COMMERCE, CA - It is truly hard to capture the immensity and value in our industry…until you step onto a global trade show floor. Helping to raise the bar for fresh produce is no small task in such an expansive space, but some companies make it look easy. Companies like 4Earth Farms™. Reflecting on this year’s International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show (GPFS), Dave Hewitt, Vice President of Sales, shared the highlights and the takeaways of such an event, as well as the goals and vision behind 4Earth Farms.
“The 4Earth Farms team had a successful experience at this year’s GPFS. Between the invaluable face time with customers and friends and the opportunity to tell the 4Earth story to some new folks as well, it was a show that met all our goals,” Dave shared. “During the event, we provide detailed product updates from summer challenges as well as farm forecasts on the big holiday items. Outlining updated capabilities out of our facility in Nogales, Arizona, was also a key topic of conversation.”
On display and top of mind at the 2023 event was 4Earth’s full assortment of both organic and conventional value-added vegetables, which are being processed and packed on both sides of the country. Being able to share updates from the farms on 4Earth’s key holiday items like green beans, Brussels sprouts, and florets was a benefit as well.
New to the conversation was 4Earth’s new packaged Asian Veg line including year-round availability on up to eight SKUs as well as the company’s new Hand-Peeled Rainbow Carrots, available year-round in 12 oz and 2 lb bags. With three FOB shipping points, the company was also able to discuss options for different buy-side partners.
“It has been a strong period of growth for us,” Dave revealed. “We have expanded acreage in five different states in Mexico and have farm-level packing on several new SKUs. Lastly, we received an excellent reception to our new compostable films as an option to our traditional PP and PE recyclable materials.”
Along with 4Earth’s priorities during GPFS, the proximity of the event to the company’s Commerce, California, campus also made for some great opportunities.
“The Anaheim location this year allowed us to get several customers to our campus and see the entire 4Earth operation firsthand,” Dave expressed. “And, because of its proximity to our corporate headquarters, it allowed us to have a lot more staff attend the show to see and experience our industry in a whole new way. It was great for many on the team to meet customers in person that they’ve worked with for years.”
Visitors to the booth and the campus continued to give 4Earth excellent feedback on its overall offerings as well as shelf appeal for our value-added lines—no small feat when competing for shelf space in an ever-growing segment of fresh produce.
“We experienced a lot of interest in how many different items are available at one pickup or delivery. We also got great feedback about how well our sales team communicates with our customers. Timely answers, quick to return a phone call, and timely updates are guiding principles that have garnered a loyal customer base,” Dave concluded.
In an industry that knows time is money, timeliness is worth its weight in gold—a sentiment that 4Earth knows well.
