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P r o d u c e S h o w D a i l y S a t u r d a y, O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 1 8 MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATO FARMERS: FAMILY, QUALITY, TRUST The Mississippi Sweet Potato Council is made up of family farmers who stand on tradition, quality and trust. Ask any of them, and they will tell you that they know sweet potatoes. They all gained knowledge from time spent in the field with their dads and granddads. Family tradition is important to these growers. Another tradition important to Mississippi family farmers is attendance at Fresh Summit each fall. "We come and spend this time dur- ing harvest season because we know we can stand behind our promise of quality sweet potatoes," says Tim Edmondson of Edmondson Farm. "We know we pro- duce a quality product because we demand that of ourselves and would not offer anything less to our customers." Edmondson farms alongside his father and brother and markets sweet potatoes through SMP Southeast Marketing. Other sweet potato growers here at Fresh Summit include C and W Farms, Topashaw Farms and N and W Farms. These are all family farms located in the heart of the sweet potato growing area of Mississippi. Bobby Whitt of C and W Farms says, "We know we stand on the shoul- ders of all the ones who have come before us and we want to honor their hard work. We want to put a quality sweet potato in our box because we represent them even today." Randle Wright, who farms in a part- nership that includes five generations, represents the "W" in N and W Farms. N and W Farms is committed to the grow- ing and packaging of sweet potatoes using quality agricultural practices and safe handling throughout the process. "That is true of all of us here," says Wright. "We move sweet potatoes year round because we are dedicated to using the latest technology and the best ag practices." Another Mississippi sweet potato farm, Topashaw Farms, was born out of a need to pass the family farm to a younger generation. Topashaw has a long farm heritage, which includes three grown children who are stepping into leadership roles in all aspects of the operation. These farm families have known each other for generations. They believe in tradition, quality and want you to trust them to deliver just that – a quali- ty sweet potato – with great taste year round in a variety of packaging options from a 40-pound box to bins for the fresh market. For more information, visit booth #2566 or go to www.mssweetpotato.org. FRESH AND HEALTHY LUNCHES-2-GO Lunch is about to get fast, fresh and healthy. "People these days live very busy lifestyles. They don't have the time to shop then prepare their lunches the way we used to. But why should anyone compromise? It's time for lunches that will focus on freshness, health, fitness, nutrition and time, but not neglect a superior, irresistible flavor profile." These are the confident words of Anthony Mongiello, CEO and President of Formaggio Brand talking about his latest development for the produce department, Fresh & Healthy Lunches- 2-Go. For years, New York based Formaggio Brand has brought award- winning fresh mozzarella to the fore of America's culinary consciousness through its innovative creation of cate- gories and unrelenting quality standards. Over the last few years the brand has been seen in the produce department with an item that allows you to create a salad with little or no effort: just open a jar of Just Add Lettuce™. But now Formaggio's latest offerings to the pro- duce department go a step further, mak- ing a healthy salad-style lunch even quicker and easier. Fresh & Healthy Lunches-2-Go are, as their name implies, pairings of por- tion-controlled salad with a second compart- ment of health-con- scious cracker thins or pretzel thins. The arti- san, gourmet salad combos include Edamame & Cilantro, Couscous & Feta Cheese, Quinoa & Tomato and Mushroom & Artichoke Hearts. These are mixed and seasoned with delicious dressings, seasonings, fresh produce and chopped herbs and spices. The salads are packed in two-compartment modified atmosphere trays. Fresh & Healthy Lunches-2-Go are made fresh with no preservatives. Two are gluten free, all are vegan friendly, and each comes equipped with a spoon so they're truly good to go. They come in convenient two-compart- ment modified atmosphere 10-ounce trays with peel- away cover. Traditional fast lunches of the past like pizza, burg- ers, sandwiches, wings or even noodle soups have now been rendered obsolete. They've met their match in convenience and are wiped off the map by their nutri- tious and delicious successor, Fresh & Healthy Lunches-2-Go from Formaggio Brand. For more information, visit booth # 2419 or go to www.formaggiocheese.com. MILLION DOLLAR MELON A sweet summer treat, watermelon has always