What an eventful week in Anaheim at the 2023 Global Produce and Floral Show! We recently had the opportunity to exhibit alongside over 1,000 other companies in the fresh produce and floral industries from across the globe. After months of prepping for the big event, it was wonderful to come together and watch it all come to life. From the setup of innovative booths and activations, educational sessions, meetings, reception, dinners and conversations, there was much to see and learn; a whirlwind of excitement and inspiration!
As proud representatives of our organic farms, we couldn’t wait to showcase our delicious produce, including this year’s highlights; our vibrant organic AZ-grown tomatoes on the vine in earth-friendly packaging and our luscious greenhouse-grown organic heirloom tomatoes.
Sustainability In the Spotlight
Sustainable packaging had a great presence at this year’s show. As demand heightens for sustainable packaging, more producers and retailers are coming on board, exploring new formats that deliver on the promise of a better, environmentally conscious pack. It is a cautious balancing act between other key factors like product visibility, operational efficiency, shelf life, merchandise-ability and cost. The change needs to start somewhere and it was encouraging to see packaging suppliers as well as produce suppliers perfecting sustainable options such as 100% post-consumer recycled flexible packaging, backyard compostable packs or paper board trays. We are here for it!
In that same light, this year, one of our showcase features was our Earth-friendly organic tomatoes on the vine! It was a relaunch of sorts, considering we first introduced this pack in 2021 but since then have worked on perfecting key attributes including pack size, choice of materials, and bringing in key messaging to encourage people to be a part of the solution to climate change through the conscious consideration of sustainably sourced and packed produce.
The tomatoes are packed in eco-friendly paperboard trays and secured with banding. The pack keeps tomatoes secure and snug, while minimizing the carbon footprint of plastic packaging and providing a 100% recyclable option that maintains product freshness and visibility.
The Flavor of Innovation
Produce shows have long been a showcase of vibrant colors and flavors, but this has been taken to new heights in recent years. With each show, it seems that new produce varieties come about that not only add an aesthetically pleasing touch, but also tantalize the taste buds! Modern greenhouse growing has allowed us to heighten these two elements in our tomatoes. By controlling the environment, we can test out new varieties of elevated flavor, unique shapes and colors.
Where we bring together this extraordinary combination is in our organic heirloom tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes are a culinary treasure, cherished for their succulent flavors, vibrant colors and unique textures. Wholesum heirlooms evoke tradition and nostalgia combined with unparalleled taste and year-round quality provided by our Arizona greenhouses, where we recently expanded heirloom volume as the subcategory continues to draw in consumers seeking novelty and an elevated experience.
The People
As always, one of the highlights of the Global Produce and Floral Show is the connections we make. The show offers a special opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, catch up with our partners, put faces to names and meet new produce enthusiasts. This year, we were able to capture many of those moments!
Thank you all who came by! See you next year in Atlanta!
