Retail buyers at the New York Produce Show and Conference were met with scores of on-trend products, including indoor-grown fruit and vegetables, grab-and-go convenience, sustainable packaging, healthful snacking and more at the Dec. 1 event held at the Javits Center.
The continued growth of controlled environment agriculture was evident on the show floor, where numerous vertical farmers and greenhouse growers spoke to increasing demand for produce grown indoors.
Harold Paivarinta and Tom Coufal showcased Red Sun Farms Sweets line of tomatoes.
Red Sun Farms, a greenhouse grower in Ontario, Canada, featured its Sweets line of tomatoes. “The Sweets family is a big growth item for us. It's grown tenfold in three years,” Harold Paivarinta said.
Consumer response to the Sweetpops tomatoes has been especially positive, he added.
“These could be the most delicious tomatoes in the entire universe and you were lucky enough to find them. So, yay for you,” says the Sweetpops packaging. “We hear from consumers all the time who say that we live up to the hype,” Paivarinta added.
From left, Pam Cherwak, Khalil Issa and Zanelle Hough talk greenhouse-grown tomatoes.
Nature Fresh Farms featured its greenhouse-grown Hiiros Organic Cherry Tomatoes in 100% recyclable packaging. The paper packaging has holes on the sides to allow product visibility.
“Retailers love it,” Zanelle Hough said of the Hiiros sustainable packaging. The product will be available in Costco warehouses in the U.S. in a couple of weeks, she said.
Hiiro means “scarlet red” in Japanese, Hough explained. The tomatoes have the umami flavor that is on trend this year, she added.
The Ontario-based company is focusing on its breeding program to develop unique and flavorful tomato varieties, Hough said. “People vote with their produce dollar. If they only have $20 to spend on produce, you need to offer something different. You don't want to disappoint,” she said.
Rob Ybarra and Drew Koeppel show off Bowery Farming's new salad kits.
On the convenience front, vertical farming company Bowery Farming introduced a line of salad kits in three varieties: Zesty Caesar, Avocado Ranch and Balsamic. The single-serve grab-and-go kits can be merchandised differently than its other salad greens, said Drew Koeppel of the New York-based company. He sees the kits playing well in the deli or at checkout, in addition to the produce department.
Koeppel also shared Bowery's expansion plans. The company will open a new farm in Atlanta in the next six months, followed by another farm in Texas.
Hana Mohson and Nicole Zapata of Misionero see continued demand for convenience in the salad category.
Consumer demand for fresh convenience was also a topic of conversation at the Misionero booth. The company is set to launch an Organic Renaissance Spring Mix with seven ingredients in January, said Nicole Zapata.
“We see the market growing significantly for washed leaf lettuce. It's convenient, addresses food safety concerns and it's ready to eat,” she said.
On the conventional side, the company also touted its Garden Life Buttery Simple Salad with ranch vinaigrette, croissant croutons and shredded parmesan cheese. The dressing is “not too far from Caesar,” making it approachable to consumers, Zapata said.
Dan Schaefer and Matthew Wulf of Fresha talk creating excitement in the carrot category.
Seeking to carve out a niche in the healthful snacking space, Morris, Minn.-based Fresha featured its Minnies carrots.
“The carrot category is stagnant. We wanted to do something different with Minnies,” said Matthew Wulf. Launched three years ago, the smaller carrots speak to the healthy snacking trend. Some consumers find that the Minnies have more flavor than baby carrots, Wulf said, adding that there's no need to peel the Minnies carrots.
The company also discussed its recent expansion into Georgia. “Adding Georgia is really critical, as it helps us bring a 12-month supply to market and cover the eastern U.S.,” Wulf said. Fresha will now focus on building brand recognition for its carrots on the East Coast.