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P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y F r i d a y, O c t o b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 3 0 According to the United Nations, over the next 20 years the world's population will grow by more than 100 million peo- ple a year. Most of that growth will hap- pen in developing countries. To keep up, world food production will need to increase by roughly 60 percent. Sounds like we need a superhero. According to the world's top food expert, we have one. Jacques Diouf, Director General of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, has said, "The potato is on the front line against global hunger and poverty." That's one super tuber. Angela Santiago, CEO of The Little Potato Company, agrees. "The Little Potato Company believes that the potato is a global superhero," says Santiago. "Potatoes are a nutritious, high-energy food that millions of people around the world depend on. Because potato crops can yield more food, more quickly and on less land than any other crop, they are becoming exceedingly important in developing countries. Potatoes are, in fact, feeding the world's hungry and pro- viding new livelihoods to the poor." That certainly does seem to merit superhero status. And while the potato is out saving the world, The Little Potato Company is out to save the potato. That SAVE THE POTATO, FEED THE WORLD: LITTLE POTATO HAS BIG PURPOSE is actually its corporate purpose. "U.S. market research shows that smaller bags of potatoes, four pounds or less, are gaining popularity and market share," says Santiago. "They satisfy people's desire for convenient, nutritious and economical food choices, which are consumer trends expected to continue well into the future." The Little Potato Company is well positioned to save the potato. The com- pany, a true pioneer in the creamer pota- to world, produces 1 and a half and 5 pound bags of nutritious creamer pota- toes that can go from the bag to the plate in under 20 minutes without any need for washing, peeling or extra waste. On the fresh potato side, each of LPC's proprietary varieties features a slightly different experience, with some bet- ter suited to steaming or boiling and others hardy enough to go on the grill. Consumers can get to know their favorite varieties by name. There's Blushing Belle, Baby Boomer, Dynamic Duo and Terrific Trio. Santiago believes strongly in her creamer potatoes. Popularity with fami- lies has allowed the company to achieve remarkable growth since its beginnings in 1996. Today, the company's products can be found in produce sections throughout North America. For more information, visit www.little- potatoes.com or stop by booth 3923 at Fresh Summit. By JC Taylor, Director of Marketing, Nature's Eats/Texas Star Nut and Food Company Increasing profits in your produce department may be closer than you think. Just stop by the Nature's Eats booth 1304 at the PMA Fresh Summit to see how you can take advantage of some of the largest, fastest growing produce segments. Already a huge category at $1.6 bil- lion, and growing more than 10 percent last year, snack nuts have found another home outside of grocery. "The produce department is the ideal place to sell nuts, seeds, dried fruits and trail mixes," says Robert Henarie, Vice President of Sales at reduce shrink. The Nature's Eats rack program maximizes your produce mer- chandising space. "Our laydown bags have a huge advantage over other packs. They allow the product to stay fresh longer, provide more product per square foot, are easier to dispose of and are more landfill friendly than plastic tubs," says John Taylor, CEO. The more cost-efficient bags already give a pricing advantage over more expensive packaging like canisters and tubs. Nature's Eats has added re-sealable stand- up pouches, which allow great facings and functionality and are also more environ- mentally friendly than rigid packaging. "We see a huge opportunity in pro- duce, which is why we are here at PMA. The produce department is where cus- tomers are looking for fresher and healthi- er foods," says Taylor. "Perimeter areas like produce attract a diverse group of shoppers. We have products that meet a variety of needs and trends." In a category that's been around since humans were Nature's Eats and Texas Star Nut and Food Co., Inc. He adds, "It's the natural place to get good, healthy, wholesome foods." Superfoods like walnuts, pecans and almonds are finding new customers who no longer only bake with these items, but find them to be an excellent alternative to other snacks like chips and sweets. Plus, they are an excellent protein supplement or replacement. Rounding out their line up, Nature's Eats has more than 150 items in nuts, dried fruits (a $600 million category) and snack mixes, which grew more than 20 percent last year according to AC Nielsen. With an efficient merchandising pro- gram, you can maximize pack-out and hunters and gatherers, Nature's Eats fits some recent challenges facing con- sumers. It provides