SPC upgrades website, prepares for fall conference
SPC upgrades website, prepares for fall conference
The Southeast Produce Council updated its website earlier this month to give it a fresh, new look, adding some exciting functions that both grower- shippers and retailers should find quite useful.
"The site looks more professional," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Aug. 18, noting that the site (www.seproducecouncil.com) went live just three days before.
"We've added a few things," he noted. "One of the most important is a member search function," located right on the home page. "This will be a big advantage, particularly for grower-shippers ... and for retailers."
Giving an example, Mr. Vorhees said that "if a buyer is looking for a particular commodity, say watermelons, they can search by that category; or if they want to refine it, they can search for just watermelon growers in the state of Florida."
He continued, "I see it as a plus not only for a retail chain in the Southeast who's a member, but it could be, for example, a West Coast retailer who's not a member but he's looking to find some new strawberry shippers in the Southeast who can ship Florida strawberries when he needs them."
Another addition to the website is on-line registration for the council's various events during the year.
Previously, users of the site could only print out a registration form, fill it out, and fax it to the council's office. "Whereas now, all the registration [information], even for next year's expo, can be done right on-line," said Mr. Vorhees.
"This is going to make it a lot easier for people to [register]," he added. "And the simpler you make it, the better off you are."
The Southeast Produce Council is also gearing up for its annual fall conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA.
Following a number of committee, directors' and board meetings Thursday, Sept. 25, the conference will kick off with a member appreciation barbecue from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday, one of the highlights will be an educational workshop from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the topic, "Surviving in Today's Economy."
Ronnie De La Cruz, a regular at SPC events, will moderate this workshop, which will examine how the current economic outlook, rising gas prices and changing consumer purchase behaviors affect the produce industry.
Panel members scheduled to participate are Steve Williams, director of produce at Sweetbay Supermarkets; Mike Kemp, director of perishables at Save-a-Lot Stores LLC; Todd Hale, senior vice president of consumer insights at Nielsen Consumer Panel; Mark Petersen, general manager of produce at C.H. Robinson Worldwide; Bob Massave, regional vice president and president of Fresh Point-Atlanta at Fresh Point; and James Wilson, president of Green Hill Farms Inc.
The sponsors VIP reception and president's reception will take place Friday evening, followed by the president's dinner-dance from 7 p.m. to midnight. Saturday is filled with sporting and other fun events. The ninth annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Gold Tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The "Golf with a Gun" Sporting Clays Tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. And the Crane Creek Vineyard Spouse Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The fall conference will conclude with the "Margaritaville Football Bash" from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
For additional information, log onto the council's updated website or call Mr. Vorhees at 813/234-9505.
"The site looks more professional," SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees told The Produce News Aug. 18, noting that the site (www.seproducecouncil.com) went live just three days before.
"We've added a few things," he noted. "One of the most important is a member search function," located right on the home page. "This will be a big advantage, particularly for grower-shippers ... and for retailers."
Giving an example, Mr. Vorhees said that "if a buyer is looking for a particular commodity, say watermelons, they can search by that category; or if they want to refine it, they can search for just watermelon growers in the state of Florida."
He continued, "I see it as a plus not only for a retail chain in the Southeast who's a member, but it could be, for example, a West Coast retailer who's not a member but he's looking to find some new strawberry shippers in the Southeast who can ship Florida strawberries when he needs them."
Another addition to the website is on-line registration for the council's various events during the year.
Previously, users of the site could only print out a registration form, fill it out, and fax it to the council's office. "Whereas now, all the registration [information], even for next year's expo, can be done right on-line," said Mr. Vorhees.
"This is going to make it a lot easier for people to [register]," he added. "And the simpler you make it, the better off you are."
The Southeast Produce Council is also gearing up for its annual fall conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA.
Following a number of committee, directors' and board meetings Thursday, Sept. 25, the conference will kick off with a member appreciation barbecue from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On Friday, one of the highlights will be an educational workshop from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the topic, "Surviving in Today's Economy."
Ronnie De La Cruz, a regular at SPC events, will moderate this workshop, which will examine how the current economic outlook, rising gas prices and changing consumer purchase behaviors affect the produce industry.
Panel members scheduled to participate are Steve Williams, director of produce at Sweetbay Supermarkets; Mike Kemp, director of perishables at Save-a-Lot Stores LLC; Todd Hale, senior vice president of consumer insights at Nielsen Consumer Panel; Mark Petersen, general manager of produce at C.H. Robinson Worldwide; Bob Massave, regional vice president and president of Fresh Point-Atlanta at Fresh Point; and James Wilson, president of Green Hill Farms Inc.
The sponsors VIP reception and president's reception will take place Friday evening, followed by the president's dinner-dance from 7 p.m. to midnight. Saturday is filled with sporting and other fun events. The ninth annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Gold Tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The "Golf with a Gun" Sporting Clays Tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. And the Crane Creek Vineyard Spouse Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The fall conference will conclude with the "Margaritaville Football Bash" from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
For additional information, log onto the council's updated website or call Mr. Vorhees at 813/234-9505.
