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P r o d u ce S h o w D a i l y Tu e s d a y, Ju n e 2 1 , 2 0 1 6 4 LIMES: NOT JUST FOR DRINKS ANYMORE By Bill Edwards, Lime Commodity Manager, Robinson Fresh Limes are in my blood. They have been a part of my family's history as long as I can remember. My father was one of the first people to import limes into the United States from Mexico back in the 1970s, and I started working in the lime industry in 1982. When I first started, I always wondered who in the world drank so much that needed all these limes. Looking at the data available, who could blame me for my way of thinking? According to a Robinson Fresh tropical produce consumer insight panel, limes are consumed heavily over dinner, with 44 percent of limes eaten between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. In addition, the consumer insight panel research found that 60.4 percent of limes are used in beverages. However, drinks alone can't account for the dramatic growth in limes over a short period of time. In fact, according to IRI Freshlook, limes have a compound annual growth rate of six percent over the last four years. What is it about limes that continues to entice consumers to pur- chase them more and more each year? For starters, let's take a look at pop- ulation demographic shifts. According to the USDA, U.S. lime consumption has more than doubled since the 1980s, but domestic production has decreased. To account for the gap between lime supply and demand, the United States imports the vast majority of limes from Mexico, which also has one of the highest lime consumption rates. According to the Pew Research Center, the United States Hispanic popu- lation has grown 282 percent since 1980. This leaves us with a larger amount of the population with in-depth knowledge of limes and how to incorporate them into daily meals. Limes appeal to all demographics, but even more so to younger consumers as Millennials' health perceptions are driving flavor growth. Limes play a key part in this. As consumers continue to look for new inspiration for their meal choices, television outlets and culinary magazines are promoting alternatives. Foodservice is also providing new ways of using tradi- tional com- m o d i t i e s . More often than not, foodservice trends are good indicators of future retail trends. In the case of limes, foodservice professionals continue to utilize lime's strong flavor and taste profile to add unique flavor to existing menu items or create new ones. Summertime is all about fresh fla- vors, making limes the perfect comple- ment for seasonal food recipes. However, it's not always about finding new ways to add limes to a dish, it's also about replac- ing ingredients. Consumers looking to lower their daily salt intake are turning to acidic foods such as limes as their flavor profile creates a similar mouth-watering effect. As I mentioned at the beginning, limes are in my blood, which is why it is so exciting to see their continued popu- larity and rising consumption in the United States. With peak season right in front of us, now is the perfect time to cross-promote limes with other com- modities throughout the grocery store. Because in the end, limes aren't just for drinks anymore. For more information, visit booth #2038. YOUR CLIENT IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTION Let's face it: companies wouldn't be here without their client. As a leading grocer and retailer, you do your best to listen and adapt to her. She may not always be right, but she always knows what she wants and needs. She commu- nicates this by chatting up your cashier, by complaining to your manager, through tweets and Facebook posts, and above all, through her purchases. To truly listen and respond to the wants and needs of a client is to tap into the wis- dom of the ages . . . and to keep the lights on! Founded in a garage in 2009, C3 is the creator of the patented line of U.S.- made C3 Shopping Cart Safety Ropes – now standard practice among some of the world's leading grocers and retailers. The company has been fortunate to receive continued feedback about its front-end solutions. In response, it would like to introduce some recent improve- ments and adaptations to the patented C3 Safety Rope, as well as a new product: a custom Hi-Vis safety vest designed and made in the U.S.A with one of C3's part- ners. Recent Improvements to the C3 Safety Rope The C3 Shopping Cart Safety Rope is the best available solution for shopping cart management due to its unique "hands free" ergonomic benefits. Made in the U.S.A., it continues to feature durable glass-filled nylon ratchet and handle and "zero-stretch" abrasion resistant cordage. Recent improvements include: 1. All-new rubber hook cov- ers. Durable and UV-resistant, the new replaceable hook covers are made of high- quality EPDM rubber. The patented design is roughly the hardness of a car tire – durable and yet guaranteed not to damage soft plastic shopping cart handles. 