PMA Fresh Summit A Success For Both RPE & Fighting Hunger

Anaheim, Calif.—The booth for RPE Inc. was busy all weekend during the PMA Fresh Summit Convention and Expo on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. While some attendees were sampling Chef Joey Elenterio’s newest Tasteful Selections creation, loaded bite-sized bakes potatoes, and others were meeting Katie’s Krops founder Katie Stagliano or learning about RPE’s new organic potatoes and hunger fighting campaigns.

At PMA Fresh Summit, Tasteful Selections unveiled the newest addition to its line of specialty bite-sized potatoes: organics. Tasteful Selections’ new organic line, including the Ruby Sensation, signature flavor Honey Gold and Sunrise Medley varieties, were featured in the New Product Showcase as well as at RPE’s booth all weekend.

While Katie’s Krops founder and Chief Executive Gardener Katie Stagliano was at the RPE booth, attendees had the opportunity to stop by to meet Katie, take a picture with her and learn how they can help fight hunger in their communities. RPE donated $1 for each picture with Katie shared on social media and comment card filled out during the weekend.

The Growing Forward with Feeding America campaign launched during Fresh Summit and is a key part of RPE’s mission to help fight hunger, which includes supporting causes such as Katie’s Krops and donations to Wisconsin food banks. The cause marketing campaign aims to donate 1 million pounds of fresh produce to Feeding America in 2015, as fruits and vegetables are often in short supply at food banks around the nation.

“Fighting hunger is a cause very dear to us at RPE, and we’re ecstatic about how many people have gotten on board with us this weekend,” said Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE. “If everyone chips in, whether it’s cutting food waste or supporting a food bank, we can end hunger in the U.S.”

Tasteful Selections, LLC is a joint venture of RPE, CSS Farms and Plover River Farms Alliance, Inc. They are a vertically integrated grower, shipper, marketer of premium specialty potatoes with unique attributes for size and flavor.

RPE, a second generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.

Source: RPE Inc.