AUSTIN, TX - While only in its third year, Viva Fresh Produce Expo has already proven to be an excellent space for the region’s best and brightest to pull out the products they want buyer eyes on the most. With that aim in mind, here are just a few of the new innovations the industry is bringing to the table.

Little Bear Produce's Honeysuckle Red Onions

Those who have spent time in the produce industry have heard tale of onions that are sweet enough to bite into like an apple, and while I myself am not brave enough to attempt that move, Little Bear’s new Honeysuckle Red Onion may be the one that convinces me to take the plunge. The secret behind this truly mild onion variety is in the low levels of pyruvic acid—providing Honeysuckle Reds a balance of flavors that consumers can’t get anywhere else. Make sure to get your hands on this one! 

Lone Star Citrus' Winter Sweetz Grapefruit

I am always thankful to Viva Fresh for giving me a great reason to head down to Texas. But once you’re there, make sure to get your mouth on a Texas red grapefruit. The temperate climate and rich soil found in the state’s Rio Grande Valley help create the uniquely sweet flavor found in Lone Star’s Winter Sweetz grapefruit. If you’re still scarred from the pucker-inducing grapefruit found at your grandmother’s breakfast table, I highly recommend giving this extra sweet offering another go.

Fox Solutions' Stand-up Combo® Bag

From the potato industry to citrus and beyond, a great pouch bag makes all the difference.  And with Fox Solutions’ proprietary technology and design, that difference is clear. Offering a product that’s both functional AND lovely to look at, Fox Solutions’ new Stand-up Combo® Bag features a convenient, flat bottom to easily display produce upright. The laminated mesh material makes for a product that’s recyclable and helps extend shelf-life, both effectively reducing shrink and making for an attention-grabber on the shelf. Sounds like a win-win to me!

Domex Superfresh Growers' Organic 2 Pound Pouch Bags

As I already mentioned, pouch bags are trending across the produce department, and Superfresh's organic pouches offer all those points that consumers clamor for. Portable, resealable, and recyclable—these are all points that resonate with consumers at large, but particularly organic consumers. Superfresh refers to these bags as “self-merchandising,” and with their high-graphic images and upright presentation, I can confirm that they’re certainly hard to ignore on the shelf.

With key innovations like these, we can't wait to see what Viva Fresh brings to the plate next year!

Little Bear Produce Lone Star Citrus Growers Fox Solutions Domex Superfresh Growers®