IFE and United Fresh collaborate on Iron Designer Competition
IFE and United Fresh collaborate on Iron Designer Competition
The International Floriculture Expo and the United Fresh Produce Association will collaborate on the Iron Designer Competition June 9 in Chicago, according to a news release.
The IFE and United Fresh will be co-located with FMI Connect 2015 in 1,000,000-square-feet of exhibit space to bring together food retail, fresh produce and floral leaders from all segments of the supply chain.
Ian Prosser won the 2014 Iron Designer competition at the International Floral Expo held in New Orleans. “A co-location combining fresh produce and floral categories is such a natural fit offering so much value. Plus, and most importantly, it is what our visitors and exhibitors have been asking for,” said Bob Callahan, group vice president for the show’s organizers Diversified Communications, in a written release. “Oftentimes, buyers wear multiple hats and are responsible for both produce and floral. The partnership will spare them affordable time out of the office.”
More than 225 exhibitors and over 14,000 attendees are anticipated. And this year, for the first time, floral artists will be challenged to incorporate fresh produce into their Iron Designer creations.
Guided by the theme, “Fusion of Produce and Floral,” designers will choose from an array of fresh cut flowers and fruits and vegetables to create a design that celebrates color and flavor.
“The inclusion of produce adds a new twist to the competition,” said Christine Salmon, event manager for IFE, in the release. “The designers are top notch, so we know their arrangements will be one-of-a-kind and the epitome of fresh in all that it represents.”
The eighth annual Iron Designer Competition will be emceed by floral designer Pieter Landman and will take place 3:30-4:30 p.m. June 9 on the expo floor at the McCormick Place Convention Center.
“We’re excited to see how produce commodities will be embraced by the floral designers participating in the Iron Designer Competition,” said United Fresh president and chief executive officer Tom Stenzel in the release. “The melding of colors and textures should yield some dynamic arrangements never before seen.”
For more information, go to www.floriexpo.com.
