Seen and heard at GOPEX 2025 — Part 2

AVENTURA, Fla. — It was all things fresh produce, from new products to new connections to new ideas, at the JW Miami Turnberry Resort for GOPEX 2025, held Jan. 13-14.

The transition between Peruvian sweet onion season to Mexican sweet onions were a hot topic at Keystone Fruit Marketing's booth, said Michale Bloom, the company's vice president of sales.

Bloom said the company expects to wrap up Peruvian sweet onions in the next six to eight weeks and that Mexican sweet onions will start in a couple of weeks, which will take Keystone Fruit Marketing to Vidalia season.

“We're talking yellow, red and white onions starting from Mexico in about three weeks,” he said.

Keystone also offers peaches, which will start in the middle of May.

Washington-grown watermelon will run July, August and September.

Bloom said Keystone works with apple growers from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York and Michigan, as well as growers throughout the Northeast and Canada. Apple season will begin in August with Ginger Gold.

Boterna, a fully indoor grower of herbs including basil, parsley mint, chives and dill, made its GOPEX debut at this year's show.

Taylor Ediger, general manager with Boterna Vertical Farms, said the company operates a 6,000-square-foot, pesticide-free greenhouse that houses 114,000 plants. The company has worked on perfecting its growing operations.

“Our goal is to start in the U.S. and take it to countries who need access to fresh produce year-round,” he said. “We know we can supply well because our operations are in check."

Caribbean Gold works with 12 growers and many importers from Ecuador to supply its yellow dragon fruit. Zevy Masav, president of Caribbean Gold, has been importing yellow dragon fruit since 2017. The company offers year-round red and yellow dragon fruit as well as small papaya.

“It turned out to be a hot item,” he said.

The company also imports large Asian pears from China.

“It's an amazing item and a beautiful pack,” said Rena Masav, vice president of Caribbean Gold, pointing at the large fruit. “This is the smallest size we have.”

Rena Masav said sampling is important with new fruits like the Asian pears.

“It's a different approach to a new item,” she said.

Avocado availability was a major topic discussed at Villita Avocados' booth.

Rob Ybarra, executive vice president with Villita Avocados, said visitors asked him when availability will open up. He said shipments have been up the past two weeks, which is a good sign going into a busy season for guacamole.

“As an industry, we need to take care of our customers,” Ybarra said. “We're going to make a comeback, at least come back to normal.”

As for whether there will be plenty of avocados for the Big Game, Ybarra said there's a lot of pieces to the puzzle, but he sees the industry looking good for bowl season.

Kellee Harris, vice president of retail merchandising services with Giumarra Cos., said the company is shipping fresh Mexican watermelons continuing through July. Right now, the company is shipping from the southern part of the country and will transition to the northern part in the spring.

The company's newer organic and Fair Trade Certified watermelon was a highlight of GOPEX conversations.

“It's grown on a disease-resistant squash rootstock for disease prevention, and it makes a dense cut, which makes for better pre-cut watermelon,” Harris said.

She said this denser cut reduces food waste and purge and minimizes dehydration. The fruit remains firm crunch and sweet, Harris said.

Cathy Watson with Watsonia Organics said most visitors to the company's GOPEX booth talked about excitement to start the upcoming season and different product availability.

Notably, Watson said they're excited for the company's new mini organic watermelons.

Your next read:

• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2025 — Part 1
• Consumers want value, health benefits when shopping