Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 4

ORLANDO, Fla.— The Healthy Family Project held its annual Thank You Reception at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure 2025, with more than 200 produce industry professionals attending.

The Healthy Family Project and its partners raised more than $260,000 to support Feeding America food banks, The Foundation for Fresh Produce and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Visitors to Wish Farms' booth learned about how the company is in the height of its Florida strawberry season.

“This show is always good for us because it's in our backyard and it really promotes Southeast produce,” said Amber Maloney, director of marketing at Wish Farms.

Wish Farms also showed off its Florida-grown pineberries and its new jumbo blueberry label.

As the season rolls into California strawberries and Florida blueberry season, Maloney said retailers can expect a really good crop for Florida blueberries.

“We have some beautiful organic blueberries and the Georgia blueberry crop until mid-April,” she said.

Del Fresco Pure showcased its new organic seedless cucumbers to go along with its portfolio of organic produce.

“We're really excited to launch this,” said Ray Mastronardi, vice president of sales at Del Fresco Pure. “There has been an uptick in organics. Our customers have been asking for organic cucumbers and we're happy to meet that demand.”

Del Fresco Pure will offer a full year-round program and will have a full Canadian, 365-day line of Canadian organic seedless cucumbers.

“We're really excited to expand our organic program,” Mastronardi said. “It's a category customers are asking us to expand on. We think there's a bright future.”

Divine Flavor said the peak season of bell peppers out of the south of Mexico and the peak season of imported table grapes was a main topic of conversation for event attendees. The company is looking ahead to its hot house tomatoes and table grapes. Divine Flavor also plans for an expansion in acres and commodities.

“The most important thing is we're solid in our current items,” said Clarisa Batiz, vegetable category manager for Divine Flavor. “We've closed our production gaps, and we have a 365-day window of product availability.”

Monterey Mushrooms recently debuted a top-seal film for its products out of its Madison, Texas, facility and expects to roll it out to all four of its farms by the end of September. Monterey Mushrooms also looks to get more into exotic mushrooms, with shiitake and oyster mushrooms.

Mike Stephan, vice president of sales and business development for Monterey Mushrooms, said the company works with retailers to help integrate exotic mushrooms into their portfolio and to be selective in what exotic mushrooms to offer.

“Everyone knows [retailers] get pressure to provide them, and we're there to guide [retailers] into what's more successful,” he said.

This year's Healthy Family Project booth at Southern Exposure tapped into the event's theme of “Produce Means Family.” With messaging that ties into food insecurity in the U.S., Healthy Family Project shared that 13.5% of all U.S. households experience food insecurity. More than 6.8 million households struggle with severe security and meal disruptions, and more than 50 million people rely on food assistance.

Amanda Keefer, senior director of marketing and communications with the Healthy Family Project, said she and the Healthy Family Project team were happy with its sold-out reception. And, Healthy Family Project had its largest group donation from its campaign with Publix.

“Having been with the company for many years, it's great to see just how excited they are in making an impact,” she said of the Publix donation.

Your next read:

• Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 1
• Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 2
• Seen and heard at SEPC Southern Exposure 2025 — Part 3