ORLANDO, Fla. — “Produce is a contact sport,” Bruce Taylor, CEO of Taylor Farms, said as he introduced the keynote at the International Fresh Produce Association's Global Produce and Floral Show on Oct. 27.
Bruce Taylor introduces the Global Produce and Floral Show keynote. Photo: Kristin Leigh Lore
The exhibitors lived up to Taylor's assertion at the 2022 IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, held Oct.27-29. From drum lines and mariachi bands to verdant, living wall displays and reinvented produce department sets, exhibitors brought their A-game to the inaugural IFPA show.
More than spectacle, product innovation, sustainable packaging and new technologies were among the news shared by exhibitors at a trade show that was anything but boring.
Seen and heard at the 2022 Global Produce and Floral Show:
AgroFresh
The freshness- and quality-focused food technology company AgroFresh brought much more than its signature produce shelf-life extension products to the event.
The Philadelphia-based company has grown during the past 20 years, said AgroFresh CEO Clinton Lewis. It's not a local business anymore, and today AgroFresh has a huge global presence, he added.
AgroFresh continues to grow and research post-harvest technologies, according to Lewis, including a recent opening of a new research and innovation center in Chile. “We have boots on the ground in every major growing region,” he said. “Our global presence helps producers fulfill their commitments.”
Lewis and Michael Hamby, AgroFresh's chief commercial officer, came to this year's show with more than news of AgroFresh's expansion. Lewis himself was the subject of news, selected to serve on the 2023 IFPA board of directors.
The AgroFresh team also gave live demonstrations of a new digital platform, FreshCloud Inspection, at its booth. The cloud-based platform harnesses aggregated data, machine learning and artificial intelligence to address food waste and deliver quality and supply chain insights with real time analytics.
“Everything is very bespoke in the produce industry,” Hamby said. “GPS technology gives context to pictures taken by growers in the field.”
What's more, the ability to track trends over time, with consistent measurement and location data, removes subjectivity from quality assurance tools, can increase productivity and track macro quality trends like heat domes, Hamby said.
Sambrailo Packaging
Third-generation owner and CEO Mark Sambrailo of Sambrailo Packaging shared his company's rich history with trade show attendees. Sambrailo's grandfather invented the first plastic produce clamshells to nest fresh berries, and Sambrailo Packaging has since pioneered the ubiquitous green mesh fruit baskets.
Today, the Watsonville, Calif.-based company is leaning into sustainable paper packaging development, Sambrailo said.
Vice President of Operations Jackie Vazquez demonstrated new recyclable and compostable produce packaging products and shared filmed stories that went behind the scenes into what makes sustainable produce packaging.
Left to right: Vivian Rivera, Jackie Vazquez and Mark Sambrailo at the Sambrailo Packaging booth. Photo: Kristin Leigh Lore
Zespri International
“Most retailers have resumed sampling,” said Sarah Deaton, shopper marketing manager, North America at Zespri, adding that this is good news for Zespri's signature Sungold kiwifruit. According to Deaton and Daniel Mathieson, CEO at Zespri, the Sungold variety is a sweeter kiwi fruit that provides juicy flavor scooped directly from the fruit.
Sungold kiwi is a basket driver, Deaton said. While a kiwi has over 100% of vitamin C needs in one fruit alone, many consumers haven't tried Sungold kiwi, she added.
If attendees stepped into the Zespri booth uninitiated, they would surely leave with a kiwi in hand. Deaton and Mathieson ensured that visitors enjoyed a fresh Sungold kiwi in some shape or form before returning to the exhibition floor. From kiwi cocktails to fresh fruit sampling, elements of kiwi were incorporated in every aspect of the booth, from a chic color scheme to kiwi-themed attire.
Sarah Deaton and Daniel Mathieson of Zespri International. Photo: Kristin Leigh Lore
Lineage Logistics
“To limit food waste, it's important to be as close to the population centers as possible,” said Jim Henderson, vice president of global sales and business development at transportation and logistics solutions provider, Lineage.
That's the reasoning behind the vision of Lineage Fresh, a new program at Lineage Logistics focused on delivering products with a short shelf life quickly and safely with cold storage and mature logistics networks.
One key to this, Henderson said, is having a presence not only in Philadelphia, but Savannah, Ga., as well.
“It's smart to have port diversity, so that you're not reliant on one market only,” he said.
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Fresh Cravings
The Phoenix-based fresh salsa company Fresh Cravings brought its punchy, habit-forming salsas and hummus to the Global Produce and Floral Show.
