VANCOUVER, BC - Ah, CPMA—I’ve developed such fond memories of the premier Canadian food expo since I first stepped foot on the floor in Montreal for my first-ever produce convention. Now on my third trip to Canada in search of fresh produce innovations, I can certainly attest to CPMA’s ability to draw out the best and brightest the industry has to offer. Here’s just a small taste of what I relished in during my stay in Vancouver...

Naturipe Snacks - Fruit Cups

Gimme a cup of berries, a spork, and let me take on the world. At least, I feel like I can take on anything when I’m holding Naturipe Snacks’ fruit cups in my hand. The company’s perfectly portioned fresh fruit cups are packed with 5 ounces of fresh fruit and the favorite handy eating utensil of millennials, making a perfect grab-and-go snack for the consumer with a non-stop and fast-healthy lifestyle. Watch out world, here I come, berries in-hand.

Love Beets - Beet Salsa

Apologies to my friends at Love Beets for lingering at your booth so long, but did you get a load of this salsa?! Sweet with a light, spicy kick, the company’s SweetChili beets are combined with the perfect balance of fresh green pepper, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro to create the ultimate beet salsa experience. Praise to this innovative team for putting some extra earthy, healthy goodness in one of my favorite things to dip into.

EarthFresh Farms - Nutrispud Vitality Blend

If you’ve met me, you probably know I’m not the most passionate about performing athletics. However, I am a sucker for branding that takes my mind one step closer toward my fitness fantasies. A company that is achieving that goal expertly is EarthFresh Farms, with its new Nutrispud Vitality Blend. With fit-focused branding that highlights that one medium Vitality potato provides over four-fold the anthocyanins of a standard potato, I gotta say, I am on team Nutrispud.

Mann Packing - Basil Pesto Veggie Pasta Nourish Bowl™

I try to eat healthy, but sometimes I don’t want to have to try so hard! Here to come to my rescue is the card-cutting, meat product-reducing Mann Packing with its Basil Pesto Veggie Pasta Nourish Bowl. With fresh kohlrabi noodles that look and twirl like the real thing, as well as vegan Chick’n in the pesto sauce, your insides will practically be rejoicing with all the healthful spins. Now add shredded kale and grated Parmesan and you have a totally satisfying, plant-based, protein-packed meal in minutes.

Windset Farms® - Duet Snack Pack

Honestly, I walked up to these on the show because they were cute, but I walked away with a whole new respect for the genius behind the Duet Snack Pack. This irresistible pack from Windset Farms pairs super sweet mini grape tomatoes with bite-sized cucumbers, creating an on-the-go snack that makes it both easy and stylish to get your veggie fix on the run. I can see consumers like myself grabbing these without a second thought in the produce department or checkout aisle, completely bypassing the candy bar or chip bag that we often so begrudgingly cling to for lack of a better option.

Thank you CPMA, for continuing to bring me fond memories and fun innovations to bring home. Looking forward to returning to Montreal, where my produce show experience all started!