“Peruvian asparagus, both green and white, are currently hitting their stride,” Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News in late August. “We are looking forward to another year as ‘the’ leading grower and importer of fresh asparagus from Peru.”

The company’s asparagus programs offer customers numerous packaging choices. Its traditional one-pound bunches, packed 11 to a box is a popular pack with foodservice operators.

Its value-added packages, which carry the “Southern Selects“ brand name, are available in numerous sizes and packages, including microwavable packs, for retail and club stores. Southern Specialties also offers private labeling detailed specifically for every customer.

Eagle added that purple asparagus is expected to arrive in the United States by October.

Southern Specialties is also gearing up for its French bean program for the holidays.

“This continues to be a strong growth category for our company,” said Eagle. “Our hand-selected French beans are pre-trimmed on the stem end, making them a favorite among chefs, and consumers love the convenience. The program includes eight-ounce, one- and two-pound microwavable bags, as well as two-pound resealable pouch bags with handles. We also offer foodservice packs in performance extended shelf life packaging.”

This season Southern Specialties has expanded its Persian lime program from Guatemala, and it will be transitioning it to the “Southern Selects“ label.

“Limes from our company have been marketed under the ‘Paradise Tropicals’ label for the past several years, but we are making this transition to ‘Southern Selects’ with exciting new boxes and PLU stickers,” said Eagle. “We will offer limes in traditional bruce and pony boxes, as well as two- and three-pound bags.”

He stressed that Persian limes from Guatemala have a higher juice content and greater flavor than limes from Mexico.

“Southern Selects“ Regal artichokes began running in late July and will continue into November. The medium-size artichokes have a purple tint, a sign of sweetness, and are packed in clear four-count bags that incorporate performance technology. The high-graphic label has nutritional information and cooking instructions in both English and French for the domestic and Canadian markets. Regal artichokes are also available in 10-pound bulk cases that are ideal for foodservice customers and bulk retail displays. Eagle said the program has been a growing success since the company started it three years ago.

He also noted that, at least for Southern Specialties, the specialty category is doing better than ever today.

“We attribute this to the growth of the category in the retail arena,” said Eagle. “Growing consumer awareness of the flavors, colors and nutritional values of these products that we grow and market make them very tempting for today’s home cooks. They are sometimes introduced to a new item at a restaurant, but once they have tried them they want to include them in their own prepared meals.”

For the past several years, Southern Specialties has been growing and shipping radicchio from its farms in Guatemala.

“The experience we have gained over those years is reaping rewards in our ability to refine the varieties and the growing methods we use,” said Eagle. “We are proud to offer high-quality radicchio that is being sought by chefs nationwide today.”

He noted that recent news articles have indicated that radicchio may be gaining “super food” recognition.

“We offer radicchio in nine- and 12-count boxes with year-round availability,” said Eagle. “As with the other popular products in Southern Specialties’ line, we are also producing other radicchio varieties that will ultimately expand this category.”

The company’s year-round Brussels sprouts program from Guatemala was gearing up to begin in early September

“Our Brussels sprouts are all hand peeled for ease of use and quick cooking,” said Eagle. “We offer foodservice and retail packages. For retail our eight-ounce ‘Southern Selects’ microwave package is very popular. We also offer one- and two-pound pouch resealable bags with handles. Our 15-pound case for foodservice operators contains six, two-and-a-half-pound performance bags that enhance shelf life, food safety and ease of inventory control.”