The Packer

The Southeast Produce Council kicked off its 2025 Southern Exposure event with a luau-themed opening reception. Check out our coverage from Southern Exposure: loom.ly/ZReqN4o

With the theme of “Produce Means Family,” the Southeast Produce Council’s recent Southern Exposure decor reflected a Hawaiian island tropical feel. Get a look at some of the highlights from our booth visits: loom.ly/m63Ckno

From new packaging to fair trade bananas, exhibitors at the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure event gave attendees a lot to talk about. loom.ly/tmzPQ60

The deadline to nominate for the Canadian Produce Person of the Year award ends on Wednesday. Each year this coveted award is presented to an individual who has excelled in all facets of their career in the past year, including business success, fostering relationships in the produce industry and giving back to the community. The individual may represent any area of the Canadian produce industry, including private, government or allied sectors. loom.ly/sVFoh4M

U.S. potato growers continue to ship a strong 2024 crop out of storage as the year progresses, and they anticipate an equally solid crop for 2025. According to Denver-based Potatoes USA, total grocery store fresh potato sales were up 3% last year to about 4.8 billion pounds. Dollar sales were down about 5%, however, to just over $4 billion. Russet potatoes were the top-selling variety, accounting for 64% of potato sales, followed by yellow (16%), red (11%) and white (4%). “The crop this year was beautiful,” said Ross Johnson, vice president of retail and international for the Eagle-based Idaho Potato Commission. loom.ly/n1gk-NQ

A full produce markdown rack can be a symptom of inefficiencies contributing to increased shrink, says columnist Armand Lobato. loom.ly/VtlZAV0

Don’t let the low early numbers for the 2025 Mexican mango crop fool you. As of mid-February, Mexican growers had only exported about 1 million pounds of the fruit this year compared to 1.8 million pounds at the same time a year ago. But Chris Ciruli, partner in Ciruli Bros. LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz., said that doesn’t mean this year’s crop will come up short. “I think it’s the exact opposite of that,” he said. loom.ly/kzPTjUk

Great connections are made at the 2025 West Coast Produce Expo! The early bird registration rate expires after March 7, so take advantage of the savings today at https://lnkd.in/gkVxJihd.

Cost is a major challenge produce growers face when considering implementing sustainable practices, say those within the specialty crop industry. Some practices may offer growers a quick return on investment, while others may have higher up-front costs and take longer to provide a financial impact. Industry insiders say such practices should be seen as an asset to operations, despite some challenges: loom.ly/6-_LH7E

It’s time to say, “Aloha, Orlando, Fla.!” The Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event returns March 6-8 with this year’s theme of “Produce Means Family.” Attendees can expect Hawaiian-themed events with island-inspired entertainment and, of course, produce-packed eats. Learn what to expect at SEPC Southern Exposure: loom.ly/NYH8A9M