FPFC Expo sees strong retailer presence
April 8, 2022
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council held its annual FPFC Expo on April 6. This year’s show featured 125 booths with almost 1,000 attendees, which included more than 400 retailers from produce vice presidents to buyers to merchandising executives to front-line personnel from the retail produce community. Supermarket representatives roamed the aisles bringing a sense of normalcy to this in-person show, which is the longest-running regional produce and floral show in the country. As has traditionally been the case, exhibitors donated about 8,000 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County at the close of the show.
Mike Krage and Kent Beesley of the Idaho Potato Commission flank Keynote speaker Lisa Leslie, an outstanding basketball player who was one of the top stars in the Women’s National Basketball Association at its outset. IPC was named the Best of Show Produce Winner at this year’s expo.
Andrea Smith and Leighanne Thomsen of Calavo.
Luis Gonzalez, Juan Carios Barrionuevo and Pedro Balderrama of SunFed.
Gary Caloroso and Tom (TW) Wilson of Giumarra Cos.
Cher Watte and Connie Stukenberg of California Grown.
John Pandol and Mike Renzi of Pandol Bros.
Fatima Moussawi and Cheyenne Joyner of Zespri.
Briana Giampaoli and Bonny Iten of Live Oak Farms.
Prescott Leyba, Bailey Slayton and Alexandra Rae Molumby of Country Sweet Produce.
Krista Beckstead and Jason Fonfara of Starr Ranch.
Craig Smith and Brian Petratuona of Interfresh.
Mark Phillips of Natalie's Orchid Island Juice.
Michael Antongiovanni, Daniel Russell, Maria Avina and Katie Schumacher of Cal-Organically and Grimmway Farms.
John Foreman and Francine Bergman of Sticky Lickits.
Gahl Crane and Jeff Davis of Eco Farms.
Scot Olson of Fresh Source, Kip Martin and Larry Tucker of Raley’s, with Brendan Graham and Cindy Wong of Franklin Farms/Nature Soy.
Ben Antongiovanni of Pure Palm Dates.
Marliese Myers and Sarah Shepherd of Lakeside Organic Gardens.
Todd Ingham and Bob Echter of Dramm Echter Farms.
Tran Satter and Chayla Balko of Revol Greens.
Valley Fruit & Produce team: Terri Fletcher, Ana Campos, Diana Rios and Gregg Rivera.
Keith Reese of Robinson Fresh, Brian Sahargun of Stater Bros. Markets, and Dan McGrath and Danny Goforth of Robinson Fresh.
Eric DeGuzman of Chapman University, Dick Spezzano of Spezzano Consulting and Dan McGrath of Robinson Fresh.
Gary Anderson, Dave Howald and Audrea Anderson of Northwest Pear Bureau.
Michelle Cardova and Derek Sass of Talley Farms.
Sean Nelsen of Fowler Packing with Terry Iles of Westlake Produce Co.
Tom Hall and Alvaro Valario of Freska Produce.
Jeff Hansen and Elsa Salazar of Bard Valley Date Growers.
Mike Asdoorian and Blake Lee of DLJ Produce.
Kellie Thompson, Jenn Heinlein and Jodi Carkner of Bostock New Zealand.
Mike Dittenber and Phil Warren II of Warren Packaging.
Katie Beyer, Joanne Torres and Brian Regan of B-Fresh Floral.
Jose Magana Jr., James Lapitaya and Jose Magana Sr. of BJ Orchids.
Eugenia Barth of Passion Growers.
Michelle Liu and Wynn Tseng of Aroma Orchids of Rowland Heights.
Beth Newell of Seneca Foods.
David Mazzola of National Raisin.
Jose Natera and Derrick Davis of Tanimura & Antle.
Dave Stone and Matt Hawk of Valhalla.
Dominic De Franco, Jordan Barta, Veronica Rodarte, Ryan Conlon, Jose Morales and Scott Leimkuhler of Progressive Produce.
Alex McCloskey, Sasha Krnic and Jason Grolnick of Church Bros.
Mark Masten and Amanda Sains of Joolies.
Jose Larios, Carol Lotich and Erin Wagner of Wonderful Sales.
Andrea Gonzalez, Victoria Kovacevich and Suzette Overgaag of North Shore Living Herbs + Greens.
Conner Melancon of Prime Time.
Kyle Hammans and Jessica Swanson of Bolthouse Farms.
Matt Modena and Claire Vasquez of Windset Farms.
Kyle Griffith, Blair Butterwoth and Brian Cook of Pete’s.
Valerie Gonzalez, Mark Munger and Sandra Medina of 4Earth Farms.
Michael Mellano and Misty Welbourn of Mellano & Co.
Rodi Groot of Sun Valley Floral Farms.
Rachel Forillere of Kor Shots.
Tyson Billingsley, Scott Harrington and Pat McErlean of Del Monte Foods.
Steve Gill and Yasmin Garcia of Gill’s Onions.
Jessica Gagel, David Doggett and Cassidy White of Organicgirl.
Mary Mooney of Mooney Farms.
Kristen Reid and Emily Fragoso of MIXTEC Group.
Tagged in:
