For more than 25 years, Southern Specialties has been a leading grower, importer, processor and distributor of premium specialty produce. Founded in 1990 by Robert Colescott, president and chief executive officer, its mission was initially to provide the finest restaurants and hotels in the nation with the best quality specialty produce.

After years of success as a grower and supplier to the foodservice industry, it expanded its product line to include a variety of offerings for the retail sector.

The now highly demanded “Southern Selects” product line was developed to meet the needs of today’s educated consumer. Its category expertise has enabled the company to form lasting partnerships with the finest retailers, club stores and foodservice distributors in North America.

“Today’s consumer is interested more than ever in providing their families with healthful and flavorful fruits and vegetables,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for the Pompano Beach-based company. “The products Southern Specialties brings to market deliver many vitamins, minerals and health benefits that help maximize our quality of life.”

Stepping up to meet the increasing desire to want to know more about the nutritional aspects of the foods consumers buy today, Southern Specialties has created Southern Specialties Produce Nutrition Guide, a 43-page booklet prepared in-house by Lana Chehabeddine, the company’s administrator of nutritional marketing.

“The guide provides valuable nutritional information on a wide range of specialty products the company grows and markets,” said Chehabeddine. “The publication includes the latest facts on health benefits, a vitamin breakdown, seasonality and sourcing information.”

The packed-full of great information guide also provides growing facts on Southern Specialties’ extensive line of fruits and vegetables, including where the products are produced throughout the year. And it’s a treasure trove of information on vitamins and minerals, including the beneficial functions they have on the body.

The Summary of Health Benefits’ section is an easy to understand reference on how the colors of fresh produce correlate to each phytochemical and its role in disease prevention.

For those who get confused about the terminology used in nutritional analysis, the guide’s Nutritional Vocabulary section defines every term in easy to understand verbiage.

“We have conducted extensive research to bring you this comprehensive guide containing valuable information to help manage specialty produce categories,” added Chehabeddine. “We provide up-to-date nutrition, health and wellness, sourcing and seasonality facts that will increase your expertise and help consumers live a happier, healthier and longer life.”

“Today’s consumer is more interested than ever in providing their families with healthful and flavorful fruits and vegetables,” said Geno Valdes, chief operating officer of Southern Specialties. “The products we bring to market deliver many vitamins, minerals and health benefits that help maximize our quality of life.

“Lana has conducted extensive research to provide our customers up-to-date nutrition, health and wellness, sourcing and seasonality facts that will increase category expertise for our customers and help consumers live a happier, healthier and longer life,” he added.

Copies of Southern Specialties Produce Nutrition Guide are available on request made to any of the company’s account managers.