BAKERSFIELD, CA - If you feel like trick-or-treating the cyber aisles of PMA Fresh Summit, we have a hint for which house to hit. Grimmway Farms has announced a plethora of treats, all in the form of new products and sustainable packaging initiatives.

The company’s organic division, Cal-Organic Farms, is debuting Rainbow Carrot Chips in 12-ounce retail packs—an exciting snacking option in a convenient resealable bag—and Baby Bok Choy in 3-count clamshell containers. The baby bok clamshell protects quality through transit, especially helpful considering an increase in online grocery shopping and delivery.

“Growth of organic produce continues at a strong pace, and despite economic challenges, consumers show no indication of shifting their purchases away from organic fruits and vegetables,” said Jeff Huckaby, President. “We continue to expand our certified organic acreage, and we’ve established programs in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast to extend our growing seasons. This is helping us widen availability windows for seasonal commodities and recognize efficiencies that will help us meet increasing demand.”

With a virtual plan for Fresh Summit this year, Grimmway is taking the new direction for its booth as a stage to debut a heightened focus on bringing innovative products to market like the new organic items, as well as reducing waste among its packaging materials and helping increase access to fresh produce.

“Innovation has always been the root of our growth,” said Eric Proffitt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We listen and work closely with our customers to create items their shoppers want, and we’re committed to rigorous testing to develop products that will sell.”

The company has engineered a case made of polypropylene (PP) which is 100 percent recyclable and weighs about half as much as a competing wax and fiber carton.

“When it comes to packaging, our commitment to quality is twofold. We’re seeking solutions that will help us deliver our produce safely, however we’re also looking for materials that can meet this end while creating minimal impact on our environment,” said Jason Higbee, General Manager of Cal-Organic and Corporate Procurement. “When our packaging uses less material, weighs less, and is the right size to protect our product, we can pack more vegetables into each delivery, resulting in less wax consumed and less fuel burned.”

The company has also converted more than 25 products to ship in cases with optimized dimensions, reducing materials used while improving palletization.

In addition to new products and packaging options, Cal-Organic is promoting the upcoming seasonal red carrot program, available December through March, as well as its new crop potato, dry onion, and sweet corn programs, slated to begin shipping in May.

The shift to a virtual venue presents a silver lining everyone in the industry can support, according to a press release, with new event sponsorship opportunities that directly benefit charity. Grimmway noted that its commitment to empowering families through nutrition education and delivering healthy produce to those in need made the opportunity to partner with Houston, Texas-based non-profit Brighter Bites a perfect fit. This year Brighter Bites was selected as the first-ever nonprofit recipient of the annual SUNSET Rocks concert, with Grimmway as a proud sponsor for the virtual benefit.

While it may look a little different, this will still be the 23^rd consecutive year Grimmway has exhibited at PMA Fresh Summit, transforming its in-person booth to a virtual experience that allows visitors to tour a diverse set of growing regions and learn about the company’s expanding carrot and organic farming operations.

If you are registered, click here to locate the Grimmway booth!

Grimmway Farms