A Fresh Perspective from the Festival of Fresh

I had the pleasure of attending the Festival of Fresh, and it truly lived up to its name — vibrant, insightful, and energising.

The event brought together some of the most forward-thinking minds in the fresh produce industry. It was a brilliant opportunity to reconnect with existing partners and customers, and to spark conversations with potential new ones. Beyond networking, the Festival served as a valuable lens into where our sector is headed — particularly in terms of technology, innovation, and supply chain evolution.

One of the highlights for me was hearing Ball Padda speak passionately about multigenerational family farming — a topic that resonates deeply. There was a great mix of wisdom, heritage, and vision for the future. Equally fascinating was the avocado supply panel discussion. The buzzwords of the day — "Good, Better, Best" — gave us a fresh way of thinking about segmentation and positioning within the avocado category.

It was also great to catch up with Jason at Redpack and Jake from OAL to see how automation and packhouse technology continues to evolve and support operational efficiency.

A particular highlight was a tour of one of the host facilities — a chance to savour freshly ripened avocados and crisp apples straight from the line. There's nothing like experiencing the end product at its freshest to remind us why we do what we do.

Events like these remind us how dynamic, collaborative, and driven our industry really is. I left with new ideas, deeper connections, and a genuine excitement for what's ahead.