Some 18 Florida companies took part in the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit in New Orleans this past weekend -- an event that generated $77 million in sales of agricultural products from the Sunshine State.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam H. Putnam accompanied the companies and two agricultural associations on the department's annual trade mission to the event.
Florida products are second to none, and the demand for these products in the United States and abroad continues to grow, Putnam said in a statement released Monday. We are proud to partner with Floridas businesses to help them increase awareness and sales of their products to benefit the local and statewide economy.
Collectively, the companies estimated $28.2 million in sales of products on site and another $49.1 million in projected sales.
The Fresh Summit has more than 1,000 exhibitors and is attended by 18,000 participants from more than 60 countries. The Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain.
Attending from Florida were these businesses:
-- Agritrade Farms, Deerfield Beach: Okra, mini-cucumbers, other fruits and vegetables.
-- Agro Trading International, Coral Springs: Cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelons, mangoes, papaya and hothouse tomatoes.
-- Astin Strawberry Exchange, Plant City: Strawberries, squash, eggplant, cantaloupe and blueberries.
-- B&W Gourmet Farms, Fellsmere: Distinctive baby leaves, including watercress, wild baby arugula, red watercress and baby spinach.
-- Bejo Seeds, Monticello: Breeding, seed production, marketing and sales of commercial vegetable seed, including Tasti-Lee tomatoes.
-- BioXTEND Co., Naples: Post-harvest solutions, including air purification systems and temperature monitoring.
-- Brooks Tropicals, Homestead: Papayas, avocados and starfruit.
-- Dependable Packaging Solutions (DPS), Miami: Packaging and office supplies.
-- E Foods Inc., Altamonte Springs: Tomato distribution.
-- Florida Blueberry Growers Association, Bartow: Florida blueberries.
-- Florida Classic Growers, Dundee: Grower-owned cooperative for grapefruit, navels, oranges, tangerines and peaches.
-- Florida Strawberry Growers Association, Plant City: Fresh Florida strawberries.
-- J&J Family of Farms, Loxahatchee: Peppers, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers and other vegetables.
-- Mack Farms, Lake Wales: Potatoes, onions and watermelon.
-- Noble Juice, Winter Haven: Specialty citrus fruit, blueberries and tangerine juice.
-- Pioneer Growers, Belle Glade: Sweet corn, green beans, radishes, celery and cabbage.
-- S.M. Jones, Belle Glade: Sweet corn.
-- Scotlynn Sweet Pac, Belle Glade: Sweet corn, watermelon, green beans, radishes, leafy greens, pumpkins and other hothouse commodities.
-- Southern Corporate Packers, Immokalee: Produce shipping.
-- West Coast Mushrooms, Quincy: Fresh mushrooms.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services actively promotes Fresh From Florida products for domestic and international destinations. Florida products are distributed to more than 120 countries around the world, according to the department.
