Taylor Farms Makes a Big Impression At United Fresh Expo in Chicago

Taylor Farms made a big splash at this year’s United Fresh Produce Association Expo, June 20-22 at McCormick Place in Chicago. At the event, we unveiled our latest salad innovation, participated in a major panel discussion, took home one major award and were a finalist for another of the organization’s most prestigious honors.

We’re thrilled that David Offerdahl, Taylor Farms’ Director of Ag Engineering, Harvest Automation, received the FreshTech Achievement Award during the expo in recognition of his outstanding service in the field of technology and automated harvesting.  United Fresh said the award “honors an individual who has made significant technical contributions to the fresh produce industry.”

David Offerdahl, Taylor Farms’ Director of Ag Engineering

Taylor Farms Team at United Fresh Show Floor

With its focus on produce innovation and creativity, The United Fresh Expo also was the perfect place for Taylor Farms to introduce the brand new Chef Crafted Salad Blends and to solidify our position as the fastest selling chopped salad kit brand with the most extensive line up in the industry.

Chef Crafted, our new product line featuring six distinctive blends that include unique greens, herbs, vegetables and fruit packaged together, was a finalist for a coveted Produce Innovation Award.  United Fresh focuses special attention on new products and innovations like Chef Crafted “because they contribute substantially to the fresh and fresh-cut produce industry’s success.”

Another highlight at the expo was a panel of produce company leaders, including Mark Campion, President of Taylor Farms Retail,  speaking on “Fresh Foods: The Retail Revolution.”

In his remarks, Campion said a key demographic shift among American consumers is the rise of dual income households. He said that, in 1960, only about 25 percent of U.S. households were dual income and will reach 70 percent by 2020.

He said the challenge to industry is to offer added value and convenience in quick “made in a minute” meal solutions.

“Fifteen years ago, bagged salads were an innovation, but that is no longer good enough,” he said noting that Taylor Farms’ new Chef Crafted Salads answer the call for greater sophistication and variety, offering herbs, fruits, veggies, leafy greens and other ingredients.

He also said about half of consumers eat meals by themselves and that Taylor Farms is looking at serving size and affordability as it reaches consumers in supermarkets, convenience stores and other alternative formats.

Every year, the United Fresh Produce Association brings together companies across every segment of the fresh produce supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.