MONTREAL — Fresh produce and fresh connections were served up at this year's Canadian Produce Marketing Association Convention and Trade Show.
The Naturipe team said it saw strong traffic during the event. Visitors to the company's booth discussed strawberry availability, as the team said they had been hard to come by lately but should open up.
Georgia blueberries were set to start soon, too, and the Naturipe team said retailers can expect strong strawberry and blueberry promotions for weeks 17-20. Retailers can also expect good strawberry promotion for Memorial Day.
Blackberries and raspberries are steady but declining in availability now.
The company said it will offer its “spring berry boost” promotion to help drive consumption.
“We'll have big blueberries and strawberries weeks 17-20 for promotion in pints, 18-ounce and pounds,” said Kasey Kelley, director of business development, East, for Naturipe.
Sustainability solutions for PLUs were a hot topic at the booth of Accu-Label, which has offered paper-based PLU solutions for more than 23 years. Rod Baeini, general account manager for Accu-Label, said his company's paper-based PLU stickers are certified compostable material and Composting Manufacturers Alliance accepted. Baeini said the labels work on existing equipment without modifications.
Accu-Label also offers print and apply live trace codes.
And as for the show itself, Accu-Label had a claw machine game where visitors could take home a produce-themed stuffed animal., which was always busy.
“Foot traffic has been great, and sustainability is in the top of everyone's mind, so a lot of people have stopped by to ask about products,” Baeini said.
Originally from Montreal, Steven Ceccarelli, founder and CEO of the Faison, N.C.-based Farm Fresh Produce, said he was happy to be back.
“I'm in my hometown stomping grounds,” he said of the event's location this year. He noted that the show's attendance was strong. “It's great to connect with people.”
Farm Fresh Produce offers year-round sweetpotatoes and seasonal broccoli and cabbage and niche flat napa cabbage. The company also offers bell peppers, hot peppers, including cubanos and jalapeños as well as hard squash such as butternut, spaghetti and eggplant.
Ray Anderson, grower relations manager and sales representative at Jackson Farming Co., said the company's team visited the U.S. Consulate while in Quebec for a reception for produce growers during CPMA. The Autryville, N.C.-based grower supplies watermelons, sweetpotatoes, cantaloupe and broccoli.
The show was good, Anderson said. “It's good to see a lot of our customers and put faces with names.”
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