VANCOUVER, BC - Don’t ask me my favorite part, I could never choose. Vancouver is a city like no other I’ve visited, and our industry met beautiful British Columbia's backdrop with new offerings in both product and packaging for the 93rd Annual CPMA Convention and Trade Show. While so many items stood out, not the least of which were the well-deserved new product winners, here are a few I’m hoping you got a chance to experience.

Bay Baby Organic Delicata Squash

Net and mesh are in this season from what I was seeing on the show floor. No exception was the Organic Delicata Squash from Bay Baby, which offers a one-two-punch package deal: on-the-go convenience and an organic product. Both are buzzwords to our industry and the consumers we cater too, and both can be found in the company’s new two-pack. And not only do the squash themselves draw the eye, but a recipe card front-and-center shows curious new Delicata eaters how to begin their kitchen squash adventures. Bon appetit!

Atlas Produce Fresh Energy™ by Caramel Naturel Rebrand

I love when the design and brand meet in a cohesive middle. Fresh Energy™ in particular has a different-but-similar appearance between products that stands out: the same mountain-based image ties each date product together as one brand, but each label is a different, stand-out color that allows them to stand on their own. I can see this new edge reinvigorating loyal customers while attracting new ones.

SUNSET® Sugar Bombs™

Fitting right in with the Randy Bachman conclusion to CPMA was the rock n’ roll design of the new SUNSET® innovation, Sugar Bombs™. Making its product debut at the company booth, these vibrant red tomatoes are presented beautifully on the vine, with nothing but a clear package, keeping consumers from reaching out and plucking a tomato right off. Party platter? Produce alternative to a charcuterie plate? Let your imagination run with it!

Thomas Fresh White Turmeric and Ginger

As I said previously, mesh and netting were a standout option for this round in Canadian product appeal. Another standout in consumer trends is the continued quest for superfoods and their healing properties. I found these things wrapped up in conveniently-sized, attractive-yet-breathable mesh toppers presenting Thomas Fresh’s white turmeric and ginger. Yes, white turmeric has now been added to my ever-expanding repertoire of produce items to know. I’m expecting to see this available with Kombucha soon.  

Frank & Able Tomatoes on the Vine

If you swung by Oppy’s booth, you likely saw an artisan-style, dark brand showcasing some new greenhouse-grown tomatoes on the vine. If you didn’t, this is a brand worth looking into. With sketched-style imagery on the boxes and a fun brand depicting care-free, fun family roots, this checks off all the boxes for story-seeking consumers looking for a good name to add to their kitchen. And having been grown in a protected environment, these tomatoes are beautiful on and off the vine, and available throughout the year.

While I was sorry to leave Vancouver, I’m excited to see how CPMA 2019 will raise the bar it set for itself this year as the industry returns to Montreal. Stay tuned for more coverage from the hit show.