Nike is seeing the trend of sports players not drinking sodas and has been creating fresh produce gear with fruit labels. Included are fruit platter t-shirts and the recently released “dragon fruit” sneakers. It’s just one example of a company selling produce-related merchandise, but there are many more. “For over a decade, I’ve been preaching to the produce industry to discover their inner creative souls to design merchandise,” says Patrick Kelly of the Produce Industry Podcast. “Oddly enough, the industry gives away so much merchandise at trade shows, by sending clients gifts, etc. All for free. Does Jamba Juice give away free t-shirts in their stores when you buy a smoothie,” Kelly wondered.
“What is driving all these other companies to create produce themed merchandise to sell, but as an industry we haven’t yet?” In recent years, Kelly has made a start with produce-related merchandise, but he is hoping others will follow. “Let’s get creative and figure out what consumers want outside of our produce. Trust me, it will bring your brand full circle.” Kelly’s merchandising shop has a few different items, ranging from old produce label shirts and stickers to coffee cups, rash guards, and designer fanny packs. However, arguably one of the coolest merchandise items are custom produce inspired shoes.
Top left: Indianapolis Fruit Company, middle: The Produce Industry Podcast Shoe made for Viva Fresh 2022, top right: Salsa inspired shoe for IFPA 2022, bottom left: Water for all shoe, bottom right: Citrus from California shoe.
In 2022, Indianapolis Fruit Company was having their annual Vendor Showcase. The event had been canceled due to COVID in 2020 and 2021 and together with Ross Nelson a.k.a. Ross The Produce Boss, Kelly came up with an idea to set the stage for the return of the show. “We designed two custom pairs of Indy Fruit Shoes.” They are manufactured by SoulsFeng and together with SoulsFeng’s owner David Feng, Kelly agreed to make his own custom line of produce inspired shoes.
How cool would it be to visit trade shows on a pair of produce inspired shoes? If you would like to have your own pair, contact Patrick Kelly directly. Next year, when his merchandise shop is updated, the shoes will just be a click away.
For more information:
Patrick Kelly
The Produce Industry Podcast
Tel: 559-594-7614
theproduceindustrypodcast@gmail.com
www.thepatrickkelly.com/merch