Brooks Tropicals | Your Source for Tropical Fruits and Produce

May 20, 2013

‘Round the world with Guacamole!

Chutney Guacamole

We’re gearing up for another promotion with Concord Food Guacamole Mix.

It’s early in the season, hard to find fruit. The SlimCados I got my hands on, ripened all at once. So I had a lot of guacamole to share.

Since the recipes for guacamole this year took on an international flavor, we had ‘Round the world with guacamole.

Guacamole goes Greek

The winner was Chutney Guacamole (in the Executive Conference area). In second place, Guacamole goes Greek (found in HR). Third place goes to Waldorf Guacamole (found in the Grove office).

SlimCado Waldorf guacamole

Thanks to everyone for participating. For recipes click on the photo for your favorite.

May 20, 2013

Take your child to work day

Kids and parents stand still for the cameraBeautiful day to have some fun under the treesNew merchandising ideas for Groovy CoconutsGetting the scientific view of the business

May 20, 2013

Florida ramps up for summer avocados

Excerpts from an article in 5/13/13 The Packer written by Doug Ohlemeier.

They expect some shipments to begin in small volumes in mid- and late May, but most growers plan to start in earnest in early to mid-June. Volumes build until promotable volume typically begins in early July.

Bill Brindle, vice president of sales management for Brooks Tropicals Inc., Homestead, Fla., views some early season donnie variety avocados in late April.
Brooks Tropicals Inc. plans to start harvesting the early donnie variety in mid-June.

Bill Brindle, vice president of sales management, said the overall industry expects to pack 1.1 million 55-pound bushels, similar to last year.

He said that’s the industry’s best early guess.

“If that prediction is accurate, this will be our third year in a row that we will have a good crop,” Brindle said in early May.

“Like in 2011, we had a good crop in 2012 with good timing and good volume. Once we get into July, we will have good volumes through September. Some of our retail customers will promote for literally 12 weeks during that window.”

Brindle said retailers can also expect the season to bring high-quality fruit that yields a variety of sizes.

Brooks expects to pack around 500,000 bushels this year, Brindle said.

May 20, 2013

Hispanic sales heat up

Excerpts from a 5/13 Produce Retailer article by Tom Burfield

Another way to attract Hispanic — and Asian — shoppers is to offer a diversity of tropical items, says Mary Ostlund, director of marketing for Brooks Tropicals Inc., Homestead, Fla.

“They know their root veggies,” she says, so it’s good to feature a large selection to appeal to those consumers.
Offering a breadth of items, not necessarily a depth of them, “will signal that you are interested in them as a customer,” she says. “Be a one-stop shop for all their needs.”

Papayas are a favorite among the Hispanic demographic.

“They’re considered the breakfast fruit of most Central and South America countries,” Ostlund says.
And carry more than one kind of avocado.

“You wouldn’t carry just one kind of apple,” she says, “so don’t carry just one kind of avocado.”
Displaying coconuts and star fruit also shows that you’re the place to shop for their needs, she says.

April 15, 2013

Tools Required: Groovy Coconuts

April’s issue of the “Cooking in the Tropics” newsletter is nuts.Groovy Coconuts that is.

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‘Round the world with Guacamole!

Take your child to work day

Florida ramps up for summer avocados

Hispanic sales heat up

Tools Required: Groovy Coconuts

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