TAMPA, FL - The Sunshine State may have been unseasonably cold, but our industry certainly brought the heat into what was left of winter. Produce pros turned up to the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure ready to kick 2020 off right, and there are a few products and packages left seared in my mind as we look to spring.

B&W Quality Growers True Red Leaf Kale

No longer is it just about “going green,” and anyone who wants consumers snapping photos of their plates should be thrilled. B&W Quality Growers is bringing a new flair to Kale’s former celebrity with this bright spin. Red—the attention-getter, the color of fast cars and daring lipsticks—is ever the queen of catching the eye, and this latest produce launch is no exception.

IMG Citrus White Grapefruit

If my picks speak to what 2020 will be about for me, it’s the stand-outs, the spin-offs, the deviations from what you would typically see in an otherwise familiar category. Much like red kale, I was intrigued particularly by the giant lemon-y appearance of IMG’s white grapefruit and was sold by a distinct sweetness out of the norm for the category. I’m now convinced sampling this alternative option in-store would win consumers, not to mention give buyers a color break in their department.

Pete’s Butter Stuffers

There is a clean, beautiful simplicity to Pete’s latest launch. Butter Stuffers answer today’s call for healthy alternatives on the go. If it wasn’t for the decision to showcase the products’ bright and inviting contents, the packaging could have just been a lunch box. This is undoubtedly a perfect solution for retailers looking to get into the meal kit game without getting into the meal kit game.

Topline Farms Snacking Cucumber

I have always judged my produce by the crunch. I want that movie sound that always makes me crave an apple, a pear, a pickle...and now its parent, the cucumber. It is no secret that snacking is the burgeoning frontier for fresh produce, and Topline is looking to bring the crunch away from chips and cookies into the realm of veggies. I am here for it, and I imagine there are several shoppers behind me.

Wilcox Yellow Flesh Russet Potato

A staple in more ways than one, it seems like potatoes could simply ride the wave of being a necessity with any meal. Yet innovation and experimentation continue, and it’s looking golden. Those who swung by Wilcox know what I mean, having set their eyes on the newly launched yellow flesh russets. Consumers who might have shied away from the traditional brown russets’ misconceptions can now find their gateway spud in this variety while steadfast fans find their love renewed.

If the rest of this calendar year is anything like its start, we are looking at some raging 20s for fresh produce.