“Our company will be engaging visitors at the 2015 Southern Exposure Conference & Expo to experience our featured product, ‘Wild Wonders,’ among other signature ‘Sunset’ brands,” said Daniela Ferro, communications coordinator for Mastronardi Produce/Sunset, headquartered in Kingsville, Ontario, CA. “We will also be showing off our ‘Eco Flavor Bowl’ which uses at least 20 percent less packaging than traditional clamshells.”

Visitors at Southern Exposure will also get a chance to try Mastronardi’s “Y.E.L.O.” cocktail tomatoes produced in the same greenhouse that brought the popular “Campari” tomatoes to consumers.

“Sliced or juiced, ‘Y.E.L.O.’ is the perfect way to energize, with 50 percent more vitamin C than large tomatoes,” Ferro added.

The company will be exhibiting at Booth No. 406 at Southern Exposure, with what Ferro referred to as Mastronardi’s typical “good representation of its sales team” at the event. It has maintained membership with the Southeast Produce Council for seven years, and has been exhibiting at the annual event since it took membership.

“In this competitive market, ‘Sunset’ looks for opportunities to better understand how we can effectively meet retailers’ needs by offering a broad range of solutions in fresh-quality produce, packaging and logistics,” Ferro pointed out. “As members of SEPC, and exhibitors at Southern Exposure, we are able to exhibit new products and developments and have the opportunity to engage with customers face to face.”

The company’s team participates in several activities at the event, including the Tom Page Golf Classic and sponsored gala party.

“We feel it is important to grow our relationships so we can continue to exceed customer expectations,” added Ferro. “We are a silver level sponsor of the event, and we are sponsoring the opening gala party.”

Mastronardi, Ferro noted, is proud to announce its most recent greenhouse venture: Pepperco USA, an extension of its Coldwater Farms facility in Coldwater, MI.

Ferro explained that when Phase II of the project was completed last August, the company decided to continue expanding the acreage there.

In a Jan. 11 press release issued by Mastronardi, Chief Executive Officer, Paul Mastronardi stated, “After the recent completion of Phase II, we decided to carry on expanding our Coldwater greenhouses to 100 acres. We’ve already established a strong demand for our Michigan grown tomatoes from retailers and were overwhelmed with the response from consumers. We’re anticipating even more enthusiasm for local ‘Sunset’ peppers this spring.”

Ferro pointed out that since opening its Coldwater facility in 2012, Mastronardi has been leading the industry with advanced greenhouse technology to combat frigid Michigan winters and bring fresh summertime flavor to the Midwest in a sustainable way.

“Consumers’ increasing desire to live a healthy lifestyle, reduce obesity and promote healthy in-school programs has been a great asset to the greenhouse business and the many ‘Sunset’ brands,” she said.