crisis, according to a message to SEPC members from the association’s board of directors.

“The impact this pandemic has impressed upon our economy and industry has been tremendous,” according to the notice. “We are only beginning to realize the repercussions, and already our communities and family businesses are facing unprecedented uncertainties.”

Safety measures during the conference include:

Controlled attendance and booth space;
Added distance between booths;
Modified show floor traffic;
Face masks/shields provided to attendees/exhibitors; and
Collaborative virtual education sessions.

The COVID-19 crisis will be addressed through panels with “best practice applications of new knowledge,” and even products on the expo floor will demonstrate how the pandemic is transforming the industry, according to the SEPC notice.

As the event nears, the SEPC will be monitoring recommendations of health and government officials. Although the event is still planned in Savannah, there is the possibility it could be rescheduled or cancelled.

“The Southeast Produce Council has built its reputation on faith, family, and fellowship,” according to the SEPC board of directors. “We strongly believe that our industry will be forged through the fire, and we will all be made stronger from this event. As we learn, adapt, and collaborate, we will not just recover but thrive in the years ahead.”

To learn about other ways produce associations are providing COVID-19 information to the industry, see The Packer’s coverage on the pandemic .

Moxxy Marketing wins design award for SEPC website

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:38:43 GMT

Graphic Design USA honored Moxxy Marketing with the 2020 American Web Design Award for its Southeast Produce Council website redesign.

“SEPC is highly respected and has a long history of supporting its industry partners,” Molly Briseño, Moxxy vice president, said in a news release. “Our goal was to modernize and enhance the visual appeal of the site and improve its functionality, while also respecting the organization’s legacy and brand.”

Moxxy revised the information hierarchy for accessible content and improved the integration with the website used for SEPC tradeshow conferences.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized by GDUSA for our work but even more so that SEPC has received a great deal of positive feedback about the look and usability of the updated site from members and others in the industry,” Briseño said in the release.

SEPC launched the website prior to its Southern Exposure tradeshow.

“Moxxy listened to our wishes and needs for modernizing the website,” David Sherrod, SEPC president and CEO, said in the release. “They streamlined the content and gave our site a fresh look that makes it easier for visitors to find information, and they kept the messaging in our authentic voice with the southern hospitality we are known for.”

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Kristin Yerecic honored by SEPC with Next Generation Award

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:50:27 GMT

Kristin Yerecic, marketing director at Yerecic Label , New Kensington, Pa., is the Southeast Produce Council’s 2020 Next Generation Award recipient.

Yerecic, part of the company’s third generation, joined Yerecic Label in 2014, and is responsible for branding, advertising, public relations, trade show and sales material development, according to a news release. She received the award via the SEPC Virtual Garden, a platform developed to host the council’s events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The award ceremony holds special meaning to the council and myself with this year’s platform being Produce: Powered by People,” Harold Paivarinta, director of sales and business development at Red Sun Farms and chairman of the SEPC board of directors, said in the release. “With current travel restrictions and work from home policies in place for the majority of us, this is the perfect opportunity to recognize and celebrate the rising stars of our industry.”

Kristen Yerecic helps her company focus on consumer trends, packaging insights and market research to understand the needs of retailers, foodservice operators and consumers, according to the release.

Yerecic’s work was highlighted by The Packer’s Women in Produce profiles in 2017.

She is an SEPC board member and is co-chairwoman of the Education Committee.

The SEPC Next Generation Award recognizes SEPC members who are under 39 years old and have made a significant contribution to the industry, according to the release.

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In a galaxy not far, far away, SEPC reschedules Southern Exposure 2021

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:34:59 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council , Millen, Ga., has new dates for its annual show in 2021, with a Star Wars theme — Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce.

The event is scheduled for April 6-8, at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort. The original dates were Feb. 25-27. The SEPC’s executive committee delayed the event to 2021’s second quarter to ensure more retail and foodservice participation.

“We have already been encouraged by the strong attendance numbers we were seeing for February despite Covid-19, including sold-out exhibit space,” David Sherrod, SEPC president and CEO, said in a news release. “Rescheduling is the right decision to better serve our retailers and foodservice members who are currently under travel bans.”

Red Sun Farm’s Harold Paivarinta, SEPC chairman, said the group’s membership overwhelmingly support an in-person event.
“It’s a face-to-face industry built on traditional connections,” Paivarinta said in the release. “Screen time is working fine in our daily duties but cannot deliver on the connections the SEPC is renowned for.”

For buyers still unable to attend, the SEPC will have an online platform that allows them to connect in real-time with on-site exhibitors.

Disney has proven it can host events with established health and safety guidelines to guard against COVID-19, Sherrod said.

“These Disney hotels, where Southern Exposure will take place in April, were host to the NBA teams and their families during the reimagined 2020 season,” he said in the release. “Disney has proven to be effective in operating safely, and we have been working closely with their teams to ensure a safe and successful Southern Exposure 2021.”

Registration for Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, is available at https://seproducecouncil.com/ .

