The Southeast Produce Council’s STEP-UPP Retail Class embarked on their spring tour last week, taking participants into the field and on plant tours to gain hands-on experience in how to partner with growers more effectively. STEP-UPP, which is an acronym for Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals, is SEPC’s flagship program giving retail and foodservice produce professionals a greater understanding of the industry through an emphasis on strategic orientation, personal leadership, and hands-on field experience. 

The STEP-UPP Retail Class tour began April 1 as participants arrived that evening for food and fellowship at Key Biscayne Yacht Club, hosted by Freshway Produce.

The next day, the class began their tour bright and early with an amazing series of facility, farm, and field tours hosted by the following SEPC level sponsors: Alpine Fresh, Freshway Produce and Crystal Valley Foods.

The tour resumed Thursday with more fantastic facility, farm and field tours hosted by the following SEPC level sponsors: Southern Specialties, PennRose Farms and Duda Farm Fresh Foods.

Culminating the trip, the class toured the facilities of SEPC sponsor WP Produce before they departed for home.

The council thanked SEPC’s Future of Industry sponsors: Bolthouse Fresh, Equifruit, Great Lakes Greenhouses, J&C Tropicals, Red Sun Farms, RPE, Shuman Farms, Southern Valley, Square 1 Farms and Syngenta.

"The 2025 STEP-UPP class hit the ground running, quickly learning and becoming involved with our first trip to Southern Florida," said Gary Baker, SEPC secretary and STEP-UPP retail committee co-chair, Merchants Distributors. "From facility to farm to field, each stop provided firsthand experiences that deepened their understanding of produce, quality control and the supply chain. It is always a true joy for me to see STEP-UPP students learn so much and truly benefit from this tour. Thank you again to our dedicated SEPC member companies that allowed the class to gain this fresh perspective."

“The first trip of the 2025 STEP-UPP Retail class last week was an incredible educational experience," said Mike Roberts, SEPC board ambassador and STEP-UPP retail committee co-chair, Harps Food Stores. "The class gained valuable insights into asparagus, tropical fruits, specialty crops, eggplant, peppers and cucumbers. A big thank you to all the companies and associates who presented—your expertise made a lasting impact! The class not only left with greater industry knowledge but also with full stomachs thanks to the amazing food we enjoyed."

The graduation ceremony for the STEP-UPP Retail Class of 2025 will be held during Southern Innovations this September in Charlotte, NC. For more information about the STEP-UPP program as well as other SEPC educational offerings, visit the Education page of the SEPC website.