The International Fresh Produce Association welcomed produce suppliers, foodservice innovators, chefs, menu planners and others to the first Foodservice Conference as a part of the IFPA banner (41st in Monterey). With a record high of almost 2000 registered attendees, the Foodservice Conference illustrated that demand is strong for foodservice and produce connections.

The IFPA Foodservice Conference kicked off July 28 in Monterey, CA. Attendees took part in buyer meetings, made new business connections and got together with old friends. After the general session "An Afternoon with Robert Irvine," attendees headed to a networking reception at The Barns and concluded with the Church Brothers Farms' IFPA Ranch Party.

The International Fresh Produce Association’s Foodservice Conference is nearly here, and this year’s event will see a record number of buyers attending, a sign of the strong appetite for putting produce on the plate at all foodservice outlets.

Basin Gold Cooperative and Sun-Glo will represent Fresh Solutions Network LLC at booth No. 512 at this week’s IFPA Foodservice Expo in Monterey, CA.  They will be featuring A Cut Above fresh potatoes, select Idaho Russets, and a full range of onions (red, yellow and white).  A Cut Above potatoes use select white and Russet potato varieties to yield consistently superior house-made baked, mashed, potato chips and French fries.

Foodservice has always been an important part of Gold Coast Packing’s business and has helped the company thrive through the years.

“Recently we have started to focus a lot on the retail sector and offer more items for our retail customers,” said Crystal Chavez, marketing coordinator for the Santa Maria, CA-based company. “Still, the majority of our offerings remain foodservice-focused.”

Baldor Specialty Foods partners with more than 1,000 farms to supply food items to restaurants, wholesalers, corporate foodservice, schools, hospitals and more — but foodservice has long been its bread and butter.

“The success of our foodservice business has allowed us to venture into other sales channels,” said Benjamin Walker, senior vice president of sales, marketing and merchandising for the Bronx, NY-based company.