The saying about not walking out of a popular box store for under $100? Fresh produce is my weakness, and what a good weakness to have.
**Twitter Party and trip sponsored by Kitchen PLAY on behalf of HBF International, Valley Fig, Sun-Maid, and Outrageously Fresh. All opinions are my own.**
Last year I had the opportunity to attend the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit. Last year it was located in Anaheim at the Convention Center and what an amazing sight to behold. Rows upon rows of fresh produce. What’s not to love? The colors. The flavors. The innovation. And I’m going back! I am excited to be heading to Fresh Summit 2015 in Atlanta later this week.
I’m excited to see what new produce is out there, discover new recipes, and meet with brands I use and love. But before I go, I’m taking part in a Twitter party this evening. Make sure to check out details for that below.
Here are some of the products and brands I am looking forward to looking out for.
Brands that are sponsoring our Twitter party
HBF International (Hurst Berries) – I love their berries and am excited to see them again. Last year they were sampling the most divine sugar covered cranberries. They are also taking part in tonight’s Twitter party and are offering a prize – cranberries and an apron. Mmmm, I’m thinking those berries would be perfect in my cranberry ginger crumble bars.
Sun-Maid – Who doesn’t know the Sun-Maid Girl? We love our raisins and go through so many. I’m looking forward to catching up with them as I met up with this company last year and learned how they harvest and dry raisins. It was so fascinating and I’ve been meaning to write about it. Perhaps I will finally get it done! In the meantime, they are also part of our Twitter party and are giving away raisins and baking products. Where do all our raisins go? Quite a few of them go into this staple breakfast recipe for homemade granola.
Valley Fig – This is another company I met at last year’s Fresh Summit. I was introduced to fig balsamic dressing and mission figlets. I’m addicted to those figlets, and they are coming back to my store for winter baking. Homemade fig newtons are on my test kitchen schedule. They are also giving away some products in our Twitter party tonight.
Outrageously Fresh – Another one of our Twitter party hosts, Outrageously Fresh grows both organic and conventional greenhouse produce. I’m looking forward to learning more about them. They are offering a $50 gift card to the winner’s choice of grocers.
Register for the Twitter Party here!
Follow #TeamFreshSummit, @kitchen_play, and @heatherlmccurdy
9 PM EST TONIGHT (10/20)
More Brands and Products
Frieda’s Produce – Love your starfruit, your ginger root, bitter melon, and all things hard to find? Frieda’s just might be the one who delivered them to your grocery store.
Dried Fruit – I can’t even begin to put one brand on this one. There are several brands I want to check out for different reasons. Our family uses dried fruit in so many things – from homemade granola to breakfast parfaits, and nut-free trail mixes. I’ll be seeing what is new on the market and especially want to see what non-GMO and/or organic options there are. I will say that I am looking forward to trying Stoneridge Orchards chili lime cherries and Montmorency tart cherries. I think those Montmorency cherries will be just the thing for a recipe I’ve been thinking about.
Sunkist – We love citrus in this house and I remember those little blue stickers all the way back to my childhood. Who else received a Sunkist orange in their Christmas stocking?
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice – I was introduced to this company at last year’s Fresh Summit and am looking forward to seeing what’s new with them.
Litehouse Herbs – I am a huge fan of herbs and spices. They are an affordable way to make good food better. I love Litehouse’s dried herbs. They are almost as close to fresh as you can get.
Gourmet Gardens – I always have their lightly dried herbs in my refrigerator. I also love their herb and spice pastes for easy meals. Their Thai Stir-in Seasoning is the best. I used it in a veggie and rice stir fry last week that was so delicious.
Fellow #TeamFreshSummit Members
Casey – Kitchen PLAY
Adriana – Adriana’s Best Recipes
Becky – A Calculated Whisk
Carole – Heirloom Meals
Emily – West of the Loop
Jane – The Heritage Cook
Linda T – Brunch with Joy
Linda W – The Orange Bee
Marly – Namely Marly
Sharon – What the Fork Food Blog
Susan – The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
Sara – Cook with 5 Kids