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Organic Produce Summit to feature educational sessions in partnership with OTA

The Organic Produce Summit will feature a series of timely educational sessions to be presented at its inaugural trade show designed for organic fresh produce producers and handlers. The educational sessions, held in partnership with the Organic Trade Association, will highlight organic fruit and vegetable issues and opportunities, featuring recognized experts in organic production, handling and retail excellence.ops

The summit is slated for July 13-14, 2016, at the Monterey Hyatt in Monterey, CA. The educational sessions are part of a comprehensive and informative agenda connecting organic producers and handlers. Additional seminars and a keynote address are being finalized for the event.

“This summit will provide an unprecedented opportunity for the organic produce industry to focus on this critical market and its key issues, to conduct business at its trade show, unify the organic voice, and position the sector for continued success,” Laura Batcha, executive director and chief executive officer of the OTA, said in a press release.  

OPS and OTA will conduct the education sessions at the trade show, which will cover the following areas:

  • The current and future state of the organic fresh produce industry using data and analysis from a variety of market and consumer sources.
  • The GRO Organic Program, a proposed research and promotion check-off program for organic.
  • The upcoming generation of organic growers who are developing groundbreaking techniques in order to extend growing seasons and regions, as well as the impact climate change will have on where and when organic fruits and vegetables are produced.

Since the announcement of the inaugural summit, the feedback from the organic fresh produce community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I am very excited to have a vehicle such as this trade show to focus solely on organic produce with our team,” Chad Miller, vice president of specialty grocery store chain Sprouts Farmers Market, said in the press release. “The ability to see our growers and new partners, along with the summit’s retail educational component in one venue, compels us to enthusiastically support OPS.”

Sponsors of the Organic Produce Summit to date include Taylor Farms, Braga Fresh, Robinson Fresh, Renaissance Foods, Wholesum Family Farms, Caito Foods, Earthbound Farms and the Castellini Group of Cos. Additional sponsorships continue to be available.  For further information, contact Todd Linsky at 661.342.3409 or [email protected].

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