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Blueberry Season in Southwest Florida

Wed, 13 May 2026 02:00:11 GMT

It's blueberry season in Florida!

At Gateway Food Group, food is more than what's on the plate. It's a celebration of the places, people, and seasons that bring ingredients to life. We love embracing local produce, supporting the communities around us, and simply enjoying the incredible flavors our region has to offer.

Right now, it's blueberry season in Southwest Florida, and we couldn't be more excited. Just down the road from us, family-run spots like Bunch Blueberry U-Pick Farm are bursting with plump, sun-ripened berries. While they aren't a partner of ours, we love seeing the incredible work local growers like them pour into their craft. There's nothing quite like grabbing a basket, walking the rows, and tasting a berry straight off the bush.

For us, that's what local produce is all about: slowing down, savoring the season, and enjoying food the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Fresh, simple, and shared with the people you love. A handful of berries on the drive home. A bowl on the counter that somehow keeps disappearing. The kind of sweet, sun-warmed flavor you just can't get from anything that's traveled too far.

And of course, we couldn't let a haul like this go without putting it to good use, so we turned ours into a beautiful homemade blueberry pie. Golden crust, juicy berries bubbling underneath, the whole kitchen smelling like summer. It's moments like these that remind us why we do what we do.

And honestly? This is exactly how we feel about every one of the food, beverage, and ingredient manufacturers we have the privilege of representing. The same care, enthusiasm, and love we pour into a basket of local berries is the same energy we bring to every brand and partner on our roster. We're proud to represent each and every one of them, to tell their stories, champion their products, and help bring great food and beverage to the market.

Here's to blueberry season, to local farms everywhere, and to enjoying every last bite.

Fresh. Local. Gateway proud. ��

Stone Crab Season!

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:06:36 GMT

"Grown Here, Loved Here" in Fort Myers

Fort Myers stone crab season

In Fort Myers, the arrival of stone crab season resembles a cherished local celebration. From mid-October to early May, our waterfront and neighborhood venues begin opening up sweet, succulent claws harvested from the nearby Gulf waters, allowing you to savor the freshness in every bite.

Situated in the heart of one of Florida’s premier stone crab regions, the seafood on your plate hasn’t journeyed far. Local boats deliver their catches to nearby docks and packing houses, with many restaurants and markets crafting their fall and winter specials around these daily hauls.

When you order stone crab claws in Fort Myers, they typically come cracked and chilled, accompanied by classic mustard sauce, a wedge of lemon, and possibly a serving of warm butter. This straightforward presentation highlights the naturally sweet, tender meat—a light, refreshing flavor that pairs beautifully with a glass of crisp white wine or a cold local beer.

Where Fort Myers locals get their claws

If you find yourself in Fort Myers during stone crab season, be sure to explore these local favorites first:

There's always Farmer Joe's. A great staple for freshness located right in Cape Coral.
Skip One 41 Seafood Restaurant & Market on US‑41, celebrated for its fresh Gulf seafood and seasonal stone crab featured both at the market counter and on the restaurant menu.
Prawnbroker Restaurant & Fish Market in Fort Myers, a beloved long-standing destination where stone crab frequently shares the spotlight with other fresh-caught delights.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille (Fort Myers Beach and the islands), a top choice for indulging in stone crab claws when they’re plentiful, all within that quintessential dockside ambiance.

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Exploring Taste, Place, and Connection

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:31:58 GMT

Our Mission, Our Story, and the Journey Ahead

Our Mission

At Gateway Food Group, our mission is to connect people, places, and exceptional food. Headquartered in Florida, we believe that every meal tells a story—of the farmers who grow it, the operators who prepare it, and the guests who gather around it. We partner with institutional foodservice operators, colleges and universities, and hospitality leaders to deliver products and solutions that elevate every table.

About Us

Gateway Food Group is a food service consulting and distribution company built on decades of industry experience, proudly based in the Sunshine State. Led by our CEO Steve, we call Florida home and represent premium beverage, food, and ingredient brands across the country. From college dining halls to cruise ships, from quick-service kitchens to white-tablecloth destinations, we help operators navigate a changing marketplace with trusted products, honest guidance, and long-term partnerships.

Exploring Taste, Place, and Connection

Welcome to our very first post. With Florida as our home base, we've begun exploring the many tastes and flavors of the Sunshine State—from fresh Gulf seafood and citrus groves to Cuban coffee, Key lime, and the vibrant Latin and Caribbean influences that shape our local menus. This blog is a place where we'll share what inspires us: the flavors that define a region, the people behind the products we champion, and the conversations happening across the foodservice industry. Taste is more than a sensation—it's a memory of place and a moment of connection. Over the coming weeks, we'll take you inside Florida's food scene, spotlight our partner brands, and share insights from our travels across the state and beyond. Thank you for joining us on the journey—pull up a chair, there's plenty to explore.