Beginning this month, Florida-grown produce is available year-round in Publix’s frozen aisle through its partnership with Seal the Seasons.
The company’s Florida Antioxidant Blend – featuring strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and Michigan dark sweet cherries – can be found in 32-ounce bags at the majority of Publix’s 1,352 locations.
For decades, Florida has ranked in the top five states for producing America’s favorite fruits and vegetables. Publix has been purchasing from farms in Florida for more than 90 years and emphasizes local fresh produce sourcing from each state where it has stores.
Shoppers find signs across the fresh produce section highlighting “Florida Local” from third-generation Pine Island Tomato Farms or strawberries from fourth-generation Sizemore Farms.
“Our company is excited to further Publix’s local sourcing and make Florida Grown frozen fruit available to everyone in the Sunshine State,” said CEO Patrick Mateer of Seal the Seasons.
“Publix is the perfect partner to distribute the best quality frozen fruit at fair prices for Florida’s families.”
Publix’s expansion of Seal the Seasons’ products highlights the nationwide growth of locally-grown frozen produce. According to SPINS, nearly 20 percent of traditional grocers have stocked the company’s frozen products.
Food entrepreneurs Patrick Mateer and Alex Piasecki started the company in 2014 while students at the University of North Carolina. The company’s mission is to support family farms by making local frozen and value-added produce available to consumers.
All of its products are locally grown and sold. The brand released its first products in 2016 by selling North and South Carolina produce to grocery chains in those states.
Seal the Seasons now sells 50 locally and regionally grown frozen fruits and vegetables and is distributed in 6,000 retail locations across the U.S. The brand also offers smoothie kits nationwide in more than 1,000 stores.
Read more produce news from The Shelby Report.
