Keynote speakers are announced for IFPA exposition
Keynote speakers are announced for IFPA exposition
The International Fresh-cut Produce Association has announced the addition of two nationally recognized business motivators " a best-selling author and a comedic entertainer " to headline the ExecTrends sessions at its upcoming Fresh-Cut Expo 2005, set for April 14-16 in Phoenix.
The addition of Larry Winget, author of The Wall Street Journal?s number one best-seller Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life, and comedian and motivational speaker Frank Miles should inspire attendees with straight-talk business advice at the organization?s annual conference and exhibition.
The two men will headline the ExecTrends sessions, part of a wide variety of business and social activities at the association?s annual gathering, which now goes by the simple moniker Fresh-cut Expo. The association chose the short, to-the-point name to emphasize the "business-to-business? nature of the event, which will "showcase all the innovations ... within the fresh-cut industry," Lisa Allen, the organization?s director of communications, told The Produce News Tuesday, Jan. 18. "And there?s a lot going on."
Registration will begin Wednesday morning, April 13 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza, and industry tours will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Martori Farms and Rousseau Farming Co. An international reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (by invitation only) at the Hyatt Regency, the headquarters hotel for the event.
The international reception represents the organization?s recognition that the fresh-cut industry is expanding worldwide as well as the fact that its own membership is taking on a more international flavor, noted Ms. Allen. In fact, the International Fresh-cut Produce Association will be participating in a meeting Feb. 7 in Berlin "to explore the creation of an IFPA-Europe," said Ms. Allen. European fresh-cut processors, U.S. processors and IFPA officers will all take part in that meeting.
On Thursday, April 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy The Raven Golf Course, while non-golfers may choose another set of field tours, this time to Basha?s, Marriott Desert Ridge and Del Monte Distribution, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Three workshops will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt: one on sanitation, one on business operations and one on fresh-cut marketplace trends. A chairman-of-the-board reception (by invitation only) will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the opening reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hyatt, which is open to all attendees.
Friday, April 15, will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the chairman?s ExecTrends breakfast and association report, followed by a keynote address beginning at 8:30 a.m. by Mr. Winget and then concurrent workshops from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A safety workshop is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
But the day?s highlight will surely be the expo, running from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Last year?s expo in Reno, NV, drew 124 exhibitors, and "we?re looking to capture about 150? this year, Ms. Allen said enthusiastically. Last year?s overall attendance was 1,268, and "this year we?re looking at attract? about 1,700, she added.
Food stations will be set up around the expo floor so that attendees can grab a bite to eat and still allow a full afternoon?s time visiting the exhibits. "We really want to put the focus on the show floor," said Ms. Allen. "That?s where we believe the real excitement is ... and where our members want to spend the most time."
To help meet those needs, the association "revamped the expo to be a bigger, bolder event for the fresh-cut industry," said Ms. Allen. For example, there will be five sections on the show floor which will showcase different trends within the fresh-cut industry, she explained. Three will be display-only, spotlighting packaging, the science of fresh-cut and what?s new in fresh-cut from around the world. The other two sections will cluster exhibitors showcasing RFID and bio-security. "We think that?s a really neat part of the show," she said.
Friday evening?s activities will conclude with the industry recognition awards reception and dinner at the Hyatt from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. In addition to the coveted Fresh-cut Produce Award, given jointly by the association and The Produce News since 1993, the association will also present its Technical Award and another award at this dinner.
On Saturday, April 16, the ExecTrends breakfast session will begin at 7:45 a.m., followed by a keynote address by Mr. Miles from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and concurrent workshops from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The expo will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will conclude this year?s activities.
For those who like to plan ahead, next year?s IFPA Fresh-cut Expo will take place April 27-29 in Baltimore.
The addition of Larry Winget, author of The Wall Street Journal?s number one best-seller Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life, and comedian and motivational speaker Frank Miles should inspire attendees with straight-talk business advice at the organization?s annual conference and exhibition.
The two men will headline the ExecTrends sessions, part of a wide variety of business and social activities at the association?s annual gathering, which now goes by the simple moniker Fresh-cut Expo. The association chose the short, to-the-point name to emphasize the "business-to-business? nature of the event, which will "showcase all the innovations ... within the fresh-cut industry," Lisa Allen, the organization?s director of communications, told The Produce News Tuesday, Jan. 18. "And there?s a lot going on."
Registration will begin Wednesday morning, April 13 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza, and industry tours will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Martori Farms and Rousseau Farming Co. An international reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (by invitation only) at the Hyatt Regency, the headquarters hotel for the event.
The international reception represents the organization?s recognition that the fresh-cut industry is expanding worldwide as well as the fact that its own membership is taking on a more international flavor, noted Ms. Allen. In fact, the International Fresh-cut Produce Association will be participating in a meeting Feb. 7 in Berlin "to explore the creation of an IFPA-Europe," said Ms. Allen. European fresh-cut processors, U.S. processors and IFPA officers will all take part in that meeting.
On Thursday, April 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy The Raven Golf Course, while non-golfers may choose another set of field tours, this time to Basha?s, Marriott Desert Ridge and Del Monte Distribution, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Three workshops will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt: one on sanitation, one on business operations and one on fresh-cut marketplace trends. A chairman-of-the-board reception (by invitation only) will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the opening reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hyatt, which is open to all attendees.
Friday, April 15, will begin at 7:45 a.m. with the chairman?s ExecTrends breakfast and association report, followed by a keynote address beginning at 8:30 a.m. by Mr. Winget and then concurrent workshops from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A safety workshop is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
But the day?s highlight will surely be the expo, running from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Last year?s expo in Reno, NV, drew 124 exhibitors, and "we?re looking to capture about 150? this year, Ms. Allen said enthusiastically. Last year?s overall attendance was 1,268, and "this year we?re looking at attract? about 1,700, she added.
Food stations will be set up around the expo floor so that attendees can grab a bite to eat and still allow a full afternoon?s time visiting the exhibits. "We really want to put the focus on the show floor," said Ms. Allen. "That?s where we believe the real excitement is ... and where our members want to spend the most time."
To help meet those needs, the association "revamped the expo to be a bigger, bolder event for the fresh-cut industry," said Ms. Allen. For example, there will be five sections on the show floor which will showcase different trends within the fresh-cut industry, she explained. Three will be display-only, spotlighting packaging, the science of fresh-cut and what?s new in fresh-cut from around the world. The other two sections will cluster exhibitors showcasing RFID and bio-security. "We think that?s a really neat part of the show," she said.
Friday evening?s activities will conclude with the industry recognition awards reception and dinner at the Hyatt from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. In addition to the coveted Fresh-cut Produce Award, given jointly by the association and The Produce News since 1993, the association will also present its Technical Award and another award at this dinner.
On Saturday, April 16, the ExecTrends breakfast session will begin at 7:45 a.m., followed by a keynote address by Mr. Miles from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and concurrent workshops from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The expo will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will conclude this year?s activities.
For those who like to plan ahead, next year?s IFPA Fresh-cut Expo will take place April 27-29 in Baltimore.