With a tomatillo green salsa and a fire-roasted red salsa, there were plenty of snacking options at this year's booth. Fresh Cravings upped the ante with a salsa partnership with Dominican Republic guacamole producer Luv to create a unique avocado-based salsa, called Fresh Cravings Made with Luv salsa.
In addition to its salsas, Fresh Cravings launched “Peppers for a Purpose” at this year's show, a fundraising activation to support Floridians post-Hurricane Ian. Fundraiser participants spun the pepper wheel and sampled whichever pepper the spinner landed on — whether it's peppadew or habanero. The hotter the pepper, the higher the donation by Fresh Cravings.
“It's a fun way to raise money for a cause,” said April Riegler, senior public relations director at Fresh Cravings.
Allen Lund Company
Bob Rose, vice president of national sales, and Nora Trueblood, marketing and communications director for Allen Lund Company, stepped away from their busy booth to discuss business at the transportation brokerage firm.
“We've grown a ton post-pandemic because we prioritize our customers first,” Rose said. “Right now, we are focused on growing how many loads we do.”
Customers are asking for real-time tracking now, Trueblood noted.
Kenny Lund stands in front of an Allen Lund Company truck. Photo courtesy of Allen Lund
“It's hard to find good people as we grow, and we're trying to find the best people,” Trueblood said. “Our customers are asking a lot more now and we're trying to invest in good people.”
“Allen Lund has 37 offices. We have depth,” Trueblood said. She added that the company is looking for additional locations. Trueblood and Rose also discussed that while growth is a great problem to have, it comes with its own growing pains.
Rocket Farms
The herbaceous scent of a living wall of basil at the Half Moon Bay, Calif.-based Rocket Farms booth was hard to resist. Proving that an immersive booth experience can include all five senses, including smell, the culinary herb grower provided both fresh cut organic herbs and a line of 3-inch live, potted culinary herbs that include basil, mint, oregano, parley, rosemary, sage and thyme.
Business in the fresh culinary herb business is good, said Debbie Remblence, national account manager of herbs and edibles at Rocket Farms. This year, Rocket Farms' product offerings included kits aimed at retailer consumers who want to take the guess work out fresh seasonings. In addition to a turkey roasting and prime rib herb kit, Rocket Farms offered an herbal beverage kit this year that included edible flowers and herbs that will level-up cocktails or floral drinks.
Naturipe
“Snacking is hot right now,” said Beverly Van Pelt, marketing project manager at Naturipe Farms. “And breakfast snacking is having a moment.”
Health-conscious snacking is front and center at berry and avocado producer and marketer Naturipe. From berry-forward bentos to fruit-filled parfaits that include Chobani yogurt and can be eaten on the go with a paper spoon, the team at Naturipe is focused ensuring there's a berry-based snack option everyone.
Portability is key for Naturipe's brand, Van Pelt said. Finding ways to add fresh proteins, cheese and nuts packs with fruit that performs well not just in grocery stores, but also convenience stores is a big focus in product development at Naturipe right now.
From left to right: Maeve Cronin and Beverly Van Pelt at the Naturipe booth. Photo: Kristin Leigh Lore
Robinson Fresh
Michael Castagnetto, president of fresh produce sourcing and transportation company Robinson Fresh, was excited to connect with everyone in person.
It's been a difficult couple of years, he said, but now there's an opportunity to move forward and connect customers with fresh produce on demand.
Despite progress, challenges remain. “Inflation is the biggest issue, and it doesn't matter where you are on the supply chain,” Castagnetto said.
Idaho Potatoes
It had been a good show so far, said Ross Jordan, vice president of the Idaho Potato Commission. Jordan and his team of road warriors have spent the last year traveling the U.S., talking to stores and stakeholders.
“This year, we had a later crop than we would have liked, but the potato quality is incredible,” Jordan said. “The pack out is really high, but the size is pretty small.”
The team at the Idaho Potato Commission at this year's IFPA booth. Photo courtesy of Idaho Potato Commision
This year, the commission has launched a data campaign that shares analysis spanning the entire industry. According to Jordan, retailers can examine their own performance targets and analytics, as well as review their competition.
Retailers are very excited about this, Jordan said. The Idaho Potato Commission will share quarterly reports tracking potato sales to each region so retailers can track and compare how the category is performing.
Read more about the 2022 IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show:
Top trends at inaugural IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show, part 1
Seen + Heard: On the floor at IFPA's Global Show
‘Our time is now,' says IFPA CEO Cathy Burns