The International Fresh Produce Association will celebrate nine of the country's leading chefs and foodservice professionals during IFPA's Foodservice Conference, July 28-29 in Monterey, CA, as part of the Produce Excellence in Foodservice Awards Program, sponsored by FreshEdge.

The program honors chefs and foodservice operations for their produce innovation, creativity, and all-around excellence in the use of fresh produce in the culinary arts.

MONTEREY, CA — The Produce Marketing Association held its first in-person event in nearly two years, and those in attendance at the PMA Foodservice Conference & Expo, held here July 21-22, were clearly happy to be reunited in this favored locale for two days of educational and networking events. Among the highlights was an opening reception at the Portola Plaza, which served to build the energy for the following day, when the expo floor opened and exhibitors had a chance to reconnect with their foodservice customers and friends.

The Produce Marketing Association welcomed back the produce suppliers and foodservice innovators to Monterey for the 40th anniversary of the Foodservice Conference & Expo. For many, this was one of their first industry events in over a year, making the event a whirlwind of excitement and high energy from the Center for Growing Talent reception on Wednesday, to the show floor.

As foodservice operations get back up and running, consumers are eager to dine out. More than 3.7 million consumers visited a restaurant via Yelp in May 2021, a record high for the app. In response to foodservice demand surpassing pre-pandemic levels, coupled with the desire to innovate and promote labor efficiencies, Lipman Family Farms will showcase its growing fresh-cut line at the upcoming PMA Foodservice conference.