For the first time this year, Southern Exposure had a Bright Ideas New Product Showcase that gave produce companies an opportunity to feature their latest product innovations. About 40 companies displayed their latest and greatest. Although there were a few entirely new items, innovation trends are much in line with what we have seen recently.
Click here for the photo report of new products.
Quick and healthy
In general, convenience and organics continue to drive product innovation. The focus on millennials who live a quick and healthy lifestyle is evident in many of the new products. Millennials require a meal that is healthy, but at the same time ready in just a few minutes and produce companies are responding by launching ready-to-cook vegetable kits, ready-to-eat noodle bowls as well as complete pasta kits.
Organics
The focus on health is represented in the expansion of organic products. Organic pouch bags of apples and pears continue to be introduced, but on display also were a new organic tomato variety as well as an organic salad kit and organic living greens. Healthy on-the-go snacking options were also plentiful, ranging from a 4-apple snack box to sweet and savory snack trays to snack trays for kids.
Attention to shelf-life extension and reducing waste are translated into the development of top seal packaging as well as resealable and recyclable packaging.
Click here for the photos of the new products.