Category: Retailers & Foodservice

Index Fresh Peruvian Avocado Programs Offer Attractive Fixed Pricing throughout Summer

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Early Commitments Lock-In Pricing and Payoff throughout the Peruvian Season.

Hass avocados from Peru will be prime for selling to US consumers in time for the 2024 backyard barbecue season. Customers of Index Fresh, a global avocado marketing and distribution company, can count on availability of the premium Peruvian harvest throughout summer with attractive fixed pricing available on fruit secured now as part of prebooked, season-long programs for retail and foodservice.

“We anticipate opportunities for an abundance of Peruvian avocados entering the US supply chain late this spring and throughout summer,” said Dalila Rivera, Index Fresh VP of Sourcing. “The timing of Peruvian avocado arrivals is slightly earlier this year and perfect both for filling in a rare supply gap on Mexican avocado imports and for the Peruvian harvest to add an important and competitive fruit source for our customers throughout the season.”

Index Fresh delivers consistent supply from their three main sourcing destinations during the summer months — California, Mexico, and Peru — which will balance the market and stabilize US supplies all summer. Peruvian fruit will hit its primary harvest starting the last week of May and promotable volumes will arrive in the US throughout the season and into September. 

“A consistent, reliable harvest of quality fruit from Peru in this window is important this year and will continue to be a significant piece of the US avocado supply puzzle during the summer months,” Rivera said. “It’s guacamole season and the Peruvian program brings another attractive option into the market to expand consumer choices. Ordering now incentivizes steady shipments into U.S. ports at the best pricing available.” 

Index Fresh procurement and sales teams are actively building programs that meet summer demand. Locking in prices now adds predictability to costs and secures volumes at competitive rates that are stable throughout the summer season. Contact your Index Fresh Sales Representative today to take advantage of Peru’s avocado offering.

Index Fresh 2024 GEM Avocado Programs are Ready for Retail

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GEM Avocados’ Expand Category for Avo-Hungry Consumers Seeking Value & Variety

Index Fresh, California’s largest shipper of GEM avocados, kicks off their 2024 GEM season with an abundant crop poised to deliver quality and value to retailers and foodservice providers across North America. Gold-flecked GEM avocados will be available for a limited time from April to mid July, presenting retailers the unique opportunity to merchandise both size and variety at shelf. In addition, Index Fresh has partnered with several California banners to bolster their locally grown programs and educate consumers on the buttery, nutty flavor profile and sustainable growing practices of the Californian GEM.  

“Index Fresh is about giving our customers choices, so we always get excited when California GEMs are offered alongside Hass,” said Bobby Fingerlin, Index Fresh Sales and Business Development team member. “We recently showcased 2-count and 3-count value-added GEM bags at the Viva Fresh Expo and received very positive feedback on the value and packaging that differentiates our GEMs at retail; our new label includes call outs on flavor, texture and their California origin.”

California is expected to produce over 5 million pounds of GEM in the 2024 season spanning from early spring to July, likely peaking in May. The dark-skinned GEMs are harvested with a clean uniformity that stands out at retail. Their characteristic creamy texture, outstanding eating quality and slightly nutty notes impresses selective taste buds. The fruit’s thicker skin has an advantage of being easier to peel, so scooping out all the creamy flesh for perfect salad slices or a generous bowl of guacamole is never a hassle.

Index Fresh pioneered the promotion of GEM avocados, advising growers on how to care for the trees, harvest their fruit and market it in a way that emphasizes the unique appeal.  “GEM was selected as a standout fruit by researchers at University of California and has a very localized sustainability story. The fruit grows on smaller trees, allowing for a higher yield within a smaller footprint, which makes it a good choice for eco-conscious California growers and consumers. You know where the fruit came from, and that’s never too far away from home for shoppers in the Golden State,” said Keith Blanchard, Index Fresh Field Manager.

“Whether packaged in our Index Fresh bags or sold individually in 25 lb. lugs, GEMs have performed well with consumers, and as a variety, continues to grow every year,” Fingerlin says. “When customers can choose their avocado from among a couple of different sizes or packs, they land on a choice that fits their needs and fully satisfies.”

Index Fresh’s Clean Eating Challenge Mentor Highlights Health at 2024 Viva Fresh Expo

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Susie Rea shares how Index Fresh promotes healthy choices for the industry and planet

Index Fresh’s Susie Rea is no stranger to setting goals and exceeding expectations at home and at the office. Perhaps it’s her sports background or the recent excitement around March Madness that inspires Susie to make the ‘assist’ that scores meaningful change towards a healthier lifestyle. In partnership with Viva Fresh, Susie and the Index Fresh team will be gathering at next week’s expo in Houston, Texas to promote this year’s Clean Eating Challenge, avocado category expansion opportunities and new sustainable packaging solutions. 

