MIAMI, FL - Foodservice operators looking to fuel innovation and expand the produce assortment on their menus need look no further than Crystal Valley Foods. The specialty fruit and vegetable supplier is bringing its robust portfolio to this year’s Foodservice Conference, hosted by the International Fresh Produce Association. As the grower gears up for an exciting showcase, I recently explored the details with Marketing Director Katiana Valdes.

“The Foodservice Conference is one of our favorite events. It’s a more intimate show, and it allows us to interact more closely with top foodservice buyers in a significant way,” Katiana shares. “You really can’t beat the beautiful location of Monterey, California. It’s the perfect place for connecting and sharing new ideas.”

During this year’s event, Crystal Valley Foods will showcase its line of specialty fruit and vegetables, as well as its pack sizes designed specifically to meet the needs of its foodservice customers.

“For over 30 years, we have been supplying the foodservice industry with specialty fruits and vegetables, and we are grateful our customers continue to put their trust in our expertise,” Katiana adds. “One trend we’ve observed in the foodservice sector is the growing demand for exotic and specialty fruits and vegetables. Menus continue to evolve to reflect more global influences and consumer interests in new flavors, and it is important for operators and distributors to have reliable partners like Crystal Valley Foods, whom they can rely on as a one-stop shop to support their needs.”

Crystal Valley’s booth is a can’t-miss stop on the show floor, especially for those looking to build out their year-round offerings and sourcing networks.

“What really sets us apart is our strong sourcing partnerships and vertically integrated model, which allows us to maintain quality, consistency, and year-round availability," says Katiana. "Our foodservice customers also appreciate the flexibility and customization of our packs, which are built with operational efficiency in mind.”

Learn more about all the supplier has to offer in foodservice as the industry turns to this highly anticipated event. For more show updates, leave a tab open to ANUK!

WASHINGTON - International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has commented on the release of the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s report, Roadmap to Produce Safety: A Conceptual Framework. IFPA has shared their support of the report, emphasizing their appreciation for the collaborative approach and reiterated their call for adequate funding and future engagement with stakeholders.

“IFPA recognized the opportunity to represent our members in many of the working groups,” said Chief Science Officer at IFPA, Max Teplitski, PhD., in the recent release “We believe that such collaborative approach is fundamental in not only setting the direction but also committing to the shared responsibility to follow the roadmap to enhance produce safety from farm to fork.”

IFPA also recognized the FDA’s support and investment in the Produce Safety Dialogue process that informed the report. The process included over 170 people who contributed to eight different working groups. This investment reflects the sentiment from both the participants and the FDA that ongoing collaboration and engagement across industry and regulatory groups will be critical to achieve measurable industry-wide impacts.

“While we stand ready to partner with our colleagues in industry and the FDA,” said Teplitski. “We also continue to advocate for the need to focus on risk-based and risk-appropriate approaches to food safety, investment into the development of detection tools and protocols that are robust and reproducible, using meaningful datasets to drive action plans, and for adequate allocation of federal and state resources to ensure the success of this collaboration.”

In addition to this advocacy work, IFPA will continue to inform industry members on opportunities to contribute to these collective efforts to improve produce safety and increase consumer confidence.