“We are looking forward to the Florida blueberry season this year,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News in early March. “As of now, we continue to bring product into our Pompano facility from offshore, such as asparagus, which we grow and import from Peru year-round. When Peru is in its slower season our Mexican volumes pick up, but Peru continues to move in conjunction with the Mexican movement.”

In recent times Southern Specialties has evolved into a leader in introducing “Fair Trade” certified French beans. The company began shipping the “Fair Trade” program under its “Today’s Gourmet” label, but Eagle said that in March it was preparing for its first shipments under the company’s popular and well-known “Southern Specialties” brand name. It will have both labels available for its customers going forward.

“‘Fair Trade’ reflects Southern Specialties’ continuing commitment to local growing communities,” said Eagle. “We are now looking at other product categories in our goal of expanding our ‘Fair Trade’ presence, and at the same time further defining the possibilities and the growing demand for certified product.”

Eagle had just returned from the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event when he spoke to The Produce News.

“It was an outstanding event as always,” he said. “We had the opportunity to meet with existing customers, potentially new customers and to solidify and renew relationships that we have had in the past with people who are interested in our current product line and programs. Overall, the venue was terrific, and people who attend always seem to enjoy not only the business aspect but also the extracurricular programs that Southern Exposure offers.”

The Southern Exposure event also gave Southern Specialties the opportunity to introduce the company’s newly hired vice president of sales, Geno Valdes, to many of the visitors to its booth.

“We also introduced a new product at Southern Exposure that we feel has strong future potential,” said Eagle. “It is asparagus tenders in a steam pouch. The asparagus is trimmed and ready to eat. The gusseted pouch is designed to truly steam the product perfectly. The result is exceptional flavor. The item is being sold under our ‘Southern Selects’ brand name.”

Southern Specialties was founded in 1990 by Robert Colescott, president and chief executive officer of the company. His original mission was to provide the finest restaurants and hotels in the nation with the best quality specialty produce. After years of success as a grower and supplier to the foodservice industry, it expanded its product line to include a variety of offerings for the retail sector. Today “Southern Selects” and other company brands are recognized at major retailers and club stores, while it continues to be a major supplier to foodservice operations across the nation.

Over the years the company’s product line has expanded to include numerous high-quality specialty products and value-added product packaging. The line includes sugar snap and snow peas, baby carrots, Brussels sprouts and English peas.

A fully integrated supply chain company, Southern Specialties distributes products from Pompano Beach, McAllen, TX, and Los Angeles.