2. Improved ratchet spring. The wire diameter was adjusted and another coil was added for greater life expectancy. 3. Ratchet made easier to repair and replace. The rivet on the ratchet was replaced with a bolt and nylock nut assembly to easily allow ratchet repairs and replacements if needed. The All-New C3 Safety Vest Made in the U.S.A., this ANSI Class 2 vest is made with extra heavy duty solid lime fabric. It features a stylish poncho design with adjustable side closures. A large center pocket is designed to carry and store the C3 Safety Rope. A smaller second pocket can carry a radio or hold a small plastic bag where an employee can discard small bits of debris, possibly pre- venting slips and falls in the process. C3 would like to sincerely thank all its clients for sharing with the company what you need to help make the jobs of your people easier, safer and more pro- ductive. It genuinely appreciates you and your feedback – and for helping it keep the lights on! Visit www.c3llc.com to order or write to info@c3llc.com for more information. AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH UF Lee M. Oser CEO and Editor-in-Chief Kim Forrester Jules Denton Associate Publishers Lorrie Baumann Editorial Director Jeanie Catron JoEllen Lowry Associate Editors André Gressieux Art Director Yasmine Brown Krystal Robles Graphic Designers Sarah Glenn Caitlyn McGrath Customer Service Manager Stacy Davis Kim Stevens Show Logistics & Distribution Carlos Velasquez James Gennette Marcos Morhaim Account Managers Enrico Cecchi European Sales Produce Show Daily is published by Oser Communications Group ©2016 All rights reserved. Executive and editorial offices at: 1877 N. Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ 85715 520.721.1300/Fax: 520.721.6300 www.osercommunicationsgroup.com European offices located at Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 11, 50125 Florence, Italy A UNIQUELY DIFFERENT KIND OF POTATO SUPPLIER By Dave Yeager, Vice President, Farm Fresh Direct Farm Fresh Direct is a uniquely differ- ent potato supplier because we're owned by growers, many of which are second and third generation family farms. The investments we have made in our farms are directly tied to helping you make your potato category as suc- cessful as it can be. Since 1999, the year Farm Fresh Direct was formed, we've made invest- ments in our ground, equipment, tech- nology, sustainability and our food safety. All of those investments were made to help ensure we provide you with the safest, highest quality potato products that meet, or exceed, your customers' expectations. Thanks to you, those investments have paid off. Today, Farm Fresh is recognized as a leading grower/supplier of organic potatoes, new varieties, specialty pota- toes, fresh convenience potatoes, along with conventional russets, reds and golds. What has really fueled our growth is innovation. Farm Fresh was the first to market the individually wrapped microwave potato, PotatOH™, a line that has been expanded to include sweet potatoes and microwavable and oven safe, creamer sized tray packs. We've also taken a very aggressive approach to new varieties, most of which are proprietary to Farm Fresh, that offer unique consumer ben- efits. As the trend for organics continues to grow, Farm Fresh has more than quadrupled our organic acreage over the past five years to ensure supply and meet growing consumer demand. All of our farms and operations are also actively involved in sustainability and food safety to make sure we are good stewards of our land and environment, while providing you and your customers with the safest product. So whether you need shipper label, private label, control label, potatoes in bags, trays or cartons, conventional potatoes, specialty items, convenience products or new varieties, we are flexi- ble enough across our operations to meet virtually all your needs. In addition to our grower/owners, we've also partnered with other growers around the country to ensure consistent year round sup- ply. We know there are a lot of potato suppliers out there, so we're also positioned to support your potato cate- gory success with marketing programs, category management and category development expertise using some of the best industry data and information available. At Farm Fresh Direct, we are truly grounded in your overall success, and are a uniquely different kind of potato supplier. Find out more at www.farmfreshdirect.net or call Dave Yeager at 678.270.8910.