The company released the video, featuring local strawberry farmers and fields, on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
In one week, thousands of people will arrive in Plant City for its biggest event of the year: the Florida Strawberry Festival.
But for Publix Supermarkets Inc., the celebration of the city’s favorite fruit started a bit early. The company released a video Wednesday, Feb. 24, entitled “At Season’s Peak: Strawberries from Plant City, Florida.”
In exactly one and one half minutes, the video showcases all Plant City has to offer. A production company based out of Polk County captured shots of Plant City’s strawberry-themed water tank, picturesque scenes of Historic Downtown and, of course, berry-filled shots of Plant City’s endless strawberry farms — from drones flying high over the fields to close-ups of ripe berries.
For Brian West, Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Chairman and Publix’s Media and Community Relations Manager for Central and Southwest Florida, the video is a bit of a tear-jerker.
“If you watch a Publix commercial, they tend to get you teary-eyed anyway,” West said. “Everyone was just really happy with it.”
A sneak peek of the video was show at the monthly Economic Development Corp. meeting earlier this month. Business owners and community leaders who call the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World home were able to see the quality of the production company’s work, and the local talent it featured. Strawberry growers Sam Astin, Gary Wishnatzki and John Sizemore all make an appearance in the video.
“You’ve got a community that rallies around the crop,” West said. “Of all the videos we’ve done, I don’t know one that’s gotten as much build up.”
The concept and discussion for the video began over the summer, and was filmed in late fall and early winter. On its website, Publix features selection and preparation details for a variety of the produce it carries, including Florida strawberries. Other fruits showcased as part of the At Season’s Peak video series include North Carolina
and California mixed berries and Washington apples.
But for the popular grocery chain, which has its headquarters in Lakeland, featuring Plant City strawberries was a project that had the entire company excited.
“It’s been a long time in the making,” West said. “We’re very pleased with how well it turned out. It’s one of several that we’ve done. It gives us a chance to have a connection with those communities we’re serving.”
The finished product won’t be on television, but Plant City residents and Florida Strawberry Festival visitors will be able to watch the video on Publix’s website for two to three weeks. The video also will be posted on Publix’s Facebook page.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
http://www.publix.com/products-services/produce/at-seasons-peak/strawberries