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SEPC announces 2020 scholars

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:35:18 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council has awarded almost $150,000 through the SEPC Member Scholarship program this year.

The SEPC awarded 62 scholarships in 2019; this year 74 $2,000 scholarships were distributed through the program.

The scholars, and the name of the SEPC member and company they are affiliated with are:

Kade Adams, Kerry Adams, Rouses Markets
Alexia Alsum, Larry Alsum, Alsum Farms and Produce
Veronica Baker, Gary Baker, Merchants Distributors LLC
Kennedy Belknap, Blake Belknap, Rainier Fruit Co.
Alexandra Biederman, Bryan Biederman, Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers
Bryan Biederman, Bryan Biederman, Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers
Adrianna Biederman, Bryan Biederman, Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers
Meaghan Bowman, Richard Bowman, J&J Family of Farms
Hunter Boyette, Trey Boyette, SMP Southeast Marketing
Tyler Boyette, Trey Boyette, SMP Southeast Marketing
Ian Campbell, Richard Campbell, Ciruli Brothers LLC
Thiago Campbell, Richard Campbell, Ciruli Brothers LLC
Ashleigh Coffman, Chris Coffman, Authentic Consulting LLC
Christopher Congdon, Darrell Congdon, Florida Classic Growers
John W Corea, John Corea, Duda Fresh Farms
Maggie Crain, Stanley Trout, Idaho Potato Commission
Cailynn Croft, Jay Bennett, Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distribution
James Cunningham, John Cunningham, To-Jo Mushrooms
Erik Daniels, Glenn Daniels, Naturipe Farms
Dylan Daniels, Mark Daniels, CEA
Marco Dilaudo, Dino Dilaudo, Westmoreland Sales
Corey Earwood, Diana Earwood, Plain Stated LLC
Jackson Edmondson, Tim Edmondson, SMP Southeast Marketing
Joshua Eubanks, Allen Eubanks, Eubanks Produce Inc.
Elizabeth Fleming, Tricia Brown, Yerecic Label
Maxwell Fuehrer, Milton Fuehrer, Michigan Fresh Marketing
Michael Fuehrer, Milton Fuehrer, Michigan Fresh Marketing
Sebastian Garcia, Orlando Garcia, Freshfields Farm
Victoria Garrett, Andrew Garrett, Fresh Del Monte
Daniella Gonzalez, Tomas Gonzalez, Walmart
Sydney Hahn, Keith Hahn, The Little Potato Company
Kathryn Hearn, Karen Hearn, California Table Grape Commission
Grayson Johnston, Daryl Johnston, Titan Farms
Jake Klausner, Daniel Klausner, Pero Family Farms
Tyler Koran, Steve Koran, Bengard Ranch
William Matejowsky, Sarah Matejowsky, Sunkist Growers
Jacob McGuire, Joseph McGuire, Pure Green Farms LLC
Blaine Millburn, Adam Millburn, King Fresh Produce
Adam Millburn, Adam Millburn, King Fresh Produce
Savannah Millburn, Adam Millburn, King Fresh Produce
Craig Mitchell, Larry Mitchell, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co.
John Mocettini, Paul Mocettini, Muzzi Family Farms
Maxwell Mudger, Todd Mudger, Florida Classic Growers
Jacob Neill, Leona Neill, Red Sun Farms
Julia Nelsen, Sean Nelsen, Fowler Parking
Haidyn Owens, Mike Owens, Pioneer Growers
Olin Paivarinta-Skands, Harold Paivarinta, Red Sun Farms
Claire Paivarinta-Skands, Harold Paivarinta, Red Sun Farms
Ansley Paulk, Mark Paulk, Borders Melons East
Kyla Putz, Patrick Putz, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Aubrey Reel, Matt Reel, Pro Citrus Network
Julia Rooke, Dave Rooke, Wonderful Citrus
Adrian Sanabria-Padilla, Ernesto Sanabria-Padilla, Red Sun Farms
Mariana Sanabria-Padilla, Ernesto Sanabria-Padilla, Red Sun Farms
Olivia Sbrocco, John Sbrocco, Sbrocco International
Austin Schreiber, Charles Schreiber, Tanimura & Antle Inc.
Emma Scott, Andrew Scott, Nickey Gregory Co.
Hudson Sherrod, David Sherrod, Southeast Produce Council
John Luke Shuman, John Shuman, Shuman Farms
Chapman Shuman, Mark Shuman, Shuman Farms
Brady Slate, Craig Slate, SunFed
Mari-Ana Smith, Jan VanDriessche, Northbay Produce
Brittany St George, Kim St George, Renaissance Food Group
Connor Strady, Sean Strady, Ventura Foods
Robert Temples, Seab Temples, PFG (Reinhart Foodservice)
Philip Temples, Seab Temples, PFG (Reinhart Foodservice)
Emma Thomerson, Kevin Thomerson, Lowes Foods
Carlos Visconti, Carlos Visconti, Red Sun Farms
Charles White, Johnny White, Shuman Farms
Brady Wilkins, Scott Wilkins, Pioneer Growers
Madison Wing, Rick Estess, RPE
Sarah Wooten, Trey Boyette, SMP Southeast Marketing
Madison Wynne, Jadey Wynne, US Foods
Emma Youngman, Ann Youngman, Renaissance Food Group

Shuman Farms packing organic onions in reduced-plastic bags

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:41:04 GMT

Shuman Farms , Reidsville, Ga., is revamping its organic onion packaging with a netted bag that uses less plastic.

