For one Florida grower, the timing of the upcoming Southern Exposure show is proving to be quite opportune.
Florida Classic Growers, based in Dundee, Fl., will have on display at the show (running Feb. 27-29 in Tampa, Fl.), its Florida blueberries, citrus and peaches. All three of these commodities are grown in the central part of the state.
“The blueberry season starts in early to mid-March and will run until early May,” says Florida Classic’s Al Finch. “We have additional acreage for Florida blueberries this season that we’ll be marketing.” The Florida blueberry season typically begins as the Chilean blueberry season comes to a close.
Additionally, the Florida peaches will start towards the end of March and run until early May. New for this year for Florida Classic will be the Florida white-fleshed peach that will be offered alongside the yellow-fleshed peaches. “Florida peaches are the first domestic peach of the season. They start as the Chilean import peaches finish and before other Eastern peaches or California peaches start. So we fill a void in the marketplace and will have exclusivity on peaches for about seven weeks,” says Finch.
He notes that Florida Classic anticipates a good crop on both commodity items.
Benefits of the show
Those items, along with Florida citrus, will be on display at Florida Classic’s booth at the show. “We’ve been a member of the Southeast Produce Council since 2001 and this is a tremendous show,” says Finch. The show has come a long way since its first show in Lakeland Florida. “Southern Exposure provides an excellent networking platform for growers, retailers and foodservice attendees. It’s great to see how it’s gained popularity since the first show.”
The networking opportunities, notes Finch, include events such as the trade show itself, a golf tournament, value-added seminars, a keynote luncheon along with opening and closing events. “We feel Southern Exposure is a great value and it’s extremely popular with our retail and foodservice customers,” says Finch.
Stop by Florida Classic’s booth #416. The company will also be marketing its 2 lb. peach pouch as well as various sizes of clamshells for blueberries, along with other packaging options for peaches and citrus.
For more information:
Al Finch
Florida Classic Growers
Tel: +1 863-439-1600
al.finch@flclassic.com
http://flclassic.com/