CHARLESTON, SC — The Southeast Produce Council's annual Southern Innovations Symposium mixed business functions with entertaining social events to create quite a successful event for the big crowd that gathered here Sept. 17-19.

The symposium, formerly called the fall conference, drew a record attendance to the Wild Dunes Resort, here in this historic city, according to SEPC Executive Director David Sherrod, who was extremely pleased with how the event turned out.Darvel Kirby of United Supermarkets received a Lifetime Membership Award from SEPC President Mark Daniels at the President's Dinner Dance Friday evening, Sept. 18.

"It was outstanding," an enthusiastic Sherrod told The Produce News the last evening of the symposium. "We've heard nothing but positive comments from everyone. Even the weather held out."

Faye Westfall, director of sales at DiMare Fresh Tampa and chairperson of this year's symposium, was equally pleased with the three-day event.

"My first thought was, 'How are we going to top this?' We've had so many compliments on the event. People now can't wait to go to the expo," she said, referring to the council's Southern Exposure conference and expo scheduled for March 3-5, 2016, in Hollywood, FL.

One of the council's many worthwhile and successful programs is the Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals. Now five years old, the STEP-UPP program held its first reunion Wednesday evening, Sept. 16, on Goat Island, one day prior to the symposium. Participants of all five classes returned for the event.

On Thursday, the council's leadership program for women in produce, known as Southern Roots, heard a presentation by Barbara Poole (see separate story and photos here), with the Get Acquainted Welcome Reception held that evening.

Friday's activities began with a presentation by Frank Singleton of Frank Singleton Communications, speaking at an educational workshop entitled Brands, Consumers & Sustainable Relationships — First Comes "Like." Harold Paivarinta of Red Sun Farms moderated the workshop.

The general session and luncheon followed, with Westfall, who is secretary of the council's board of directors, welcoming everyone to the session and introducing SEPC President Mark Daniels.

Daniels gave the annual State-of-the-Council Address, and stated firmly that the council is "financially sound and poised for future growth."

After quickly reviewing the council's past events, he noted that registered attendance at the current symposium stood at a record 360.

Turning to future events, he urged those in attendance not to miss the council's Southern Exposure conference and trade show, scheduled for March 3-5 at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, FL, and themed "Produce in Paradise."

Another big event will be the second annual Terry Vorhees Charity Golf Classic, scheduled for May 17-19, 2016, at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, NC. The council will partner with the Produce for Better Health Foundation at this event, named for longtime Executive Director Terry Vorhees, who died July 30, 2014.

Brothers Jamie and Bobby Dean, sons of Paula Dean (known as the 'queen of Southern cooking'), gave the keynote address next, and the two signed copies of one of their books, 'Get Fired Up,' for attendees immediately following the general session and luncheon.

Since its very founding, the council has made it a point to give back to the community, and it has long donated to a number of charity organizations. At this year's symposium, the council showed its support to a local organization called Katie's Krops.

The idea for Katie's Krops began in Summerfield, SC, with a 9-year-old girl and a 40-pound cabbage. In 2008, Katie Stagliano brought home a tiny cabbage seedling from school as part of the Bonnie Plants Third Grade Cabbage Program. She tended to her cabbage until it grew to 40 pounds, then donated it to a soup kitchen where it helped feed over 275 people. Moved by the experience, she started vegetable gardens and donated the harvest to help feed people in need, according to the SEPC.

Stagliano, now 16, has numerous gardens and has donated thousands of pounds of produce to organizations that help those in need, and she was on hand at the general session to receive a $5,000 check from Daniels.

Following the general session came the Bright Ideas Platform, a new event for the symposium. With a new, smaller approach to trade shows, the concept of the Bright Ideas Platform was to provide exhibitors and attendees the ability to be the first introduced to the newest and most innovative products and services the industry has to offer. With a total of 42 exhibitors, the exhibit hall was set up similar to a mini-trade show, giving attendees an opportunity to see new and innovative ideas within the industry.

Friday's activities concluded with the annual President's Dinner Dance. Westfall and Tom Page, a former president of the council, who co-chair the STEP-UPP program, presented the graduating members of the 2015 STEP-UPP class with their certificates.

"This is just the best educational program there is," declared Westfall. "It's just phenomenal."

Daniels and Sherrod also presented Darvel Kirby of United Supermarkets and Joe Klare of The Castellini Co. with Lifetime Membership Awards.

The main event Saturday was the 16th annual Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament. The winning team consisted of Jennifer Ohlweiler of Sbrocco International, Brent Scoggins of Bayshore Produce and Robert Fredericks of Mastronardi Produce.

Commenting on the symposium's success, Sherrod stated, "The Bright Ideas Platform was very well received on both sides; the grower-shipper community and the retail-foodservice sector both thought it was a great way to introduce new items. At the general session, our audience really connected with the Dean brothers. We couldn't be any more pleased the way this event has turned out."

Next year's Southern Innovations Symposium is scheduled for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA.