Five SEPC Southern Innovations stand-outs

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Southeast Produce Council’s BB #:191194 Southern Innovations show typically is a venue to find new products and new ideas as companies often do soft launches ahead of the “big” show in October.

As I zoomed around the Charlotte Convention Center’s trade show floor, I found a few themes I think we’ll see more of next month at the Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim.

Many of the new products I saw were focused on the two primary drivers for consumers – convenience and flavor – but the ones I’m going to highlight have a different twist.

Tasteful Selections has a new tray pack, Potatoes Your Way, that allow consumers to pick their favorite gadget for cooking, highlighting how each method will change the eating experience from Crispy (air fryer), Quick (microwave), Creamy (microwave, then mashed), or Roasted (standard oven).

Sticking with potatoes, Potandon Produce has a new Green Giant potato product that I’m eager to try in my own kitchen. The Minute Masher mashed potatoes now have two gravy options, brown and chicken. Sold at ambient temperature, the kits allow consumers to microwave, mash in the bag, and then add gravy.

The produce industry is no stranger to salad kits, but the new Better than a Burger kit from Gold Coast Packing is a fun take on a familiar flavor. I think my kids, who are huge fans of salad kits, would like it a lot.

Speaking of kids, Minnesota-based Fresha’s new Minnies carrot packs offer the flavor-packed carrots my family likes, but in a size geared toward school lunches. My kids won’t eat baby-peeled carrots, so the full size carrot flavor in a kid-friendly size seems like a great idea.

Finally, Nature Fresh Farms has a fun take on its Yoom tomatoes, specifically branded for Halloween. Hallow-Yooms, which naturally have a black and orange color palette, are a limited edition take “for the tomato Halloween enthusiast.” It’s a cute take on something new for the market, giving consumers ideas and inspiration for a new item they may not otherwise be familiar with.

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