Rea, a Viva Fresh Clean Eating Challenge participant in 2022, stepped up in this year’s Challenge to serve on a select team of Mentors, coaching industry peers looking to tap into clean eating and wellness through movement and diet. “Anyone aiming to have a healthful balanced diet can lean into avocados, because they pack a nutritional punch with an abundance of potassium, healthy fats, and dietary fiber,” says Rea. “Best of all, they taste great and are versatile, so you can plan a healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner around avocados. I, along with other ‘Challenge Champions’, take advantage of Viva Fresh as a forum to share how we’ve adopted healthier lifestyles, starting with eating more of what we grow and sell while celebrating our wellness wins along the way.”

Viva Fresh also serves up the perfect opportunity for the industry to talk with Index Fresh about their seasonal GEM avocado program that kicks off this month. “Gold-flecked GEM avocados deliver all the healthy nutrients of the beloved Hass, but with a larger size and slightly nuttier flavor. GEMs bring bonus value, variety, and taste to the category,” commented Rea. In addition to its health benefits GEMs are also a sustainable choice for growers looking to increase yields, reduce water displacement and achieve greater efficiency during harvest. The GEM variety provides a great option for retailers who are looking for a seasonal program of premium, sustainably grown, fruit marketed now through the end of July to expand the avocado category.

AvoTerra avocados

Rounding out Index Fresh’s expo line up, the company will be introducing their new cellulose packaging for their bagged organic and conventional AvoTerra line. The cellulose bag is made of 100% paper, scoring major points with retailers and consumers alike. Both 100% recyclable and compostable, promoting the sustainable packaging alternative is just one more way Index Fresh is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle positively impacting people and the planet. 

To chat with Susie and the team about Index Fresh’s healthy highlights, stop by Booth 117 on April 13th at Viva Fresh Expo. 

Avocado + Sweet Potato Add Up To A Newly Nutritious, Delicious, And Versatile Twist On The Mother’s Day Menu

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Index Fresh and Bako Sweet champion the combined benefits of high-quality California-grown avocados and sweet potatoes 

Moms spend their lives finding ways to fill their children with nutritious snacks and meals. This year, California-grown sweet potatoes and avocados on the Mother’s Day brunch table can go a long way to returning the favor with superb flavor and nutrient-dense dishes. 

Index Fresh and Bako Sweet have been collaborating to emphasize and reiterate the simple message from Mom that quality counts in food choices. Both California companies pride themselves on providing consistent quality produce to consumers and building strong relationships based on reliability and adding value. The companies are teaming up for sweet potato and avocado giveaways through Instagram @avoterra_by_indexfresh and @bakosweet. 

“Collaborating with Country Sweet Produce and the Bako Sweet brand to raise awareness about healthy menu options is a great place to be for Index Fresh and the Avoterra brand. Both companies have a rich history in California’s agriculture space, and like Index Fresh, Country Sweet Produce is dedicated to bringing healthy, top-quality produce to family dinner tables worldwide,” said John Dmytriw, Index Fresh Vice President of Business Development. 

In recent years, avocados have become a global icon and consumer favorite with U.S. consumption doubling over the past 10 years. Not to be outdone, sweet potatoes are on the rise with 33 percent of households reporting purchasing them in the last year, and home cooks have gravitated toward air-fried sweet potatoes as an easy and tasty meal. 

“Avocados from Index Fresh and sweet potatoes from the Bako Sweet family are a great way to guarantee quality ingredients and thoughtfulness for mom. A major perk for menu-building with avocados and sweet potatoes is the compatibility of these nutritional powerhouses that are Whole 30 and Keto friendly, low-carb options, and special requirements for any health-conscious Mother’s Day guests,” said Sofia Castellanos, Director of Marketing and Advertising for Index Fresh. 

California avocados are in season now so show that special someone how much you care this Mother’s Day. Bako Sweet grows its sweet potatoes in “California’s Sweet Spot” on the family farm in Bakersfield, an area known for having some of the best soils in the world. 

“We are able to provide retailers with consistent, fresh, and quality sweet potatoes year-round!” said Alexandra Molumby, Director of Marketing for Bako Sweet. “We love the newfound consumer-driven trend to pair crispy toasted sweet potato with creamy avocado. It’s a crowd-pleaser and bends to both sweet and savory flavor profiles for ultimate versatility.” 

Both California sweet potatoes and avocados are rich in potassium and important vitamins while being low in the glycemic index and high in fiber. Both are indicated as positive contributors to heart health and an overall healthy diet and lifestyle.