been one of Robinson Fresh's most prominent product offerings. As such, the folks at Robinson Fresh wanted to find a way to educate consumers on the variety of important health benefits that watermelon provides. According to the American Cancer Society, watermel- on is a significant source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to reduce certain types of cancer. Armed with that relevant research and a handful of supporters who had been per- sonally affected by breast cancer, Robinson Fresh launched the Pink Ribbon watermelon program in 2007. Consumers can purchase MelonUp! ® Pink Ribbon watermelons from partici- pating retail stores, and a portion of the bin sales are donated to breast cancer research organizations on behalf of the retailer, staying in the community where the funds were raised. Robinson Fresh provides retailers with watermelon bins that stand alone in the produce aisle and communicate the program's cause-mar- keting component through high graphic imagery, including a pink ribbon image known to most as a sign of support in the national fight against breast cancer. Through consistent year-round sales of fresh watermelon, Robinson Fresh has collaborated with over 25 retailers, rais- ing over one million dollars for breast cancer research organi- zations throughout North America. Retailers have the opportunity to get involved with breast cancer research efforts in their local communi- ties by working with Robinson Fresh to sponsor Susan G. Komen ® walks and races, state fairs and other community events. For example, Robinson Fresh and Cub ® Foods have sponsored the Twin Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for the past seven years. Volunteers pass out fresh watermelon slices to tired and thirsty runners, Chef Joseph Poon delights crowds with intricate watermel- on carvings, and both adults and children are invited to participate in exciting watermelon-themed games for a chance to win prizes. The program gives retailers the opportunity to promote the healthful benefits of watermelon and incorporate a cause-marketing compo- nent into their merchandis- ing strategy with collaborative and year- round supply and marketing support from Robinson Fresh. These efforts also allow both retailer and consumers to con- nect with the brand in a fun and memo- rable way, and gain education on breast cancer research efforts nationwide. For more information, visit booth #2035, go to www.robinsonfresh.com, call 855.350.0014 or email solutions@ robinsonfresh.com. SUN PACIFIC CAPTURES SIGNIFICANT KIWI MARKET SHARE Since Mighties Kiwis were introduced to retailers in fall of 2014, they have con- tributed significantly to helping increase kiwi's overall category growth. Last year, the brand comprised 40 percent of all U.S. kiwi sales and contributed to the 13.4 percent growth of overall kiwi sales in the United States. Sun Pacific's proprietary ripening process ensures that the fruit arrives at grocery stores "ripe and ready" and takes the guesswork out of having to gauge when the fruit is ready to eat. Helping consumers understand how to eat the fruit and providing it at the perfect ripeness is part of Sun Pacific's commit- ment to educating consumers so that even more people will enjoy this super nutri- tious fruit. "Mighties provide a superior and consistent experience," said Victoria Nuevo-Celeste, Vice President of Marketing for Sun Pacific. "When con- sumers buy Mighties, they know they are getting fruit that is ready to simply cut, scoop out with a spoon and eat. It's sim- ple, it tastes great and it's packed with nutrients, making Mighties mighty appealing to consumers." Mighties are available in one-, two-, three- and four-pound clamshell packages, and are verified non-GMO by The Non-GMO Project, an increasingly sought-after trait for con- sumers. Stop by booth #415 at the PMA Fresh Summit to learn more about Sun Pacific fruit, including Mighties, Cuties ® and Vintage Sweets, and test your kiwi knowledge and cut- and-scoop skills with The Mighties Challenge. You'll even have a chance to win a personal fitness device. Sun Pacific's Cuties & Mighties Fruit Salad recipe has also been named one of the 10 finalists in the PMA Sensory Experience Contest and was featured in the private Sensory Experience Tasting on Friday October 23, 2015. Founded in 1969, Sun Pacific is a leading grower, packer and shipper of fruit with more than 70 million boxes of fresh fruit sold each year. Sun Pacific is the owner of America's most preferred brand of man- darins, Cuties. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Sun Pacific is the largest kiwi fruit and navel orange grow- er/shipper in North America, the second largest producer of tomatoes in California and renowned for its excep- tional quality Air Chief label table grapes. For more information, visit booth#415 or go to www.sunpacific.com.