HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — It wasn't all fun and games at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, where The Packer and PMG hosted the Global Organic Produce Expo Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
But a lot of it was.
Pleasure and business mingled as old friends caught up, new relationships formed and ideas spread throughout the crowd.
Wes Jones of Four Seasons Produce and Chris Miller of MOM'S Organic Market hung out with each other, sharing what they jokingly referred to as "revolutionary" ideas for the world of organic fresh produce.
Still, they caught up with many suppliers and produce-allied organizations, learning and exchanging perspectives and strategies.
Also: Check out Farm Journal's Produce Editorial Director Jennifer Strailey's photos at Seen and heard at GOPEX 2023 — Part 1.
At GOPEX 2023, Madelyn Edlin of Equitable Food Initiative and Scott Mabs of Homegrown Organic Farms chat about their worker-welfare partnership. Photo: Amy Sowder
Madelyn Edlin of Equitable Food Initiative and Scott Mabs of Homegrown Organic Farms chatted about their worker-welfare partnership.
"It has been a great experience for developing additional support for our farms," Mabs said. The Porterville, Calif.-based company represents about 100 farmers with a total of more than 7,000 acres in organic farming, including organic citrus, blueberries, stone fruit and grapes.
Diego Sierra (from left), Diana Zamudio and Jose Alberto Leal of Produce Team gave away tote bags and notebooks that the crowd loved. Photo: Amy Sowder
The tote bags and notebooks were popular schwag handed out by Diego Sierra, Diana Zamudio and Jose Alberto Leal of Produce Team, based in Leon, Mexico, with locations in Mission and San Antonio, Texas.
"Our core mission is to get rid of the hands involved in the process of selling," Zamudio said. "We're motivated by friendly environmental packaging. It's something we're trying to adjust to."
Produce Team grows organic and conventional tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini and yellow squash.
Dillon Duncan (left) and Shay Myers of Owyhee Produce talk to attendees at GOPEX 2023. Photo: Amy Sowder
Dillon Duncan and Shay Myers of Owyhee Produce, Parma, Idaho, shared about the onion production and market.
"Volumes are down, probably the lowest in the last 15 years," Myers said. "As a result, we've seen prices about 40% higher than the 10-year, inflation-adjusted average."
New growing regions will be offering up onions soon, such as Mexico any day now, Myers said, so the market will be readjusting in about three weeks, which should be about the last week of February.
Jack Jackson, Melissa Hartmann de Barros and Andrés Ocampo of HLB Specialties, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., talked tropicals at the show.
"We have a big tropical program nationally, so this was a good show for us because we were able to distinguish ourselves on that," Hartmann de Barros said as the show was about to close.
The company sells conventional and organic specialty produce and has added organic yellow dragon fruit and organic red dragon fruit to its lineup.
"The supply is strong," she said.
Adding to the festive nature of GOPEX 2023 were Hartmann de Barros' dragon fruit-themed Nike sneakers, which she had fast-tracked to wear in time for the show.
Melissa Hartmann de Barros of HLB Specialties dons dragon fruit-themed Nike shoes at GOPEX 2023. Photo: Amy Sowder
"It's important to have fun in the produce industry, to keep it fresh," she said.