The shipper of Vidalia and Peruvian sweet onions will use different netting and thinner films on the bags, reducing plastic by 38%, but still maintaining their structural integrity, according to a news release.

“The revamp of our organic packaging is just the beginning of an overall initiative to increase sustainability across all of our RealSweet brand products,” John Shuman, president Shuman Farms, said in the release. “Innovative marketing is a part of our core values, and we believe that innovation should lead to more sustainable offerings at retail following trends of consumer and retailer demand.”

The onion shipper plans to educate consumers on the push to reduce plastic use and address shoppers’ concerns about food waste in the U.S., according to the release. As with packaging for other RealSweet brand onions from Shuman Farms, the new packaging reduces shrink through good airflow around the onions.

The company has a partnership with Feeding America food banks.

The company plans to introduce the new organic onion packaging to the industry at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Innovation Organics & Foodservice Show, Sept. 12-14 in Nashville. Shuman Produce will be at booth No. 301.

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The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Exposition & Conference (GOPEX) provides a forum to meet the rapidly changing needs of professionals who grow, distribute, pack and market organic produce. This international trade show and conference provides the ideal opportunity for organic produce professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas, source new products and services, and do business with the industry’s leading growers, distributors, packers, marketers and retailers.

Well-Pict’s Florida strawberry crop hitting peak

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:26:29 GMT

The Florida strawberry crop for Well-Pict Berries , Watsonville, Calif., will be in peak harvest in February.

The company will be in Florida for the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure, Feb. 27-29 in Tampa, exhibiting at booth No. 628, according to a news release. The company plans to showcase conventional and organic berries, with an emphasis on a 12-month supply of organic berries.

Well-Pict is preparing retailers for spring store displays and merchandising.

“Our berries’ size, color and flavor are what customers are looking for in their produce,” Dan Crowley, vice president of sales, said in the release. “With product at its peak, there is ample opportunity for promotion.”

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SEPC issues Golden Rule Challenge for Southern Exposure

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:26:07 GMT

The Southeast Produce Council is issuing what it calls the Golden Rule Challenge for exhibitors at Southern Exposure .

The trade show, Feb. 27-29, is asking that exhibitors consider highlighting cause-based marketing or feature how they’re making a difference in communities. The challenge is an offshoot of SEPC Chairman Brandon Parker’s “Make a Difference” platform, leading to a conference theme of showing how SEPC and member companies can give back to communities, according to a news release.

“From cause marketing, to sustainability in our work environment, to lending a helping hand to a community or organization in need, or even just putting a smile on a co-worker or family member’s face when they’re having a bad day … we all have so many opportunities to give back,” said Parker, of Shuman Farms, in the release.

The challenge is “not a gimmick or a marketing tactic; it is a sincere compassion for others that is ingrained in the purpose of the organization,” SEPC President and CEO David Sherrod said in the release.

The SEPC’s booth decorating contest, which recognizes Mardis Gras flair with the event’s Produce on Parade theme, will take into consideration messages of cause-based marketing and charitable support.

“However, the primary goal of this endeavor is to create a more familial atmosphere as exhibitors and attendees alike find common ground in serving others for the greater good of our industry and our world,” according to the release.

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SEPC provides pit stop at Walk For Winnie event

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:16:11 GMT

Southeast Produce Council members provided a nutritious pit stop for more than 2,200 Walk For Winnie participants.

Volunteers at the Sept. 28 event included representatives of Farm-Wey Produce, Jim Rash Inc., Pro Citrus Network Inc., Produce for Kids, Todd’s Quality Tomatoes & Wholesale Produce, and the National Watermelon Promotion Board, according to a news release.

Walk For Winnie is a year-long fundraising campaign benefiting the Alexander Center for Neonatology at Orlando (Fla.) Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, according to the release. Proceeds from the event support the NICU and provide NICU families an opportunity to reconnect with their physicians and caregivers.

SEPC was the Walk For Winnie finish line sponsor, according to the release. The team passed out fresh produce for the walkers and had tables set up to share additional produce.

“This year, our partnership has grown even deeper through the council connecting the Orlando Health Foundation and Society of St. Andrews,” Drew Strochak, manager for corporate partnerships with the Orlando Health Foundation, said in the release. “At the end of Walk For Winnie, the Orlando Health Foundation team collected all leftover food from the event and donated it to Society of St. Andrew. The Society of St. Andrew team then shared it with the Women and Children’s Center at Coalition for the Homeless.

“By working together, these three organizations were able to make an even greater impact to our community than ever before.”

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