PALM DESERT, Calif. — Attendees teed off at the West Coast Produce Expo's golf-themed reception while wearing their best plaid and argyle and snacking on desserts. Expogoers also had a chance to try a round of putt-putt or even hop in a golf simulator to assess their swing.
When tour participants visited the North Shore Living Herbs and Greens facility in Thermal, Calif., they took home a golf scorecard asking for tidbits of knowledge learned while on the facility visit. Tourgoers needed to fill in the card, drop it off at the North Shore booth at West Coast Produce Expo and those with the lowest “golf” score got a chance at a gift card.
The team at North Shore Living Herbs and Greens said the golf card was quite popular and tourgoers continued to swing by to enter in the contest.
What also kept people coming back to the North Shore Living Herbs and Greens booth was the promise of its popular mint cookies and cream popsicles, made with the company's fresh mint.
While at the booth, visitors expressed interest in shipping the company's clamshell products seen on the tour as well as its potted mint, which North Shore displayed at the expo's golf-themed reception.
Overall, the North Shore living team said it was a good show for them.
“We've had a lot of people stop by,” said Suzette Overgaag, co-owner of North Shore Living Herbs and Greens.
The start to the field-grown red pepper season in California's Coachella Valley was a hot topic among visitors to the Irigoyen Farms booth. Visitors also checked in to see about bell pepper availability.
Exhibiting at the West Coast Produce Expo just makes sense, said Garrett Rodgers, sales manager for the Selma, Calif.-based organization.
“We farm in this area, so it makes sense to be around,” he said. “Here at this show, there's a lot of meaningful conversations. Buyers are stopping by intentionally.”
The Zespri Team sported Kiwi Brothers polo shirts while manning the company's booth. While the focus was on the Kiwi Brothers — Green and Sungold — the company also highlighted its RubyRed kiwifruit.
Zespri had a test market for its RubyRed kiwifruit on the West Coast this year.
“It was a fantastic early start to the season,” said Bob Tillemans, USA market manager for Zespri. “We got great feedback about RubyRed.”
Tillemans said people came by the West Coast Produce Expo booth to ask about when it will be back in season, noting it was a successful test run for the company.
Other things of note at the Zespri booth were the increase in household penetration of kiwifruit. Tillemans said this is due in part to a good sales team and fantastic retailers.
“How can you not have fun with kiwi?” Tillemans said.
“People know us as the apple guys,” said Dave Diago, director of business development for CDS Distributing. That's why the theme of the company's West Coast Produce Expo booth was “the CDS Bunch” to draw attention to its other produce offerings.
That includes citrus, pears, stone fruit, limes, peppers, tropicals, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, avocados, mangoes, tomatoes, pineapples, berries, grapes, melon, squash, corn, carrots, eggplant, cherries and more.
Diago said conversations at the company's booth included, “How do we get more items for customers?”
Villamex Farms, a lime grower and packer headquartered in Texas, talked about the its packing facility in the state. The company, which specializes in key limes and conventional and organic limes, also packs for private labels, said David Villasenor, president of Villamex Farms.
“We pack to our customers' needs,” he said.
Mushroom King Farms is the largest spec mushroom grower in the country, said Joshua Ho, CEO and general manager of the Morganville, N.J.-based company.
Ho said the company grew about 100,000 pounds of shiitake mushrooms last year.
Ho said he saw an opportunity in how shiitake mushrooms were grown and packaged, and now the company offers flat, open shiitake mushrooms, which offer a better shelf life.
The company also offers seven different sizes of shiitake mushrooms, which can be customized for the retailer.
For example, Ho said, a 100-gram package might only feature five or six shiitake mushrooms, but they're a uniform size, which makes it easier for the consumers.
“When they get them home, they know what to do with them,” he said.
More from West Coast Produce Expo 2025:
- Seen and heard at West Coast Produce Expo 2025: From cherries to mushrooms and more
- Seen and heard at West Coast Produce Expo 2025
- Seen and heard at West Coast Produce Expo 2025: New exhibitors, new products
- West Coast Produce Expo's tour spotlights fresh production
- West Coast Produce Expo 2025 celebrates Women in Produce
- WCPE donates 19,000 pounds of produce to communities in need