Ocean Mist to serve up flavor innovations on the IFPA expo floor
Ocean Mist to serve up flavor innovations on the IFPA expo floor
Showcasing a new product with splashy displays on the expo floor during the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show is one of the benefits of exhibiting at the annual event.
Taking the extra step of highlighting a fresh fruit, vegetable or value-added product — whether it’s a new item or not — through sampling takes the experience to another level.
Ocean Mist Farms will be serving samples of its Roastables Ready-to-Roast kits during the expo, at booth No. 3261. The company launched the first three items in this line, now seven items strong, at the IFPA event in 2024.
“The opportunity to welcome visitors into our booth and share Roastables samples gives us a unique opportunity to connect directly with customers and attendees while gathering immediate feedback on our Roastables,” said Lori Bigras, communications manager at Ocean Mist Farms. “Preparing and sampling items boothside consistently generates excitement, draws people in and creates meaningful engagement.”
Phase I of the company’s popular innovation included washed and halved Brussels sprouts, each with a unique chef-crafted flavor, including Sweet Sesame, Lemon Caesar and Sun-Dried Tomato.
Within months of their debut at IFPA 2024, Ocean Mist was honored to receive the prestigious Joe Nucci Innovation Award at the New York Produce Show & Conference, recognizing it as the “best product innovation in service of expanding fresh fruit and vegetable consumption. The award validated both the successful launch and the kits’ alignment with consumer demand for nutritious, on-trend meal solutions,” Bigras said.
Building on the momentum garnered by the release of Phase I, this spring Ocean Mist launched four new Roastables items in Phase II at Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show. These new items include washed and trimmed broccoli florets and cauliflower florets in four new flavors — all of which will be sampled at IFPA in October. These flavors include:
- Broccoli florets in Zesty Herb
- Broccoli florets in Sweet Teriyaki
- Cauliflower florets in Spicy Buffalo
- Cauliflower florets in Parmesan & Black Pepper
When visitors drop by the booth, whether for a quick Roastables sample, or to learn about Ocean Mist products, there will be plenty of representatives on hand. Bigras said the company usually has 12-15 people at the show, but because it’s in the home state of Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms, it plans to have about 25 people at the event.
Bigras said Ocean Mist will have its full line of commodity and value-added items, in addition to its complete Roastables line at the show.
She said attending and exhibiting at the IFPA show, the largest for U.S. fruit and vegetables, is very important to the organization.
“The benefits are many — ranging from the visibility that comes with exhibiting at this show to the opportunity to engage in-person with our valued customers, and to connect with retailers interested in learning more about our company and product line, with the potential to generate new leads and even new business,” Bigras said.
