I ‘SWIPE’d’ right on these five show floor finds

TUCSON, AZ — Walking an expo floor just a few weeks after the Global Produce & Floral Show didn’t give me a lot of confidence I’d find much...

By Pamela Riemenschneider
November 15, 2024
2 minute read

TUCSON, AZ — Walking an expo floor just a few weeks after the Global Produce & Floral Show didn’t give me a lot of confidence I’d find much in the way of brand-new products, but I did find five booths that made me stop and ask questions at the SouthWest International Produce Expo, presented by the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas BB #:144354.

I’m sure some, if not all, of these items were on display in Atlanta a few weeks ago, but they got lost in the noise. That’s the beauty of a regional trade show, right?

First up was a new club store pack for fuyu persimmons, by Pandol Bros. Inc. BB #:111977. The new packaging features information about the fruit’s origins, taste, and eating instructions.

The Valentinos organic cocktail tomatoes from Wholesum Family Farms Inc. {{BB #: 135847}} caught my eye from across the aisle because of their larger size and deep red color. Wholesum kept me at the booth with information about their heirloom tomato program, and toolkit to help promote the item with consumers.

StePac USA Inc. BB #:171578 has a new zip top pouch bag, Xgo that features modified atmosphere to help control excess moisture, like cucumbers.

Samples are what got me to try the golden Hami melon at the Seeded Produce LLC BB #:365802 booth. It looks like a cantaloupe, is unexpectedly crunchy, and has an intensely spicy sweet flavor. It’s definitely worth a try. 

My bonus booth was this gorgeous floral and citrus presentation at the RCF Distributors LLC BB #:299986 booth. They didn’t have to go this hard with floral, but they did, and it made me stop. This is the essence of a booth presentation done well.

Pamela Riemenschneider is the Retail Editor for Blue Book Services

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