Texas Produce Association postpones convention, ponders alternative dates and sites
Texas Produce Association postpones convention, ponders alternative dates and sites
Hurricane Dolly swept through South Padre Island on the southeast coast of Texas in late July causing water damage to many hotels -- including the Sheraton, which was scheduled to host the Texas Produce Association convention in late August.
"They've had some water damage and they are not going to be in service for at least a couple of months," said TPA President John McClung. "By that time, we will be in the midst of our citrus season, and a lot of people won't be able to come [down to the island]."
Consequently, the leadership of the association visited the relatively new McAllen Convention Center in south Texas Wednesday, July 30, to try to move the convention to that site.
"We are looking hard at the last couple of weeks in September, and we think McAllen will be the site," Mr. McClung said. "Right now, we are looking at [Sept. 18-20], but we haven't firmed that up yet."
While most Texas citrus shippers will be fully operational by that late September date, the TPA executive said that the Rio Grande Valley location will make it easier for the industry to attend. He said that the McAllen location will also decrease the need for hotel rooms, as a good majority of the typical attendees do live in the valley.
Besides negotiating a new site, Mr. McClung was busy contacting program participants to see if the new dates would work into their schedules. "We hope to firm this up by the end of the week," he said July 30.
"They've had some water damage and they are not going to be in service for at least a couple of months," said TPA President John McClung. "By that time, we will be in the midst of our citrus season, and a lot of people won't be able to come [down to the island]."
Consequently, the leadership of the association visited the relatively new McAllen Convention Center in south Texas Wednesday, July 30, to try to move the convention to that site.
"We are looking hard at the last couple of weeks in September, and we think McAllen will be the site," Mr. McClung said. "Right now, we are looking at [Sept. 18-20], but we haven't firmed that up yet."
While most Texas citrus shippers will be fully operational by that late September date, the TPA executive said that the Rio Grande Valley location will make it easier for the industry to attend. He said that the McAllen location will also decrease the need for hotel rooms, as a good majority of the typical attendees do live in the valley.
Besides negotiating a new site, Mr. McClung was busy contacting program participants to see if the new dates would work into their schedules. "We hope to firm this up by the end of the week," he said July 30.
