As the London Produce Show prepares its second edition June 3-5, 2015, many American organizations are re-evaluating their positions in the European produce market. Some of these organizations have previously shipped to Europe but stopped, while some are already making great inroads and want to accelerate. Many of these American organizations are taking the plunge for the first time.
In this series of articles, exclusively on PerishableNews.com, we identify what is leading these companies to look closer at Europe.
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Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) are eager to showcase the quality products the state produces at the London Produce Show and Conference. Nick Agostini and Kelly McIver, the NCDA’s assistant director of marketing and international marketing specialist, respectively, say they look forward to opening new markets for products such as North Carolina-grown sweet potatoes, melons and berries.
“The UK and European market is very important to the growers that the NCDA represents. Sweet potatoes have seen the most growth in this market. We at the NCDA actively promote them through trade, media and direct consumer advertisements. We offer year-round consistent quality from some of the nation’s largest and most reputable companies,” says McIver.
To assist buyers, the NCDA will host staff members from two of the state’s major produce companies at its booth. They are Kristi Hocutt and Tammy Crumpler, both in sales at Triple J Produce, and Sterling Cook, chief financial officer, and Juan Carlos Quintanilla and Dennis Harrell in sales at Southern Produce Distributors.
Triple J Produce, in Sims, NC, is a third generation-owned family farm where 1,000 acres of conventional and 100 acres of organic sweet potatoes are cultivated annually.
“Our goal at the London Produce Show is to make more one-on-one business relationships and gain extra customers in the UK,” says Hocutt.
Southern Produce Distributors, a seven decade old company in Faison, NC, is today one of the leading providers of high quality sweet potatoes and peppers to markets across the US, Canada, UK and Europe. More specifically, the company ships directly to the UK as well as into Rotterdam, Holland, where its sweet potatoes are then transported to France, Germany, Spain and Israel.
At the NCDA booth, the company will show some of its labels and pack size capabilities as well as hand out a brochure to educate buyers about sweet potatoes and how they are enjoyed.
“We have exported sweet potatoes to UK wholesalers for about 20 years. We’re interested in talking with retail buyers in the UK to find out where they see demand headed over the next decade,” explains Cook.
In 2013/2014, the UK became the largest export market for U.S. sweet potatoes by value of trade. This same crop year, Canada and the UK represented 77 percent of U.S. sweet potato exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service’s (ERS) May 1, 2015-released report, Vegetables and Pulses Outlook: Special Article.
“Not only are we interested in continuing this growth for our sweet potatoes, but also in the fruit sector. Our two companies, Triple J Produce and Southern Produce Distributors, will have a wide range of fresh products in addition to sweet potatoes on display at our booth. This includes blueberries and melons,” says the NCDA’s McIver.
North Carolina ranks 7th in the U.S. in blueberry production. The annual harvest hit a record 47 million pounds (fresh and processed), according to the NCDA’s May 2015-released, Marketing North Carolina Fruits & Vegetables, 2014 Crop. The state produces high-bush blueberry varieties from mid-May through Mid-July, and rabbiteye varieties extend the season to mid-August. Growers in the state are members of the North Carolina Blueberry Council.
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and specialties, such as the Spite melon, grow well in North Carolina and are available in July and August. Watermelon is a sizable crop, with the state ranked 8th in the nation for watermelon production, which in 2014 was nearly 130 million pounds, according to Marketing North Carolina Fruits & Vegetables, 2014 Crop. Growers in the state, as well as neighboring states, are members of the North Carolina Watermelon Association.
“The various products from North Carolina offer us such a wide range of opportunities. When it comes to sweet potatoes, we are seeing more impact in foodservice. For example, we’ve noticed greater availability of sweet potato fries and use of sweet potatoes in baked goods in restaurant menus all over the UK and Europe. For blueberries and other fruits like melons, we see increased opportunity in the wholesale area. We can help through education for trade and direct consumer audiences. This is an exciting time for our presence abroad,” explains McIver.
North Carolina is one of the most diverse agricultural states in the U.S. with over 50,000 farmers growing over 80 different commodities, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistical Services’ 2014 State Agriculture Overview for North Carolina. Fresh market fruits and vegetables include apples, bell peppers, blueberries, cucumbers, cabbage, melon, peaches, potatoes snap beans, squash, sweet corn, sweet potatoes and tomatoes. The Port of Wilmington, owned and operated by the North Carolina State Ports Authority, is one of the major South Atlantic ports with ample facilities large enough to handle containers and cargo.
Source: PerishableNews.com
