In-store demos provide more value

Excerpts form The Packer article of 4/28/08
by Jim Offner

In the realm of tropical fruit, "value-added" doesn't necessarily have to mean pre-cutting and packaging product.

"With some items, helping consumers learn how to prepare, handle and eat the product is akin to providing extra value to it," said Mary Ostlund, marketing director for Brooks Tropicals.

"Quite honestly, we think one of the best ways to sell papayas is for the store to cut one in half and give samples," Ostlund said. "It's a way of introducing papaya, mangoes and fruit salads."