Take a beautiful Cape Cod setting, accent it with delicious food, great extracurricular activities and spike it with the perfect amount of sunshine and warm temperatures and you have the perfect getaway. But then stir into the mix a trade show that brings major producers and distributors together with retail and foodservice professionals and it doesn’t get much better for a business setting.

This is what the New England Produce Council accomplished at its 16th annual Produce, Floral & Foodservice Expo, held at the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, Sept. 16-18.Keynote speaker Kevin Coupe

Bob McGowan, NEPC president, kicked off the event by introducing Kevin Coupe, keynote speaker, on Wednesday afternoon.

Coupe's message was about strategies designed around retail competition. He pointed out what he calls his four key factors: differentiation, authenticity, relevance and transparency.

He addressed how the millennial generation is bringing new technology with them into adulthood and how they will use that technology to their shopping advantage.

One example Coupe noted was a supermarket mural on subway platform in Japan. Resembling a fully stocked store, each grocery item included a scan bar. While people wait for trains they shop and scan. The train arrives, they jump on and go to their next stop, where they can continue shopping. They place their order on their mobile devices and the groceries are delivered the same day.

The day wrapped up with a traditional Cape Cod lobster bake. Pyramids of whole Maine lobster with all the side trimmings had guests coming back for seconds and thirds.

The expo opened on Thursday morning in an outdoor tent where exhibitors were eager to share product information and other news with visitors.

“We have done a total rejuvenation of our brand,” said Leighanne Thompson, marketing manager of Oxnard, CA-based Mission Produce. “The new logo, website, booth design and more will be ready for its launch at the PMA Fresh Summit in October.”

Jim Allen, president and chief executive officer of the New York Apple Association, was joined by Molly Zingler, director of marketing. Allen said he looks forward to the NEPC Expo each year to meet with key people. On New York’s apple crop this year, Zingler said, “Growers are about one-third into their harvest. We’ve had warm weather and sunshine. The color of the fruit is great and the quality is excellent.”

Dole Fresh Vegetables’ Rob Russo, senior director of sales, was promoting its new protein-packed “TakeAways” salad.

“The salads contain everything needed for a highly nutritious meal,” said Russo. “They include grains, rice, chicken, vegetables and chicken," he said. "Consumers can just grab them in their produce departments for a complete ready to eat dish.”

Dandrea Produce Inc., based in Vineland, NJ, was at the expo with key employees, including Steve Dandrea, third-generation family member and Adam Dandrea, representing the family’s fourth generation.

“We are enthusiastic about this event and we’re warmly received,” said Steve Dandrea. “Our bagged lettuce line creates excitement for retailers. And we’re sending out a teaser about our new clementine label that we’ll be revealing at the PMA Fresh Summit.”

Cece Krumrine represents the National Watermelon Promotion Board, the California Avocado Commission and the National Mango Board. She said, “The expo is magnificently executed, especially the events. I read Kevin Coupe every day, and his message about millennials is extremely important. The message is that about 75 percent of the population will be in the millennial category in about a decade or so.”

And speaking of millennial, the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent Career Pathways Program was represented with top agribusiness, food marketing and horticulture students.

Foxy Fresh may have the next big leafy green. It is promoting its “BroccoLeaf,” which is exactly what it sounds like.

“We launched the washed, chopped organic broccoli leaves in a bag about seven months ago and it was an instant hit,” said David Bailey, marketing representative for Foxy Fresh. “Retailers can’t reorder fast enough. The bag provides a recipe on the back, and now we’ve created a separate recipe pamphlet with other great ways to use the item, including in smoothies.”

A sunset sail completed the day.

Friday morning, Karen Buch presented the Nutritional Marketing Seminar, after which the day's schedule was packed with retail tours, a golf event, a fishing charter, whale watching and spa treatments — perfect endings to a perfect expo.