Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 2

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the theme of "Produce Means Family," the Southeast Produce Council's recent Southern Exposure decor reflected a Hawaiian island tropical feel.

The recent opening of BrightFarms' three new greenhouses in Macon, Ga., Lorena, Texas, and Yorkville, Ill., was a major highlight for visitors to the company's booth at Southern Exposure. The team at BrightFarms touted the greenhouses' advanced production systems, which will help the company expand its reach.

“[It] will allow us to bring the ... freshest, pesticide-free leafy greens to families,” said Matt DiNitto, director of sales East for BrightFarms.

DiNitto said the new greenhouses integrate into the company's existing network distribution across the East Coast and Midwest.

Visitors to Titan Farms' booth learned more about the partnership between Titan Farms and Watsonia Farms, with Titan Farms distributing organic peaches grown by Watsonia.

Ross Williams, president of the Ridge Springs, S.C.-based grower-packer-shipper of peaches, said the addition of organic peaches expands the company's portfolio and helps retailers add more offerings through one distributor.

“We hope to couple value with organics to help offset freight,” he said. “It's a more local item, and we think it will bring a lot of value to the retailer and the consumer from the tastier peach state.”

And, at the Watsonia Farms booth, fourth-generation grower Jeph Watson said visitors wanted to learn more about seasonal product availability and, of course, organic peaches.

“[They're asking] how we can help them with certain products at certain times,” Watson said.

It was all about Sumo Citrus at the AC Foods booth. Ron Steele, vice president of citrus sales for AC Foods, said in years prior at SEPC, the team at AC Foods had a lot of conversations about the brand and introducing retailers to Sumo Citrus.

Now, that's changed thanks to a lot of marketing and planning, more people recognize the Sumo Citrus brand. He said so many people came up to the booth and shared with the AC Foods team how their families love Sumos.

“[They'll tell us] ‘These are amazing,'” he said. “'It's an amazing piece of fruit.'”

Steele said consumers have now come to expect an exceptional eating experience.

Fitting for the Hawaiian theme of this year's Southern Exposure, Mastronardi Produce brought back its Aloha striped peppers.

Mastronardi also launched its Bomb Squad medley featuring its Flavor Bombs in 12-ounce or 1.5-pound containers.

The company also celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Compari tomatoes. Paul Mastronardi brought the tomatoes to North America in 1995. To mark this 30th anniversary, Mastronardi Produce revamped its packaging and display boxes.

The company also showcased its Secilia greenhouse tomatoes on the vine available in 12-ounce or 1.5-pound containers.

“We're highlighting our whole portfolio lineup of berries,” said Geoff Kosar, vice president of marketing. “We launched our summer series at IFPA and it continues to perform well for us.”

Your next read: Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 1