It’s not easy to compete for attention with all the breathtaking views, the pounding surf and drop-dead delicious meals that are found throughout the Monterey/Carmel region. But as the fresh produce industry descended on this city by the sea, PMA Foodservice participants did more than compete!

It was clear to us that months of prep work, as well as high wattage brainpower went into the displays, sessions and sample menus at this past weekend’s event and we, along with the other fortunate attendees, reaped the benefits. And although there was certainly a vast amount of GREAT, there were still some standouts.

Here’s what blew us away:

Best Sweet Treat

Nature’s Reward strawberries from Steinbeck Country Produce were mixed with a buttercream icing and, apparently, a touch of heaven, and then perfectly dolloped on top of mini vanilla cupcakes. These small-in-size-but-not-in-taste treats were the perfect grab and go tradeshow sample because they were as memorable as they were delicious.

Most Engaging Booth Personnel

And our first repeat winner! Renee Brooks of Prime Time Produce didn’t let even one of our walk-by’s go unnoticed as she, without fail, greeted, engaged with or offered a giveaway to us each and every time we passed. This kind of welcoming attitude surely served Prime Time well at this and all other events!

Most Creative Produce Display

Ahhh… something that we’ve always appreciated is the unique presentation and amazing artistry that can be seen with intricately carved fruits and vegetables. So often produce displays at trade shows are simply whole pieces of produce that are rarely showcased in an interesting way. Babe Farms hit it out of the park with a display that was cool, vibrantly beautiful and reminded our foodservice audience how diverse our amazing products can really be. Not to mention how presentation can really add that extra WOW factor to skillfully prepared dishes.

Best Savory Sample

Ok, so we admit that hot dogs do not usually make a “favorites” list for most of us. But Gills Onions proved that if paired with deliciously seasoned grilled onions (and there were four flavors to choose from), they are pretty dang good. I don’t care who you are. And what an “outside of the box” way to present a commodity that can easily be overlooked by some of its more exciting and exotic counterparts! Kudos to Gills Onions for a great tradeshow sample idea!!!

Best Non-traditional Product Use

So when you think of fresh herbs and a creative way to showcase them, what comes to mind? Maybe a beautifully garnished plate or an aromatic cooking demonstration? Think again! Eureka Specialties came up with their own one-of-a-kind Herb Infused Lemonade to show just how diverse their products can be – not to mention how delicious! We gave it a try – albeit warily – and were quite amazed at how delicious and beautiful their drink concoction turned out to be. We highly recommend adding a little mint, thyme, basil and dill to your favorite lemonade recipe for your next warm weather festivity.

Most Avant Garde Exhibition

Webster says something that’s avant garde “develops new or experimental concepts especially in the arts.” We say that’s exactly what the Duda Farm Fresh Foods’ booth accomplished at PMA Foodservice. Half art, half tradeshow booth, Duda subtly, yet beautifully communicated their message via a vivid and colorful scene straight out of the famous French Laundry restaurant in Napa. They may have placed second in the Best of Show competition, but the buzz this booth created was undeniable!

Best Booth Demonstration

In May 2010 we featured HarvestMark in our post show “What Blew Us Away” list from Las Vegas for their clean and sleek booth design. In Monterey, we found ourselves enlightened by Founder and CMO, Elliott Grant’s educational and super techy demonstration on the company’s traceability platform. This blast from the future educates the consumer about the product, where it came from, what to do with it, what people are saying about it in social media and how to get it with a coupon. Super cool stuff.

Best New Product for Culinary Convenience

The New Product Showcase is a fun place for fanatics like us to hang out and scope out the cool and inventive new products being featured on the show floor. This year in Monterey, one in particular stood out. We love Spice World’s latest in culinary convenience featuring a squeeze bottle of minced garlic.

Best New Product for Consumer Convenience

Ready Pac’s newest products were also a featured great in the New Product Showcase at PMA Foodservice. We absolutely love Ready Pac’s take on pre-packaged consumer snacks and salads. Their Ready Snax and Ready Pac Bistro Salads are truly the perfect blend of fresh ingredients and accompaniments for the busy consumer.

Best Cooking Demonstration

If you missed the conference portion of the event, it’s a big bummer because Rick Bayless was cooking up culinary genius in the ballroom of the Marriott at 9:35 a.m. on Sunday. Featuring the session’s sponsor’s products, Bayless and other featured chefs showcased how to make inventive yet deliciously simple recipes with humor and expertise!

So What?: When exhibiting at or participating in tradeshows, it’s always important to put your best foot forward. Our experiences at PMA Foodservice 2010 inspired us to continue thinking about how to keep our (and our client’s) events presence one step ahead and two steps better. What steps will you take to improve on your next tradeshow experience? How will you blow them away?

Posted by: The DMA Team