It was business as usual at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure 2021 trade show — which was a wonderful thing and exactly what the industry needed.  Show-goers and exhibitors alike deemed Southern Exposure at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL, an unmitigated success — both professionally and socially.

It was smiles all around at the opening party of the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure Expo. After a day of educational sessions, produce industry members from around the country happily gathered to share a drink and story or two in an evening filled with music, dancing and entertainment at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL, on April 7.

It’s no secret that the pandemic has fueled massive growth in the fresh produce category, led in large part to more at-home meal preparation among consumers. This in turn has helped the industry post record retail numbers close to $70 billion in sales over the past year. This was an increase of 11.4 percent, of which vegetables at 14.7 percent outpaced fruit at 8.6 percent.

Wada Farms got its start three quarters of a century ago growing and shipping world-famous Idaho Russet Burbank potatoes and grew into one of the largest producers and shippers of potatoes in Idaho. In the process it diversified into other Russet varieties, then a wide assortment of other colors and varieties of potatoes, not only from Idaho but from Colorado and elsewhere.

ORLANDO, FL — Students in the Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship Program heard about the many benefits of a career in the fresh produce industry during the Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure 2021, here.

Megan Zweig, vice president of DMA Solutions, and Wendy McManus, executive leadership coach at Connect 2 Potential, addressed the students at the STARS Breakfast, held Wednesday morning, April 7.

Nash Produce found it very encouraging to see the Southeast Produce Council offering many avenues for companies to stay involved and active in Southern Exposure this year.