🌱 New York Produce Show Kicks Off Tomorrow

🌱 Good afternoon, and welcome to today's fresh newsletter! 

In today's special edition email:

• Get Ready For The 2024 New York Produce Show & Conference

• Pennsylvania Potatoes at NYC Produce Show

• Pure Green Unveils Limited-Time Chocolate Hazelnut Bowl

• Fresh Picks: Our Handpicked Produce Content from the Web

• FDA and CDC Close Investigation Into E. coli Outbreak

• Shuman Farms: The Heart of Vidalia Sweet Onion Country

• Tip of the Day: Utilize Micro-Influencers for Authentic Produce Marketing

TRADE SHOWS

Get Ready For The 2024 New York Produce Show & Conference

The 2024 New York Produce Show and Conference will take place from December 10-12, drawing over 4,000 attendees, including buyers, sellers, and innovators.

The event, hosted at the Sheraton New York Times Square and the Javits Center, centers on a one-day trade show on December 11, featuring 400 exhibitors.

This year introduces a Mexico Pavilion to highlight top Mexican produce brands.

This specialized section will shine a spotlight on leading brands from Mexico, reinforcing their well-earned reputations for quality and reliability.

Attendees can explore culinary demos and three co-located conferences:

Foundational Excellence (December 10), the Global Trade Symposium, and the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum (December 12).

This year’s Connect With Fresh Consumer Media initiative will feature celebrated nutritionist and author Marion Nestle as the keynote speaker on Wednesday afternoon.

Guided tours on December 12 will offer insights into produce supply chains, visiting locations like Eataly, Wegman’s, Hunts Point Produce Market, and Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market.

The event aims to foster connections, showcase innovations, and provide strategic education, reinforcing New York City’s role as a key hub for the fresh produce industry.

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🧄 Global Market Overview: Garlic | Global garlic markets face supply challenges due to reduced output from China and Spain, driving prices up, while regions like Peru and Chile benefit from quality improvements; Argentina offers relief to North America, South Africa experiences price pressures from oversupply, and Egypt increases production to meet rising demand. (FreshPlaza.com | Dec 06, 2024)

🥜 Setton Farms to Focus on Pistachio Flavor Innovation at NYPS | Setton Farms will showcase innovative pistachio products at the New York Produce Show, including Tajin and Buffalo Wing Seasoned Pistachio Kernels, organic options, and versatile displays while sponsoring a Grazing Board Demonstration to highlight pistachios' culinary potential. (TheProduceNews.com | Dec 06, 2024)

🌱 10 Produce Trends for 2025 | In 2025, the produce industry will be shaped by trends emphasizing health-focused foods, sustainability, affordability, social media-driven culinary innovations, luxury produce offerings, eco-friendly packaging, value-added convenience, and the rising popularity of organic products. (ThePacker.com | Dec 06, 2024)

🥭 Mission Produce Showcases Retail-Ready Mangos at New York Produce Show | Mission Produce will debut its innovative retail-ready mango bags at the New York Produce Show, featuring convenient 4-count value packs sourced from Peru, while also promoting avocado and mango programs for New Year healthy eating and the Big Game. (ProduceBlueBook.com | Dec 04, 2024)

🔬 Seeds of Innovation in Fresh Produce | Produce innovation is driven by plant breeders who develop new varieties to meet consumer demand for novel flavors, improved shelf life, disease resistance, and sustainability, with successful launches requiring collaboration across growers, retailers, chefs, and consumers. (ProduceBusiness.com | Dec 04, 2024)

POTATOES

Masser Family of Companies to Showcase Pennsylvania Potatoes at New York Produce Show

The Masser Family of Companies (MFC) will showcase Pennsylvania’s potato industry at the NYC Produce Show from December 10-12, 2024, at the Javits Center.

Partnering with the Pennsylvania Co-Operative Potato Growers, MFC will feature Side Delights® products, including organic, petite, and convenience-focused Amazables! potatoes paired with Litehouse® sauces at booth #207.

Keystone Potato Products, part of MFC, will also present its A Cut Above® line of fresh-cut and peeled potatoes.

Booth #209 will display Penn’s Own retail bags by the Co-Operative.

This collaboration emphasizes support for local growers and sustainable practices using Pennsylvania-grown potatoes.

The event, organized by the Eastern Produce Council and Produce Business magazine, features 400+ exhibitors, educational sessions, and industry tours.

With a legacy dating back to 1970, MFC, employing over 400 people, aims to meet retail and food service demands, promoting quality, nutritious, and versatile potato products for various markets.

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HAZEL

Pure Green Unveils Limited-Time Chocolate Hazelnut Bowl for December

Pure Green, the fastest-growing wellness-focused juice bar franchise in the U.S., has introduced the seasonal Chocolate Hazelnut Bowl, available exclusively in December.

