ANAHEIM, CA - The specialty produce sector is growing, and Frieda’s Branded Produce is fueling that growth with items like its Stokes Purple® sweet potato and its recent Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year dragon fruit campaign. As we head to the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure conference and trade show next weekend, March 7–9, these items will be proudly displayed at booth #639.

“We are eager to reconnect with the Southeast produce community this week in Tampa,” shared Alex Jackson, Vice President of Sales and Procurement at Frieda’s. "We've had an exciting start to the year coming off the momentum of Frieda's national expansion in 2023. Our distribution capabilities continue to grow, as well as our brand popularity among consumers and brand performance through the register compared to our closest competitor."

During the show, the team is prepared to share how the trending Stokes Purple® sweet potato has capitalized on the popularity of the Blue Zone diet, which boasts the varieties’ antioxidant and anti-aging properties, a press release explained. The domestically grown purple sweet potato was also selected as the 2024 “Vegetable of the Year” by a panel of food experts with Veganuary.

Frieda’s is also embarking on a year-long celebration of the Year of the Dragon, bringing a unique opportunity to promote its collection of dragon fruit varieties. Frieda’s offers yellow and sweet Honey Dragons®, white flesh Snow Dragons®, and vibrant red Fire Dragons®, as well as organic dragon fruit.

“Our branded Dragon Fruit varieties are outpacing category growth by over 50 percent,” shared Jackson. “As the dragon fruit category has nearly doubled in volume annually, we are leading the charge with our colorful and healthy assortment of dragon fruit varieties while further growing the category with new varieties such as our Pink Dragons.”

Read more about this enticing lineup in our exclusive feature here, and don’t forget to stop by the Frieda’s booth for some insight into its specialty lineup and marketing genius.

GONZALES, CA - New product alert! While there will be many innovations on the show floor during the Southeast Produce Council’s (SEPC) Southern Exposure, you should definitely take a moment to check out the latest from Misionero. Hana Mohsin, National Sales Manager, divulged the details in a recent interview.

“Misionero will be showcasing our two Everything is Better with Butter Salad Kits: the Buttery Green Goddess Salad Kit and Butter French Country Salad Kit,” Hana told me. “The new kits are being introduced under Misionero's Garden Life label and reflect our dedication to innovation and quality. Stop by booth #923 to learn more about each!”

At the event, the Misionero team is looking forward to connecting with customers and other industry professionals throughout the week. The company also uses this time to look at what other innovative items and trends are emerging within the industry.

“SEPC’s Southern Exposure is a must-attend event, the show is more intimate, allowing you to connect with more attendees. The week always includes a great opening reception and a women's networking event that brings together familiar faces in the industry,” Hana continued.

On a final note, Hana shared that she hopes attendees understand that Misionero prioritizes customer satisfaction and strives to exceed expectations.

“We hope attendees learn about our mission to deliver high-quality products, exceptional service, and a shared commitment to a healthier future,” she concluded.

You heard it from Hana herself! Swing by booth #923 at Southern Exposure to learn more about this industry-leading company.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Tampa, Florida, get ready because the produce industry is about to arrive! Set for March 7–9, 2024, this year’s Southern Exposure event put on by the Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) will host many buyers, suppliers, and more. Among them is the Giumarra Companies, which boasts an exciting interactive booth.

“We will be sharing our new avocado bag designs at our booth, as well as in our Bright Ideas Fresh Arrivals showcase at the event,” says Kristina Lorusso, Vice President, Retail Partner Services. “A highlight is our new compostable organic avocado bag, which will be available to ship in spring. We will also showcase some of our other key programs at SEPC, including berries, melons, and stone fruit.”

The bag has a compelling design and is 100 percent plastic-free, a message that strongly appeals to environmentally conscious consumers, Kristina details. All of Giumarra’s new avocado bags are supported by customized marketing programs and designed to help retailers generate excitement around the avocado category.

“Besides promoting our products, we will have an interactive booth inviting SEPC attendees to share their produce heroes. SEPC’s theme for this year’s event, ‘Produce: The Unseen Heroes,’ really spoke to our team. We are excited to recognize our harvesting, picking, packing, transportation, and service colleagues and invite our fellow industry members to do the same,” adds Kristina. “Everyone’s job in the produce supply chain is important in helping bring fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers’ tables.”

In drawing further attention to the importance of farm workers, Giumarra will also host an “Ask Us Anything: Fair Trade Certified™” hour in partnership with Fair Trade USA™.

Veronica Lewis, Business Development Manager, Retail Partnerships for Fair Trade USA, will be present alongside Giumarra staff to answer any questions from attendees about the benefits and implementation of a Fair Trade Certified produce program for grocery retailers. The event will take place from 1–2 p.m. at Giumarra’s booth #315.

“We look forward to the opportunity to see our retail partners and share updates and details about our fresh produce and retail opportunities at Southern Exposure in collaboration with Giumarra, a Fair Trade Certified supplier,” says Veronica. “Fair Trade Certified programs give brands and retailers a way to connect with consumers and clearly communicate their values. It allows them to tie the stories of impact to their promotions and key selling moments. Consumers care and want to shop their values—one retailer who shared their shopper card data identified that their most loyal consumers are shoppers who purchase fair trade.”

Giumarra’s team noted that the company offers a variety of Fair Trade Certified produce from Mexico, including avocados, asparagus, grapes, melons, and peppers.

For the company, Southern Exposure is a chance to highlight the efforts of its employee “produce heroes” and the individuals across the industry who bring fresh produce to shoppers daily. It is also a chance to strengthen its relationships with current and potential partners.

“SEPC’s Southern Exposure provides an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our diverse range of fruit and vegetable programs to our valued customers. We aim to strengthen our connections with our current retail, foodservice, and wholesale partners while attracting new business opportunities,” explains Gary Caloroso, Business Development Director. “This event is not only enjoyable, but it also serves as an educational and significant opportunity for us to network within the produce industry.”

If you want to learn more about Giumarra’s produce and service offerings and take part in all the engaging activities the supplier has in store for attendees, make booth #315 a stop on the show floor.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN - After co-founding The Star Group 35 years ago, David Karwacki, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, announced his retirement. He will act as special advisor to the incoming CEO until May 30, 2024.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished at Star and above all else I am proud of the team,” said Karwacki. “Star has been relentless in its pursuit of innovation and growth and I know that will continue with the exceptional leadership team we have in place. Two decades is a long time to be CEO. My wife Laurie and I have four kids and they keep giving us more grandkids, so it is time to reduce my duties as Chief Executive and prioritize my role as Chief Grandpa.”

As he settles into retirement, Karwacki will remain on The Star Group’s Board of Directors as a Board Member.

To fill his shoes, Deric Karolat was named Interim CEO by the Board. Karolat has been with The Star Group for nearly 30 years and has held various leadership roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer.

“David Karwacki is a visionary, an inspiring leader, and a friend, and we will miss him as CEO,” said Karolat in a recent release. “That said, the company is in a great spot with a lot of bench strength, and I am honored to lead this remarkable organization.”

With leaders already in place for each of The Star Group’s major divisions, the company’s leadership anticipates a smooth transition.

Congratulations to David Karwacki on his retirement and to Deric Karolat on this next step in his career!