As Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure approaches, Exp. Group is preparing to make a strong statement about where the company is headed in 2026.

The California apple industry lost an instrumental and deeply respected leader with the death of Lawrence Joseph Sambado on Jan. 22.

Born on March 9, 1938, in San Francisco, Mr. Sambado was raised with strong agricultural roots. He attended Linden High School before pursuing his passion for agriculture at the University of California-Davis, where he studied pomology. Following completion of his undergraduate degree, he served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled six to three that President Donald Trump’s tariff policies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional.

With Vidalia onion season set to start sometime in mid-April, Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure is always perfectly timed for the team at Shuman Farms. 

“That’s why Southern Exposure is one of the most anticipated shows of the year,” said John Shuman, president and CEO of Shuman Farms. “It’s always a treat to reconnect with our friends in the industry, especially on the brink of springtime and in Florida.”

In fresh produce, the journey from field to family table is shaped by thousands of decisions—most of them made long before a shopper fills a basket. When to harvest. How to handle. Where to store. How quickly to move product. Each choice influences quality, flavor and trust.

That belief sits at the heart of this year’s Southeast Produce Council Southern Exposure show, held March 6–8 in Orlando, where the industry gathers under the theme From Fields to Families: Nourishing Our Nation.

Food, clothing and shelter. Generally, these three things are considered the essential, fundamental needs for human survival — of course that was determined before TikTok and Instagram were around.