MURRIETA, CA - Colombian avocados are on their way to Tennessee! West Pak Avocado is taking to the Southeastern Produce Council’s (SEPC) 2024 Southern Innovations event in Nashville to showcase its impressive portfolio. During the event, the avocado maven will highlight its Colombian avocado program, shining a spotlight on the company’s latest global sourcing region.

“In addition to the rich taste, texture, quality, and near-year-round availability of Colombian fruit, its transportability to major U.S. ports makes it an attractive option for our customers,” explained Joe Nava, Vice President of Sales and Business Development. “Colombian fruit is a great addition to any year-round or starter retail program. Currently, we’re proud to be the largest directly invested U.S. grower/packer in Colombia.”

A strategic partner in the avocado space, West Pak touts a well-rounded portfolio of high-quality avocados and value-added SKUs backed by exceptional customer service and logistics support. This continued commitment to quality and customer service has decorated the company’s 42-year legacy of doing business with integrity.

Ahead of the show, Joe also shared some of the benefits of the SEPC event.

“Southern Innovations helps fresh produce professionals stay on top of the latest industry trends,” he shared. “It’s informative, educational, and fun networking all wrapped up in a good dose of Southern charm.”

Be sure to stop by booth #222 to explore how this industry partner can help strengthen your avocado program.

And keep clicking on ANUK for more updates in the lead-up to this event.

GONZALES, CA - Booth #521 at the upcoming Southern Innovations show should be one stop on every attendee’s list. Home to Misionero, the booth will be bustling with activity, from innovative products to operational expansions and more.

“At Southern Innovations, Misionero will showcase its Garden Life Washed & Trimmed lineup,” Nicole Minnich Zapata, Marketing Director, told me. “These products focus on providing convenience, freshness, and quality for both retail customers and foodservice operators. Highlights include our Lettuce Boats, Deli Leaf, and expanded organic offerings. In addition to West Coast facilities, we have a facility in Jessup, Maryland, where we produce and consolidate, ensuring smooth operations and delivery of our fresh greens.”

Nicole explained that Misionero’s main goals are to highlight the convenience of its product lines, educate attendees on the benefits of pre-washed and trimmed greens, and continue to build partnerships with new and existing customers.

“We are excited to engage with our partners and customers, discussing how our products can continue to provide time-saving solutions while maintaining high-quality standards,” she continued. “This is an opportunity for us to present our innovations in fresh greens and learn how we can better meet the evolving needs of consumers and retailers.”

With innovation front and center, Misionero’s product line not only offers benefits to consumers but provides unique advantages to produce buyers.

“We want attendees to walk away with an understanding of how our products can save consumers time without compromising on quality. We also hope to showcase the variety and versatility of our product lines and how they drive consumer sales,” Nicole concluded. “Additionally, our Jessup facility's role in ensuring high production and delivery standards is something we are proud to highlight.”

Don’t forget to stop by booth #521 at Southern Innovations for all of this and more.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - A very special Canadian award honored Oppy’s Chief Executive Officer, Chair, and Managing Partner John Anderson, as he was recently named recipient of the Order of British Columbia and awarded the King Charles III’s Coronation Medal. This achievement recognizes Anderson’s outstanding contributions to community support, sustainable agriculture, and visionary leadership.

“It’s an absolute honor to receive these accolades that represent the positive changes that have influenced Canada and beyond. Our commitment is to ensure future generations will have access to fresh, nutritious food for years to come,” reflected Anderson. “I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the well-being of the communities in which we serve while advocating for environmental stewardship.”

Anderson was recognized for his efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dedication to farming practices that are accountable, transparent, and mitigate planet impact alongside an unwavering commitment to community causes.

Anderson was also selected for his generous philanthropic endeavors, including his leadership in opening Anderson Air in 1980, which is now recognized as the province’s longest-enduring aircraft management and executive charter company, a press release shared.

“John’s dedication to this industry and the influence it has on North America and the world is truly inspiring,” said David Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer. “His leadership has not only shaped our company’s success but has also left a lasting impact on communities globally. We are incredibly proud to see him receive these well-deserved honors.”

Anderson is one of only a dozen recipients this year, all of whom have made exceptional achievements and positively impacted the province, country, and world. His recognition comes as part of the 35^th anniversary of the province’s highest civilian honor, the Order of BC.

Cheers to John Anderson on all of his accomplishments, and this incredible award.

TUCSON, AZ - A unique trade association collaboration will be elevating the value of the 2024 FPAA Southwest International Produce Expo (SWIPE). The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) and the Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) are joining forces to host the SWIPE Desert Classic Golf Tournament taking place November 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“We are excited to bring together the networking powers of two great associations in one great golf tournament. If you are doing business in the West, this is the place to be,” Lance Jungmeyer, President of FPAA, told me. “After this event, both associations will evaluate how well the tournament hits the metrics for networking, attendance, and fundraising. We are excited to work together.”

According to Lance, FPAA’s golf tournament was hosted in Nogales or Tubac, Arizona, for many years. When the association moved the tournament to Tucson and saw that FPFC had a tournament planned for around the same time in Phoenix, it made sense for them to combine efforts.

“Every business today has their resources stretched. For the industry, and for members of each association, we are able to leverage sponsorships and participation to make an even larger golf tournament that delivers more value to sponsors, than if either association had their golf tournaments separately,” Lance added.

The event will give members the chance to meet new retailers, foodservice organizations, supply-side corporations, buyers, and more from across the associations’ two states and the western region. Attendees will gain exposure to opportunities to grow their businesses that they may not have otherwise had.

“This is truly the beginning of an extraordinary partnership for both organizations,” Bob Lanter, the newly named President of FPFC, explained. “We are all striving to support and grow the produce and floral industries, and this partnership is a great way for us to leverage each organization's strengths and membership. Bringing together members who are new to each region provides a special opportunity for business connections to be made. Our goal is for members from each of our associations to find value through our partnership.”

The SWIPE golf tournament is a combination of events that any organization in the industry should want to participate in, Bob continued telling me. It is being built so attendees not only will receive value but have an incredible amount of fun doing it. The golf tournament will have many contests, giveaways, food, and music.

“When we looked at our membership, we found that while organizations did know each other, the amount of overlap was limited, “ Bob relayed. “Additionally, our industry has been flooded with events such as this, combining the events just made sense—allowing our members a better return on their investment while having fun and learning a lot.”

In the lead-up to the event, I also got in touch with Kyle McGrath, Director of Sales and Marketing for Tricar Sales and the FPAA Golf Convention Subcommittee Chairman.

“Bringing together the membership from FPAA and FPFC is a great synergy. We all want to sell more produce and make stronger business connections,” he stated. “Combining two great events in the same region makes a lot of sense for our memberships in terms of value, collaboration, and networking. I think this is a great example of two groups coming together to make something bigger and better than just the sum of their respective parts.”

The golf tournament will be here before we know it, so make sure to grab a spot while you still can! For more event coverage, stick with us at ANUK.