Gold Coast Packing showcasing chopped cilantro and bite-size broccoli at IFPA Foodservice

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.”

Some of the company’s top items are broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, spinach and Brussels sprouts.
Later this month, the company will be touting these items and more when it heads to the IFPA Foodservice Show, exhibiting at booth No. 800.

“The show is always a good time for us and the perfect opportunity to share with the industry what Gold Coast is all about,” Chavez said. “We will be sharing our lineup of foodservice items including our two newest items, chopped cilantro and bite-size broccoli.”

Although chopped cilantro technically is not a new item for the company — as it has offered it for decades — there have been recent improvements.

“Our previous chopped cilantro had an 11-day shelf life, but our new and improved chopped cilantro has a 16-day shelf life,” Chavez said. “Our product development and innovation team worked really hard on this item to get it to the prolonged shelf life. Our team worked with packaging suppliers and our production plant to perfect the process and reach the maximum time for freshness.”

With the extended life on the chopped cilantro, which is offered in a 2 x 12-ounce foodservice pack, it is now able to travel to reach foodservice operators across the country.

“In addition to showcasing that at the show, we will also be sharing our new bite-size broccoli,” Chavez said. “This is a smaller cut, broccoli floret that is the perfect fork-able size. This item was created after many requests from our customer for a smaller floret cut. This item is available in 4x5-pound pack size.”

At the booth, there will also be a selection of the company’s foodservice offerings, from small portion-packs, perfect for grab-n-go or schools, to two- and three-pound packs that help cut labor in the back of the house, plus Gold Coast’s larger bulk packs that are great for industrial accounts.

“I think labor shortage will be a big topic on the show floor,” Chavez said. “The conversation will focus on that and how we as growers and processors can help the foodservice industry by providing products that cut back on labor and simplify prep. New innovative items are always a big topic at the Foodservice show, so we will be ready to wow visitors with our chopped cilantro and bite-sized broccoli.”

Preparing for the show means reviewing the attendee list and reaching out to current customers and setting up meetings and inviting them to come check out the new items at the booth.

The Foodservice show is always important for Gold Coast because it is such a large part of its business and it allows team members to be face-to-face with customers and to meet with new potential customers.

“We share with them who we are and what we do, while giving them the opportunity to see our products in our booth,” Chavez said. “Getting facetime with our customers, industry partners and friends, and making new connections is what we are hoping to get out of the show.”

Gold Coast is a sponsor of the IFPA Foodservice Closing Reception, and a signature cocktail will be served with its chopped cilantro, so it’s the perfect opportunity for attendees to wrap up the show with a cilantro cocktail and networking.