convenient, healthy food items, which are trans- portable and don't require refrigeration. Today's competitive world market and the pricing pressures of global purchasing continue to push commodity prices higher. However, finding profit opportunities for your produce department maybe closer than you think. Large growing categories like nuts, dried fruits, snack and trail mixes, and more efficient packaging and effective merchandising can help find new incre- mental profits for your produce depart- ment. This innovative and proven merchan- dising program from Nature's Eats may be the new fresh idea you've been looking for. Visit Nature's Eats/Texas Star Nut and Food Company at booth 1304. For more information, visit www.nature seats.com, call 866-455-8300 or email info@natureseats.com. INCREASE PROFITS WITH NATURE'S EATS PRODUCE MERCHANDISE PROGRAM Started in a small garage in 1995, A&B Packing Equipment has quickly become the industry leader in fresh pack and pro- cessing equipment. In 2012, after several expansions, A&B Packing Equipment moved into its newly renovated 55,000 square foot building in Lawrence, Mich. The new facility has provided A&B Packing Equipment with the room to accommodate 100 full-time employees. A&B Packing Equipment also now has the space for in-house production of all its equipment, all enabling A&B Packing Equipment to continue growing and meet- ing the demands of customers worldwide A&B PACKING EQUIPMENT: INDUSTRY LEADER IN FRESH PACK AND PROCESS EQUIPMENT in a lug washer, A&B Packing has a sys- tem for you. The Cherry Evolution packing machine is fast, gentle and accurate. Not only can it accurately pack clamshells ranging from 6 ounces to 4 pounds, but it rapidly packs 100 clamshells per minute. This system is also adjustable to pack wicket wired bags with a separate roll-in, roll-out attachment. The Cherry Evolution equipment ensures more money in the pockets of companies. As always, A&B Packing Equipment will remain small enough to know its customers by name but large enough to supply fresh pack and process- ing customers with the latest custom equipment. The company prides itself on having all the equipment manufactured in-house. The entire staff at A&B Packing Equipment is involved with every order, from South America to China. Whether you fresh pack or process your product, A&B Packing Equipment will provide you with all the equipment you need. A&B Packing Equipment maintains the highest quality of sanitation and food safety standards, as exemplified with its lug washer system. This system helps improve product quality and extends shelf life by reducing the chance of con- tamination from lugs. The lug washer system is designed to meet all cleaning and sanitation levels for the customer, and its available in 20 different configu- rations, so that no matter what you need starting with the first phone call. The cus- tomer service follows the entire process from the initial floor plan layout and con- cept, to final completion and shipping. The service department has trained field techs to provide on-site service for cus- tomers. A&B Packing Equipment is the "go-to" company for difficult product to be packed. The company is known as the problem solvers for customers who previ- ously had no solution available for fresh pack. The company can help customers who pack anything from blueberries, tomatoes, zucchini, cherries and more. For more information, call 269-539- 4700 or email sales@abpacking.com. Visit A&B Packing Equipment on the web at at www.abpacking.com. During Fresh Summit, visit booth 402 to talk with A&B's experienced sales staff and get your free quote. CAPE MAY PRODUCE THE KEY TO PLUM SPECIALTIES OFFERED TO CUSTOMERS Cape May Beach Plums are small plums that until recently only grew in the scrub bushes on the sand dunes of the north- eastern U.S. Now cultivated at Cape May, these juicy berries are producing delicious jams, jellies and vinaigrette. Beach Plum Specialties offers up the Cape May Beach Plum Vinaigrette, pro- duced locally from the company's own beach plum orchard and other local growers. The vinaigrette is tart yet sweet, with flavors reminiscent of cherry, plum, and cinnamon. This condiment is the per- fect top to any salad, and pairs excep- tionally well with bitter greens, fruit and nuts. "The products, which are all made from hand-picked, local wild and culti- vated beach plums, have been very well received, as they are delicious and main- tain the Jersey Shore tradition," says Michael Craig, Owner and Founder of Beach Plum Specialties. "Beach Plum products have not been available in such a great package or in this quality and quantity before. It is a great time to fea- ture something different." Cape May Beach Plum Vinaigrette is available to wholesalers in cases of 12 12-ounce jars for $48 per case. The sug- gested retail price is $7.95. For more information on how you can bring this New England specialty to your customers, contact Christine Cassidy, Director of Sales and Marketing, at 609.846.6480 or beachplumspecial- ties@gmail.com.