Orlando, Fla.--Colorful tasty produce abounded at the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit this year. The PMA is a trade organization that helps and represents companies from every sector of the global fresh produce supply chain and floral supply chain. Each year they put on a Fresh Summit to bring together their members and others, for a State of the Industry address, educational workshops, a charity run, and a two-day exposition.
This year's exposition boasted over 1300 booths full of colors and innovations. Here are just a few, of the many companies, I interviewed: Blazeberries from Naturipe Farms Llc, South African Baby Pineapples from Melissa's Produce, and Organic easy opening coconuts from Genuine Coconut.
Naturipe Farms Llc, established in 1917, is a grower-owned berry company that works with a lot of other berry farms. Their produce that stood out for me was Blazeberries. They are a variety of yellow raspberries that are blazed (tanned) by the sun into a mosaic of red, orange, and yellow hues. They have a very short season, said Fernando Aguilar of Naturipe, who added that the berries are grown for flavor. You can buy their berries at Whole Foods and Costco.
Melissa's Produce, established 2012, is a large U.S. distributor of specialty produce and foods processed from fresh produce. The California based company had such a colorful, expansive booth of items it was hard to chose just one because they had everything from long shelf life packaged quinoa to blackened garlic to a rainbow of dragon fruit to South African baby pineapples.
The South African baby pineapples were particularly interesting because they were so small, about the size of a large grapefruit. And all parts were edible except the skin and leaves. The booth representative said they were also very tasty and juicy. You can buy Melissa's Produce Baby Pineapples directly from their website, along with many other produce items.
Genuine Coconut, certified organic raw coconut water from coconuts with a patented easy opening system. The coconuts are sourced from an organic farm in Thailand. And the pop-top ring, used for opening the coconut, is made from recycled coconut husk fiber and resin. So all you have to do is open the pop-top ring on the coconut like you would a can of soda, and then insert a straw into the whole to drink.
The company has a "How To," YouTube, on their website showing how the whole system works.
Currently, to buy the coconuts directly from the Genuine Coconut's website you have to live in England, Wales and Scotland (not including the Scottish Highlands and islands). Luckily, Melissa's Produce distributes them, under the title of Organic Drinking Coconuts, in the United States.
 |
| Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, Orlando, Fla. Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey |
This year's exposition boasted over 1300 booths full of colors and innovations. Here are just a few, of the many companies, I interviewed: Blazeberries from Naturipe Farms Llc, South African Baby Pineapples from Melissa's Produce, and Organic easy opening coconuts from Genuine Coconut.
 |
| Blazeberries from Naturipe Farms Llc., Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit, Orlando, Fla. Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey |
Naturipe Farms Llc, established in 1917, is a grower-owned berry company that works with a lot of other berry farms. Their produce that stood out for me was Blazeberries. They are a variety of yellow raspberries that are blazed (tanned) by the sun into a mosaic of red, orange, and yellow hues. They have a very short season, said Fernando Aguilar of Naturipe, who added that the berries are grown for flavor. You can buy their berries at Whole Foods and Costco.
 |
| Baby Pineapples from Melissa's Produce, Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit, Orlando, Fla. Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey |
Melissa's Produce, established 2012, is a large U.S. distributor of specialty produce and foods processed from fresh produce. The California based company had such a colorful, expansive booth of items it was hard to chose just one because they had everything from long shelf life packaged quinoa to blackened garlic to a rainbow of dragon fruit to South African baby pineapples.
The South African baby pineapples were particularly interesting because they were so small, about the size of a large grapefruit. And all parts were edible except the skin and leaves. The booth representative said they were also very tasty and juicy. You can buy Melissa's Produce Baby Pineapples directly from their website, along with many other produce items.
 |
| Genuine Coconut's organic pop-top coconut, Produce Marketing Association, Orlando, Fla. Copyright 2018 by Helen A Lockey |
Genuine Coconut, certified organic raw coconut water from coconuts with a patented easy opening system. The coconuts are sourced from an organic farm in Thailand. And the pop-top ring, used for opening the coconut, is made from recycled coconut husk fiber and resin. So all you have to do is open the pop-top ring on the coconut like you would a can of soda, and then insert a straw into the whole to drink.
The company has a "How To," YouTube, on their website showing how the whole system works.
Currently, to buy the coconuts directly from the Genuine Coconut's website you have to live in England, Wales and Scotland (not including the Scottish Highlands and islands). Luckily, Melissa's Produce distributes them, under the title of Organic Drinking Coconuts, in the United States.
