Seen and heard at New York Produce Show, part 3

NEW YORK — Check out who was at the Dec. 1-2 New York Produce Show in the heart of Manhattan — and what they said.

One Banana

Banana companies over recent years have come under fire for lacking sustainability and social responsibility at the sourcing level, so One Banana is striving to ensure that doesn't happen on its own turf.

Coral Gables, Fla.-based One Banana is a third-generation family-owned grower, packer and shipper of conventional and organic bananas, said Robert Adams, president.

The company owns and operates farms in Guatemala, Ecuador and Peru.

“We invest back into the communities where we operate. Being socially and environmentally responsible is at the core of what we do,” Adams said. “We pay a living wage, not a minimum wage, and did studies to find out what that is.”

The company grows the bananas itself to better control the supply chain, he said.

One Banana is certified to third-party standards, including Rainforest Alliance, SCS and GlobalG.A.P.

AeroFarms

AeroFarms was one of 12 companies that won an Innovation Award at the show, said Anna Fagan, who works in marketing at the indoor vertical farm company based in Newark, N.J.

The award was specifically for the Micro Spicy Mix of microgreens, which is a bold and zesty blend of mustard greens, arugula and bok choy.

This product falls in the orange zone of the company's FlavorSpectrum, representing a taste profile of bold, peppery notes.

The microgreens are grown in a controlled, indoor vertical farm, where AeroFarms plant scientists use proprietary lighting algorithms to optimize growth, hardiness and desired tastes.

“It adds a little kick of spicy to every dish,” Fagan said at the show. “We tried to get our use cases up front with all our promotional materials,” she said, showing how it can be used as a salad, soup topping, taco and burger topping, and in smoothies.

But, she said “the flavor really speaks for itself.”

Caraveo Papayas

Based in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx, Caraveo Papayas Inc. is a family-owned company that grows in Mexico, operating from its U.S. headquarters for more than 10 years, said Nancy Mendez.

The company imports and sells at wholesale at least five varieties: maradol, tainug, hybrid, CW and intenza.

“Papaya is very good for digestion,” Mendez said. “Growing up, we eat papaya a lot, and especially in Latin communities, we like it in smoothies with milk.”

The company also has a facility in McAllen, Texas, selling primarily to New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Canada, she said.

Atlas Produce & Distribution

“It's all about healthy alternative snacking,” said Luke Fountain of Atlas Produce & Distribution, Bakersfield, Calif.

The medjool date company has two major brands, Fresh Energy Dates and Sunnies Energy Bites. The brands promote the no added sugar, preservatives and clean ingredients in its date snacks, Fountain said.

“Some companies, they hide under the guise of organic, but it's organic cane sugar,” he said.

Sunnies, which are ball-shaped snacks with nut butters inside and banana, cherry and espresso-cocoa flavors, debuted in August.

The company will celebrate 20 years in business in February.

Mariani Nut Co.

Customers are all about the marcona almond, said Brad Ryan of Mariani Nut Co., Winters, Calif.

“It's our fastest-growing product. They're buttery, a whole different flavor profile and mouthfeel than regular almonds,” Ryan said.

Consumption of all snack almonds is up, he said.

The company is striving to be placed in the fresh produce departments of grocery stores, rather than just the baking aisle.