Publix Supermarkets and Seal the Seasons partner to support Florida Farmers
LAKELAND, F.L. – For decades, Florida has ranked in the top five states for producing some of America’s favorite fruits and vegetables. Whether you love oranges, fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon, bell peppers or strawberries, Florida farmers helped bring them to your table.
With Gallup Polls reporting 73% of Americans actively try to incorporate locally grown foods in their diet, it’s no surprise Publix Supermarkets has been purchasing from Florida farms for over 90 years and emphasizes their local fresh produce sourcing from each state in which they operate. Shoppers find signage across the fresh produce section highlighting “Florida Local” from third generation Pine Island Tomato Farms or “Florida Local” strawberries from fourth generation Sizemore farms.
Publix is expanding their locally grown sourcing into the frozen section! Beginning this month, Florida grown produce will be available year-round in Publix’s frozen aisle via partnership with Seal the Seasons. Shoppers will find Seal the Seasons’ Florida Antioxidant Blend made with Florida strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and Michigan dark sweet cherries. The 32-ounce bag of frozen fruit hits shelves chainwide in the vast majority of Publix’s 1,352 locations.
“Our company is excited to further Publix’s local sourcing and make Florida Grown frozen fruit available to everyone in the Sunshine State”, said Seal the Seasons CEO Patrick Mateer. “Publix is the perfect partner to distribute the best quality frozen fruit at fair prices for Florida’s families” he continued.
Publix’s launch of Seal the Seasons, highlights the nationwide distribution growth of locally grown frozen produce. According to SPINS, almost 20% of traditional grocers have chosen to stock Seal the Seasons’ locally grown frozen products. Now grossing eight figures in annual topline sales, Seal the Seasons continues to capture market share from legacy brands.
About Seal the Seasons:
Seal the Seasons is a leader in locally grown and locally frozen fruits and vegetables. The company was founded in 2014 with the mission to support local family farms by making local frozen produce and value-added produce to consumers 365 days a year. Seal the Seasons believes that America’s food system must balance the well-being of people, provide wholesome products, and generate sustainable profits, and that local food creates a better future for family farms and communities. As a Certified B Corporation, Seal the Seasons is committed to using business as a force for good in the world.
All of Seal the Seasons’ products are locally grown, and locally sold. The brand first released local fruit and vegetable products in 2016 by selling North Carolina and South Carolina grown produce in grocery store chains based out of the Carolinas.
Seal the Seasons currently sells 50 locally and regionally grown frozen fruits and vegetables and is distributed in 6,000 retail locations while operating in six regions of the United States (Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest and Southeast). The brand also distributes convenient smoothie kits nationwide in over 1000 retail locations. The company was founded in 2014 by Patrick Mateer & Alex Piasecki, local food entrepreneurs who started the company while in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
