Florida Classic Growers has been involved in the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure show ever since the very first edition of the big event. Now, as it gets ready to participate in this year’s show in Orlando, the company will be sharing items that are grown right in the Sunshine State.

“We’ll be exhibiting Florida citrus, Florida blueberries, as well as Florida peaches,” said Al Finch, president of Florida Classic Growers, based in Lake Hamilton, FL. “We look forward to the show each year because it provides a great platform for networking opportunities between buyers and sellers. It’s just such a great venue and we’re very glad to be a part of it.”

Four members of the Florida Classic Growers team will be at the show, and Finch said that over the four days, they’ll be meeting with customers and their fellow produce professionals to discuss business opportunities as well as industry trends.

One way the show is important and helpful is that it offers individuals in the produce world to talk about some of the topics and issues that are impacting the produce business. Finch expects logistics to be one of those big topics of discussion in Orlando.

The past two years have been some of the strangest, but Florida Classic Growers has been able to succeed during these challenging times, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its team of knowledgeable produce professionals.

Regarding 2022, Finch said the company is busy with its Florida citrus season, which started in September, and it is expecting to embark on its blueberry season in about a month.

“We’re looking forward to having a good season,” Finch said. “The Florida blueberry window really fills the void of when Mexico and Chile are finishing production and before Georgia starts production in May. So, we’re looking forward to having that window, exclusively for Florida, blueberries in the month of April.”

The company offers blueberries in three clamshell sizes — 4.4 ounces, 6 ounces, and a dry pint — under its Florida Classic label. Finch noted that demand for blueberries is strong among consumers, not only for their delicious taste and the variety of ways they can be used, but for the well-known health benefits.

“Blueberries are great for antioxidants and people are looking for healthy choices,” he added. “The citrus category has exploded during the pandemic over this last year, and I think that has transcended over to the blueberry category, as well.”

He further explained that people have been looking for all kinds of fruits and vegetables in the quest to eat healthy during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida Classic Growers’ rich history dates to 1924, as it is owned by Dundee CGA and is the exclusive marketer of the Florida Classic label. The company ships a full line of Florida citrus, such as grapefruit (dark reds, reds and whites), kumquats, navels, oranges, pummelos and tangerines. It also offers Florida blueberries and tree-ripened peaches. It provides these fruits to major retailers, wholesalers and food service distributors throughout the United States and Canada.

The company operates two technologically advanced packing facilities for all of its products, and its combined cooler capacity is nearly 100,000 square feet.

Finch said Florida Classic Growers’ success comes down to its commitment to quality, and its extraordinary level of service that is defined by the company’s commitment to make buying “stress free” for its partners.

“We provide the highest quality in Florida citrus, blueberries and peaches, and one of the unique things about us is that we offer one-stop loading available,” he said. “So, with the trucking issues, we offer our retail and foodservice customers all three — citrus, blueberries and peaches — at one location. We strive to help during these times as far as being able to help fulfill the needs of our customers with these products.”