Produce News Facebook  Produce News Twitter  Produce News LinkedIn  Produce News Instagram

PMA Fresh Summit was a great success for Southern Specialties

What are the components that add up to an outstanding PMA Fresh Summit? For Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, it is a combination of a great turnout at its booth, tremendous response to the products and initiatives it was showcasing and having a really good booth position that exposed it to a tremendous amount of traffic.

Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development, told The Produce News that many of its business partners and others had the opportunity to meet the company’s new director of sales, Kristen Francisco, who joined the company from Southern California-based Gourmet Trading.ColescottRobert Colescott

“Kristen began working at our Pompano Beach location in October,” said Eagle. “She is responsible for leading the sales team, developing pricing, inventory management and coordinating promotions with the company’s procurement department.”

Corporate executive chef for Legacy Restaurant Partners, Christopher Blobaum, was at the Southern Specialties booth cooking up some delectable treats, many from the “Southern Selects” line of branded products, for visitors to enjoy. One included the company’s new Kalettes, a cross between kale and Brussels sprouts.

“The result is a fresh fusion of sweet and nutty,” said Eagle. “Chef Blobaum served a beautiful Kalettes salad with cranberries, toasted pine nuts and warm bacon dressing.”

“Southern Specialties is one of several licensed growers of Kalettes, which is being conveyed as the newest superfood in the marketplace,” added Eagle.

“Chef Blobaum also served a wonderful Brussels sprouts slaw with julienned mango, and a mango banana smoothie with flax seed,” said Eagle.

Southern Specialties also took the Fresh Summit opportunity to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The event was held at the J.B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavilion at the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

“We hosted a significant number of people from our grower community, customers and friends,” said Eagle.

Also as a part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the company launched a new advertising and marketing campaign that projects and responds to today’s lifestyles and food choices.

“We decided to use live models who are employees, family members and friends in our advertisements going forward,” explained Eagle.

The verbiage used in the campaign keeps pace with the new lifestyle image of consumers the company draws, and the ads reflect the precise message the company wants to project into the future.

“Overall, we enjoyed outstanding responses from visitors to our booth,” said Eagle. “It was wonderful to see our existing customers, and we have strong reason to believe that we’ll be gaining new customers as result of Fresh Summit.”

Print
Read more

Smith family expands partnerships while preserving roots and preparing next generation

By
John Groh

For generations, the Smith name has been synonymous with produce, particularly in Maine, where the family’s farming roots run deep. As another summer harvest begins, the Smith family is preparing to transition production back to its home fields in northern Maine, a seasonal milestone that reflects both the company’s heritage and its continued evolution. 

Today, the sixth-generation operation continues to expand its network of growing partnerships, broaden its product offerings and position itself for long-term growth.

Top Brass builds on quality and innovation for 2026 California grape season

By
Keith Loria

As California’s table grape harvest gains momentum, Top Brass Produce is entering the 2026 season with confidence, buoyed by excellent fruit quality, growing harvest volumes and continued consumer demand for premium grape varieties.

In the Trenches: The unprofitable and senseless banana price mess

By
Ron Pelger

Isn’t it time to end the 40-year banana price war?

Produce directors warn senior leadership that banana retails must increase because the fruit is being sold below cost, generating a negative gross profit. Executives refuse to act, choosing instead to absorb millions of dollars in losses. 

This decision doesn’t just cripple the company’s bottom line — it undermines the very farmers whose livelihoods depend on receiving a fair return for the bananas they grow. 

Ben B. Schwartz & Sons looks to strengthen foodservice partnerships at IFPA conference

By
Keith Loria

As the fresh produce industry prepares to gather for the IFPA Foodservice Conference, Ben B. Schwartz & Sons is focused on expanding its reach, strengthening customer relationships and identifying new opportunities for growth in the foodservice channel.

By leveraging its Midwest location and existing transportation network, the company has been able to efficiently serve a growing number of customers while maintaining the service levels that have long been central to its business.

Holt celebrates 100 years while investing in the future of perishables

By
John Groh

As Holt marks its 100th anniversary in 2026, the family-owned business is celebrating a century of growth while making some of the largest investments in its history to strengthen the Delaware River's position as North America's premier gateway for fresh produce and refrigerated cargo.

Since 1926, when Leo Holt Sr. purchased a single truck, the business has grown over four generations into one of the nation's leading transportation, marine terminal and logistics providers.

Market Basket recognized by U.S. News & World Report

Market Basket has been named the 2026-2027 best private consumer products company to work for by U.S. News & World Report, a global authority on rankings and consumer advice.

Market Basket topped the rankings of nearly 1,100 privately held consumer products companies with at least 5,000 employees across 14 industries. Companies did not submit data, apply or pay a fee to be considered, according to U.S. News.

Copyright © 2025 The Produce News • Covering Fresh Produce Around the Globe Since 1897