VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — Flavor and innovation were inextricably linked at this year's Canadian Produce Marketing Association Conference and Trade Show, April 23-25, where stakeholders from across the fresh produce supply chain gathered to showcase the latest in greenhouse-grown, sustainable packaging, organics and much more.
Pure Flavor's Cortney Walker talked up the greenhouse grower's Seedless Super Sweet Mini Peppers and OMG tomatoes at CPMA 2024.
Pure Flavor showed off a variety of new sustainable packaging currently in testing. CPMA marked the first show where the Canadian greenhouse grower introduced its tray packaging with a compostable top seal, said Cortney Walker.
The company also highlighted its Seedless Super Sweet Mini Peppers, which Walker said are great for grilling, as an ingredient in a variety of dishes and as a healthy snack.
“Typically, when kids eat a mini pepper, they stop eating it as soon as they hit the seeds,” Walker said. With this seedless variety, kids will eat the whole pepper and just leave the stem, she added.
Also on display at Pure Flavor were the company's three award-winning tomatoes: OMG, Cloud 9 and Tiki.
With so much product innovation in the fresh produce industry, Walker says that “eating the rainbow” has never been easier or more enjoyable.
For Oppy, this year's CPMA presented an opportunity to spotlight a number of its talented area growers, including Origin Organic Farms.
Next year will mark 20 years of greenhouse-grown organic produce for Origin Organic Farms, said company founder Raymond Wong, who farms 23 acres of organic tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.
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“We put a lot of emphasis on organic soil,” Wong said of the company's soil-based system. “People can taste the difference of produce grown in organic soil,” he added. Wong also says the company has put a great deal of science behind its organic farming to grow produce “as perfect as possible.”
When asked if he has seen inflation impact organic produce sales, Wong remains confident demand will continue despite higher food costs. “Once people decide to go organic, they don't switch back. It's a philosophy.”
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For Nature Fresh Farms, which has greenhouse facilities in both the U.S. and Canada, the CPMA show was a chance to highlight its Canadian-grown produce.
“Based in Leamington, [Ontario,] CPMA is an opportunity to show what's locally grown. Everybody is looking for local and flavor is paramount. High-quality, fresh, local produce is a big trend,” said Krysta Markham.
The company sampled its crunchy and flavorful Sweet Snaps peppers, about which Markham said, “We've had great feedback from customers.”
The Canadian greenhouse grower also highlighted its Ombré Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine in three different flavor profiles from sweet and candy-like to savory, Markham said.
Wonderful Pistachios' Sarah Robertson sees spicy plant-based snacking as a hot trend.
Wonderful Pistachios featured its latest flavor innovation in its no-shell line: Jalapeno Lime. “It's performing really well,” said Sarah Robertson. “We're seeing spicy as a trend in the U.S. and Canada, and I don't think it's going away.”
Shown from left, Laura Pixley, Juliemar Rosado and Michelle Gibson of the National Watermelon Promotion Board talked putting watermelon center of plate at CPMA 2024.
The National Watermelon Promotion Board has long exhibited at the CPMA show, the timing of which coincides with the start of the U.S. watermelon season, said Juliemar Rosado.
While the promotion board remains invested in consumer education, Rosado says it has also increased its focus on foodservice with the aim of putting watermelon center of plate.
This year, the National Watermelon Promotion Board will once again run its merchandising display contest leading up to National Watermelon Day on Aug. 3. This year's campaign will begin earlier, extending its duration by a month, and will include social media and a variety of different touch points, Rosado said.
Retailers participating in the merchandising contest are competing for a $5,000 grand prize. Rosado said retailers competing in the contest typically see a 15% to 20% lift in watermelon sales over the previous year.
Shown from left, EarthFresh Farms' Jessica Hughes and Lisa Kacur showcased the company's new line of microwavable vegetables in a variety of sauces.
Innovation, flavor and convenience converged at the EarthFresh booth, which featured its latest innovation for potatoes, carrots and Brussels sprouts: Fast. Fresh. Gourmet.
The new line of microwavable vegetables and sauces are packaged in a patent-pending bag, which when heated in the microwave, releases the sauce within the bag, for a flavorful and convenient dish ready in 3-6 minutes, depending on the variety.
Varieties for potatoes include Zesty Lemon Herb, Rosemary and Olive Oil, and Roasted Garlic and Dill. For carrots, Maple Balsamic, Mediterranean Herb, and Hoisin Sesame are on the menu. And Brussels sprouts are available in Salt and Peppercorn, Piri Piri, and Smoked Maple. All the sauces feature clean ingredients, said Jessica Hughes, director of innovation.
“The bag is very technical — it's all modified atmosphere packaging, which extends the shelf life of the potatoes by 25 days, and by 14 days for both carrots and Brussels sprouts," said Hughes.
The vegetable and sauce combinations, which initially rolled out as an exclusive in Canada's Longo's stores and later made their way to Walmart Canada stores, are set to make their U.S. debut in the fall of 2024, Hughes said.
CPMA President Ron Lemaire and 2023-2024 CPMA Chair Colin Chapdelaine join the Mastronardi Produce team at the greenhouse grower's award-winning booth at CPMA 2024. (Photo courtesy of Mastronardi Produce)
At Mastronardi Produce, which won the CPMA 2024 award for Best Island Booth, colorful new products and packaging were on display. The greenhouse grower featured its Bahama Bombs, a tomato with a sweet, tropical flavor as well as its recently launched Queen of Greens salad kits in four varieties, including Superior Caesar, Mediterranean Crunch, Lemon Parmesan, and Southwest Ranch.
“We love to bring flavor to every show we attend, and this year's CPMA was a special event for the Mastronardi Produce team,” Paul Mastronardi, president and CEO of Mastronardi Produce, said in an email to The Packer. “As we approach our 70th anniversary as a company, we feel privileged to be part of an industry that is collectively pushing boundaries in Canada and beyond. It was an honor to wrap up the show with many positive connections and the award for Best Island Booth."
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