YUMA, AZ - After over a year of lockdown, it’s time to dust off our business cards and flex our industry muscles as in-person events make a comeback. While a year and a half may seem like a daunting amount of time to be out of practice, Bard Valley Natural Delights® is ramping up for the upcoming Organic Produce Summit 2021 (OPS), looking to make a splash with their showcases. Sharing what buyers can look forward to, David Baxter, Director of Marketing, sat down to discuss what the date purveyor has in store.
“Aside from getting out of the house and back in the world after a tough year, OPS offers great networking opportunities along with learning the latest organic news and trends,” David says about why buy- and supply-side members should attend the event. “And it’s a great small setting where retailers and suppliers can discuss key details about product offerings.”
For Bard Valley, this means the chance to showcase its new Organic Mini Medjool dates—a smaller, portable take on its classic date rolls.
“In the date category, date rolls have been traditionally offered by most brands, but these Mini Medjools are different in that they serve more of consumers’ needs,” David shares. “We listened to shoppers, many of whom thought our existing product was too big and not very enjoyable, and we used that feedback to relaunch an improved product that we hope they will delight in.”
On top of being a great source of protein, fiber, and natural sweetness, the Mini Medjools meet the rising demand for healthy snacks and satisfy shoppers’ demands for convenience.
That being said, the back-to-school season will serve as a perfect merchandising period for this new product as parents are on the lookout for snacks easily packed in lunch boxes and backpacks. Adding Organic Mini Medjools to your shelves will give parents the healthful offering they want to give their children and a sweetness that kids will enjoy too.
“We are out there selling our Organic Mini Medjool Dates to retailers right now, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive,” explains David. “We also tested these with parents all over the country and experienced the same very positive reactions. You know you have a winner on your hands when they say they would buy these for their kids, but also keep a secret stash for themselves!”
Placed in merchandising displays or shippers in secondary locations, David tells me that Bard Valley’s delicious Organic Mini Medjool Dates will drive sales for retailers. While if put in high impulse areas like the front of the produce department, they will fly off shelves.
To get a first-hand, in-depth view of what Bard Valley has to offer, make sure to schedule a time to stop by its booth, #412, at this year’s OPS event—I know I will!
