For decades and decades across America, families used to gather every evening to have dinner. While enjoying a delicious and nutritious meal, children could talk about how their day went in school: parents might discuss the events of the day or just wind down with the kids.

It probably didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.

But it was. It was much more. The family dinner created a bond; it gave kids a chance to express themselves, and it gave moms and dads a chance to watch their kids turn into young adults.

That ritual has dwindled over time, and something is being lost.

The Southeast Produce Council, which has stressed the significance of family since it was formed in 1999, will be highlighting the value and prominence of family meals and so much more at Southern Exposure 2025 in early March.

As the council notes on its website, “This year, our theme is inspired by the warm and inclusive spirit of Hawaii, encapsulated in our tagline, Produce Means Family. Just as ohana means family in Hawaiian culture, we believe that our produce community is a family who supports and uplifts one another. This year, we are also celebrating the significance of family meals and the importance of eating together.”

The event will take place March 6-8 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL. All events, with the exception of the golf outing, will take place at the Marriott, a new venue for the council.

“We’re expecting 3,500 to 3,700 people this year,” David Sherrod, the council’s president and CEO, said at the end of January. “We’re going to have anywhere from 650 to 700 retail, wholesale and foodservice buyers. Almost every major retailer is represented, almost every major broadline foodservice company is represented, and a variety of wholesalers from around the United States will be there. This event just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s a blessing.”

Before the event officially begins, the board of directors will meet Wednesday, March 6, followed by the VIP dinner that evening.

Things get going quickly on Thursday morning, March 7, with the Tom Page Golf Classic, which is named for one of the founders of the council. This will take place at the Champions Gate Golf Resort, a short distance from the hotel. There are 288 golfers signed up, with a wait list.

“We have an early tee-off at 7:30 a.m.,” said Sherrod. “We’re going to try to get through as fast as we possibly can so we can get people back to the hotel. We know how Orlando traffic can be.”

Also that day, LINKS meetings will be taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and committee meetings will be taking place from noon to 5 p.m.

Registration and exhibit booth set-up will open at 1 p.m., continuing until 6 p.m.

The Future Generations Celebration Dinner will take place from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This event, by invitation only, will honor those involved in three of the council’s premier programs: the Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship program, the retail and foodservice wings of the Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals and the Next Generation Leadership Academy.

Those graduating from STEP-UPP and NGLA will receive their certificates at this dinner.

The first event on Friday, March 7, is the STARS breakfast (by invitation only), which will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Maclaren Oglesby, sales manager at Sbrocco International, and Mason Goolsby, marketing coordinator at Shuman Farms, will be the co-hosts. Speakers will be Adam Brady, director of marketing at Shuman Farms; Jennifer Wiklandour, business unit director at H-E-B; and Luis Yepiz, chief procurement officer at The Farmlink Project.

The first educational session, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., is titled, The Chef Jeff Project: Changing Lives Through the Power of Food. Jeff Henderson is an award-winning chef, New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, television personality and sought-after speaker on personal and professional development.

“This session goes right along with Kristin’s platform about family meals,” said Sherrod, referring to Kristin Yerecic Scott of Yerecic Label, who chairs the SEPC board of directors.

The second educational session, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., is titled, the Power of Produce 2025, with returning co-presenters Rick Stein, vice president of fresh foods at FMI, and Anne-Marie Roerink, president of 210 Analytics LLC. They will be joined by panelists Jim Thomas, vice president of supply chain and sustainability at Sweetgreen; Josh Waters, senior vice president of category management at U.S. Foods; and Laura Himes, vice president of fresh Walmart sourcing at Walmart. This is the session every year where the Power of Produce Report is exclusively unveiled.

The Southern Roots luncheon (for women in produce) will take place from noon to 2 p.m., where attendees will hear from Dominique Dawes, owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies.

The Good Seeds MENtor Program will also take place from noon to 2 p.m., where attendees will hear from Jason Brown, a man of faith, a former professional athlete and a community advocate.

The Board of Governors will meet from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

STARS Fresh Futures, formerly called Cocktails & Careers, will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. “We have a lot of companies signed up to hopefully offer some job opportunities,” said Sherrod.

The Healthy Family Project Reception (by invitation only) will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the Retail & Foodservice Reception (also by invitation only) will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The doors open at 7 p.m. for the Opening Gala, which will feature the dance band known as Liquid Blue. “They come highly praised,” said Sherrod.

On Saturday, March 8, the Keynote Brunch begins at 9 a.m., where attendees will hear updates about the council’s activities.

Sherrod will present a Lifetime Membership Award to Mike Casazza, whose career in produce is a testament to his lifelong passion for agriculture as well as his dedication to the industry and to the Southeast Produce Council. He is president of the Southwest region for FreshSource.

The 2024 Terry Vorhees Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Kent Kuwata, category manager at Smart & Final in Commerce, CA. Kuwata attended the council’s first trade show in 2005, he has not missed a show since, and he has contributed to the council in a myriad of ways, both big and small.

There will be two keynote speakers. David Fikes is the executive director of the FMI Foundation, which has the mission of supporting the food industry through a focus on research and education in the areas of food safety, health and well-being, and social responsibility. Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith and hope. At the age of 13, she lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark, which seemed to end her career as a rising surf star. But one month after the attack, she returned to the water and within two years had won her first national title.

“We have an industry speaker, David Fikes, who will be talking about the impact of family meals and who will give us some data-driven information on those family meals,” said Sherrod. “And then we will have our celebrity speaker, Bethany Hamilton, who has a very inspirational story.”

Following the Keynote Brunch, the expo will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be 307 exhibitors, “just a few more than last year,” informed Sherrod, plus 34 Innovation Stations.

“With everything right there at the hotel, except the golf, the flow at Southern Exposure 2025 should be really good,” he stated. “I do like that everything’s going to be right there.”

The closing reception will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. “This will be a nice way to unwind,” said the SEPC president. “It should be a really relaxing way to conclude our event.”

On Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the Al Finch Memorial Prayer Breakfast will take place, and a special speaker has been invited this year.

“We really have a good lineup this year,” concluded Sherrod. “Everything kind of came together for us to have a really good event. I’m excited about this whole family meals platform that Kristin’s put together for us. The importance of eating together goes along with who we are as a council. We’re family.”