ORLANDO, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council held its annual VIP dinner Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, just ahead of the opening of the 2026 Southern Exposure conference and trade show, here.

I recently had a weird experience with my smartphone that was not only surprising, but also partially embarrassing. I was driving along the highway and wanted to make a call to a produce associate. I used my hands-free voice system to do it. I told Siri to make the call, and she replied asking which person I wanted. I repeated the person’s name and again she asked which one. Her question kept on looping repeatedly.

Millennium Pacific Greenhouses announced the launch of its new California Grown Cucumber Program, delivering premium greenhouse-grown Long English, Mini and Coastal Cukie-Bites snack-sized cucumbers to retailers and consumers across the West Coast year-round.

As the Southeast produce industry gears up for the Southern Exposure show in Orlando, FL, Pure Flavor is heading to the event with a portfolio full of fresh innovation and a commitment to regional agriculture. With recent expansions in Georgia and a focus on growing food close to market, the company is showcasing how Southeast-grown produce can deliver quality, flavor, and consistency that retailers and shoppers trust.

Officials at Southern Specialties are throwing a party for themselves at the annual SEPC Southern Exposure show. 

In honor of the Pompano Beach, FL-based operation’s 35th anniversary, company officials want to make it clear what has happened over the years to make the company so successful. 

In the last few years, Ben B. Schwartz & Sons has been focused on expanding its distribution radius, which includes the Southeastern United States. 

“This region is a natural fit for us, letting us extend our current distribution lines from our headquarters in the nearby Midwest,” said Bill Loupée, chief operating officer of the Detroit-based company.