This nutrient-rich offering blends indulgence and health with a base of organic acai, banana, and almond milk, topped with hemp granola, fresh fruits, chocolate hazelnut butter, and cacao nibs.

CEO Ross Franklin highlights the bowl's appeal to Gen-Z’s desire for bold flavors and Pure Green's commitment to quality nutrition.

The new item reflects the brand’s strategy to innovate while staying ahead of consumer trends.

Pure Green, headquartered in Sunrise, FL, is known for its superfood smoothies, cold-pressed juices, acai bowls, and wellness shots.

The franchise, currently with 60 locations, aims to reach 100 by early 2025.

Recognized in Entrepreneur’s 2023 Franchise 500, Pure Green focuses on accessible, high-quality superfoods and continuous menu innovations to support health-conscious communities and franchise growth.

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E. COLI OUTBREAK

FDA and CDC Close Investigation Into E. coli Outbreak Linked to Yellow Onions

The FDA, CDC, and state health partners have concluded a multi-state E. coli O157:H7 outbreak investigation linked to yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms and served at McDonald’s.

The outbreak prompted Taylor Farms’ voluntary recall on October 22, 2024. McDonald’s stopped using the affected onions immediately.

A total of 104 people in 14 states were infected, with 99% of those interviewed reporting McDonald’s food consumption before illness.

Of 75 people who recalled specific dishes, 63 ate items containing onions.

Environmental samples tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) but didn’t match the outbreak strain.

However, epidemiological and traceback data strongly implicated the recalled onions.

The FDA confirmed no ongoing food safety risk, and McDonald’s no longer serves the affected onions.

Federal and state agencies collaborated to investigate and mitigate the outbreak. The investigation is closed, but consumers are encouraged to stay vigilant about food safety.

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

Shuman Farms: The Heart of Vidalia Sweet Onion Country

Shuman Farms is a family-owned business that has navigated decades in the sweet onion industry, headquartered in the heart of the Vidalia growing region in Southeast Georgia.

Over time, what started as a modest farm evolved into a recognized year-round grower and shipper of premium sweet onions, offering varieties that cater to changing seasonal availability.

Vidalia onions, harvested between mid-April and late August, are among the company’s signature offerings, renowned nationally for their unique taste.

Shuman Farms has developed an intricate supply chain to support its year-round commitment. After harvesting by hand, its sweet onions move into technologically advanced packing facilities.

There, the onions undergo further drying, cleaning, sorting, and grading procedures to maintain premium quality standards. The farm also produces organic options to meet the growing consumer interest in organically sourced foods.

Shuman Farms continuously refines its sustainability practices, adopting methods to conserve water, protect pollinators, and ensure soil health through careful fertilization and erosion control.

Beyond the fields and packing lines, Shuman Farms demonstrates a deep sense of social responsibility.

In 2002, President and CEO John Shuman founded the Healthy Family Project, a cause-marketing organization designed to help families eat healthier and raise funds for those in need.

The company has also recently stepped into the broader cultural landscape through strategic partnerships with college athletic programs.

Named the Official Sweet Onion Grower of both the University of Georgia and Georgia Southern University athletic programs, the company has found a way to blend its agricultural roots with the region’s enthusiasm for college sports.

Looking ahead, Shuman Farms is gearing up for the upcoming New York Produce Show, a key event where industry professionals gather to explore trends and opportunities in the produce sector.

There, the company aims to spotlight sweet onions for the holiday season, encouraging retailers to think about how these items can be integrated into festive meals.

This involves promoting enhanced in-store displays and cross-merchandising strategies, linking onions with other holiday staples to catch the eye of shoppers.

The timing is strategic: as the holiday season encourages more people to spend time in their kitchens, Shuman Farms sees an opportunity to highlight how sweet onions can elevate traditional dishes.

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TIP OF THE DAY

Utilize Micro-Influencers for Authentic Produce Marketing

In today’s social media-driven world, micro-influencers (individuals with 1,000 to 50,000 followers) can be a powerful marketing tool for produce companies.

Their smaller, niche audiences often trust their recommendations more than those from celebrities or mega-influencers.

These influencers typically have higher engagement rates and create more authentic, relatable content.

Partner with food enthusiasts, nutritionists, or home chefs who share recipes or healthy lifestyle tips.

Have them showcase your produce in creative dishes, meal prep routines, or sustainability challenges.

Consider offering them a behind-the-scenes look at your farm, allowing them to share the journey from field to table with their audience.

You can also provide discount codes or giveaways through these influencers, driving direct engagement and sales.

This strategy not only boosts visibility but also builds credibility and trust, as followers are more likely to try your products when recommended by someone they admire.

Micro-influencer marketing can be cost-effective and targeted, helping your brand reach specific demographics like health-conscious consumers, parents, or eco-friendly shoppers.

Over time, these authentic endorsements can create loyal customers who advocate for your produce both online and offline.