Southern Exposure is a favorite show for Turek Farms
Southern Exposure is a favorite show for Turek Farms
Turek Farms has been a presence at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure pretty much from the beginning, and the company is looking forward to the 2025 edition of the big event, as it seeks to build on existing connections and discover new business opportunities.
“Out of the different shows we do, it’s really kind of our favorite,” said Jason Turek, a partner at the King Ferry, NY-based company, as well as its marketing arm, Cayuga Produce. “It gets everybody together in some warm weather in a more intimate setting than some of the other shows.”
One of the advantages of attending SEPC is the opportunity to meet face-to-face with people from throughout the industry, and Turek looks forward to seeing some old friends.
“We see probably three-quarters of the people we do business with, and our goal is to shake their hand, catch them in a situation out of work, have a chat and connect,” he said. “It puts a face to a name and puts a human factor in there. You can visit someone at work, but the whole time you’re visiting, they’re busy. This kind of catches them in an atmosphere where they can let their hair down and get to know you.”
The show also offers a platform to meet new people and create new business relationships. “Initially they’ve heard about the company, but this platform gives them the opportunity to meet you, size you up and talk a little bit more,” Turek said. “I think everybody goes there with intentions in mind of who they’re looking to seek out for potential new business.”
The company will be setting up shop at booth No. 614. Turek said he expects that some new topics will be on people’s minds, since COVID-era issues like the availability of pallets and trucks are leveling off. Still, the industry is always evolving and facing new challenges, and the show gives produce professionals the chance to get together and share ideas about how to succeed and thrive.
“It’s a lot of bonding,” Turek said. “We find ourselves, a lot of times at these shows, hanging out with grower/shippers that do the same thing we do. It’s always great to create some goodwill and see some of your friendly grower/shipper competition and bounce ideas off them. That’s as important as meeting with customers.”
Turek Farms also has news to share as it is in the process of adding cold storage and dry storage to its enterprise.
“Our facility in Upstate New York was really designed for a lot less volume than what we’re actually trying to put through there,” Turek said. “I got tired of watching my group struggle to get product in and product out every day, so we’re trying to become more efficient. It’s in the same location and we’re redoing some buildings and building some new ones.”
That will allow Turek Farms to better serve its customers, and while Turek said the company doesn’t try a lot of new things on the growing side, it is interested in meeting with people who want something different.
“If there’s a customer that wants us to try some specialty pumpkin or specialty gourd, those are the things we’re trying to seek out at this show,” he said. “A chance to create something a little bit different.”
