MONTEREY, CA — Already one of the more popular conferences on the produce circuit, the Produce Marketing Association’s annual foodservice conference continues to reach new highs owing to a combination of location, networking and educational programming.

The numbers tell the story: 442 attendees at the educational sessions; 120 participants at the Joe Nucci Golf Tournament; 440 registrants for the 5k Race for Talent; 180 attendees at the Women’s Fresh Perspectives reception; and more than 440 attendees at the opening reception.Valerie Lea (center) of Deep with Kristen Reid and Emily Fragoso of Mixtec at the opening reception.

“To me, the popularity of the conference this year was evident in the level of engagement by the attendees,” said Bryan Silbermann, chief executive officer of PMA. “The foodservice industry is finally starting to rebound and traction is building for demand for fruits and vegetables on the foodservice level.”

Silbermann added that people are starting to make money again and foodservice operators are investing more in their businesses.

“It’s amazing to see the investments being made,” he added. “At PMA, we provide a high level of value in the form of research,Chris Eliopulos of Sysco with Emanuel Lazopoulos of Del Monte Fresh Produce at the opening reception. and operators are turning it in to action. It’s nice to see the solutions that are being implemented.”

PMA President Cathy Burns agreed, adding, “Our educational events, including the insights from chefs and exposure to how technology can help drive innovation, were extremely valuable and helped create a feeling of family among the attendees.”

Silbermann said the conference began 33 years ago when some “farsighted” people saw a need for foodservice to be treated differently than retail.

“In the early years, for about a decade, it was all about creating a sense of identity for foodservice,” he said. “Then for about the next 15 years, it became a meeting place. Now it is back to its roots as an incubator of new ideas.”Larry Narwold of Mann Packing, Jane Narwold of Sutherland Foodservice and Jeff DeBoer of Sysco at the opening reception.

Burns credits some “very smart people” on the boards and strategic planning committees for the continued success of the conference. These people recognize the need to “change things up and keep things fresh,” she said. “We have gotten some fabulous people in the educational programming.”

The 2016 conference will feature one major change, though one that is beyond the control of the association. Due to a major renovation of the Portola Plaza in downtown Monterey, where the trade show is held, the conference will be moved to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, a few miles from the current site.Susan Waters and Heidi McIntyre of the Vidalia Onion Committee at the food truck they sponsored during the opening reception of the PMA Foodservice Conference.

The association explored the possibility of moving the conference to another location in 2016, with San Diego and an East Coast venue among the considerations. But for the loyal attendees, the roots run deep in Monterey.

“We constantly solicit feedback from our members, and the Foodservice Advisory Committee takes that feedback very seriously,” said Ashley Boucher, PMA’s public relations manager. “It was clear from the feedback that we needed to stay in Monterey.”

Silbermann said the trade show will be held under a large tent, which will afford more booth space beyond the 164 exhibitors PMA was limited to at the Portola. It is unknown if there will be an increased capacity at the renovated facility when the conference returns in 2017.

Representing Monterey Mushrooms at the opening reception of the PMA Foodservice Conference were Mike O’Brien, Holly Burriesci, Sandy Quintana and Shah Kazemi.