Seen and heard at GOPEX 2025 — Part 3

AVENTURA, Fla. — From cold-pressed juices, dragon fruit and organic mushrooms, vendors at GOPEX 2025 were focused on health and sustainability.

Michael Fernandes said John Greene Logistics Co., an asset-based transportation provider serving Florida for 62 years, was attending GOPEX as a gold sponsor for its fourth consecutive year.

Fernandes said the primary goal of the expo is to connect with current customers and seek new business opportunities. “… [GOPEX] makes it so much easier to meet everyone in one spot.”

Matt Stocks said Melissa's World Variety Produce was eager to feature its new line of organic snack products.

“It's something we feel the industry has always wanted and nobody had done — a full snack line of organic products," Stocks said.

The new Snax line includes a variety of sweet and savory snacks such as milk chocolate- and dark chocolate-covered almonds, dried fruit such as mango and goji berries, and “if you want something different,” Stocks said, “this is really interesting. We have a sweet and spicy blend, a trail mix that has some spicy bananas in there where you don't find often. We liked it so much we did a red chili pepper banana chip as well. It offers a little sweet and savory.”

Stocks said the line currently has 13 SKUs and may expand based on customer feedback, possibly including private-label options.

Sean Steller from Phillips Mushroom Farm, a fourth-generation family business in Pennsylvania and Maryland, said its state-of-the-art facilities use Dutch-design mushroom growing that allows it to produce over 1.5 million pounds of mushrooms weekly.

Steller showcased specialty mushroom options, with the lead being the pink oyster.

“We've got a new variety, a new strain of the pink oyster with a better shelf life," he said. "It's done really well in all of our testing, and consumers are reacting well to the bright color and the flavor of the pink oyster.”

There's also a yellow oyster option that Steller said is a great gourmet blend that's also eye-catching.

The company also introduced new blends, including an organic mushroom mix containing varieties such as lion's mane, pink oyster and shiitake.

“This allows us to rotate the varieties based on our production," Stellar said. "So depending on availability, the consumer gets a little bit of variety week to week."

El Dragon Farm, a family business from Guayaquil, Ecuador, specializes in growing, packing and exporting organic fresh dragon fruit. It was the company's first year exhibiting at GOPEX.

“The expo has a really nice atmosphere and it's a great place to meet potential clients," said Johanna Ibujes Andrade. "As our first time, I consider it a good opportunity to improve sales and promote my company."

Participants at the expo were treated to samples of Sol-ti cold-pressed juices at breakfast before breakout sessions began.

At the Sol-ti booth, Suzanne Nababi said the company uses a patented ultraviolet light filtration process to make the juices, assuring it's never heat treated.

And being packaged in glass, Nababi said, gives the company a competitive edge and keeps it sustainable.

“We love to the do the produce shows as it's where our buyers are," she said. "And doing the sponsorships really helps everyone to try it and gravitate toward something healthier, versus soda. That way the sponsorship benefits everyone.”

Maria Giraldo of ALK Fruits, a year-round fresh fruit supplier of dragon fruit and other tropicals, said its main objective at the expo was to make connections with retailers, as the company has previously been selling to wholesalers.

“GOPEX is our first step to getting into retail and that's our main goal," Giraldo said.

Your next read:

• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2025 — Part 1
• Seen and heard at GOPEX 2025 — Part 2
• Consumers want value, health benefits when shopping
• How retailers are driving organic produce and sustainability