SEPC’s Southern Exposure a family affair
March 10, 2025
The Southeast Produce Council tied in the importance of family with Hawaiian spirit at its signature Southern Exposure event March 6-8, 2025, at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Just as ohana means family in Hawaiian, Southern Exposure once again proved — beyond a shadow of a doubt — that the produce community is a one big family.
Following educational sessions and a keynote address, the show floor was packed as attendees filled the aisles for more than six hours.
Trish James, Luke and John Shuman, Broc Davis and Gene Edwards of Shuman Farms.
Kirkland Marquardt and Mike Naftel of Del Monte Fresh.
Heather Jeffares and Sanford Gleddie of The Little Potato Co.
The Mission Produce team.
The team from Nickey Gregory Co. Inc.
Helen Aquino of Village Farms.
Cintya Torres and Javier Torres of Tomato Thyme Corp.
The WP Produce team.
Charlotte Vick and Ken Sikes of Vick Family Farms.
Mike Butler and Matthew Banghart of LK Packaging.
Autumn Campbell and Jackie Lourens of Matthew Ridgeview Farms.
Mike Walsh, Juan Pablo Andino and Howard Nager of Pacific Trellis Fruit.
Vanessa Zapata and Rafael Rosado of Allen Lund Co.
Jonathan Sparks and Richard Jones of Bobalu.
The Church Bros. Farms team.
Randi Ricks and Robin Narron of Nash Produce.
Derrick Stinnett of BeachSide Produce.
Trent Etchandy and Buddy Gillam of Gem-Pack Berries.
Jeremy Prine, Mary Beth Schnell and Tom Garry of Marzetti.
Melissa Oliver, Riley Drexler, Kevin Fix and Amanda Saenz of Bolthouse Fresh Foods.
Heath Wetherington of Baker Farms.
Herschell Durrence, Cyndi Elbaz, Andi Cutler, Michael Cutler, Kristen Pettis and Brittney Marino of Hillcrest Produce Co.
Wendy McManus of Connect 2 Potential.
Austin Fowler, Mark Sharp and Mike Hacker of Fowler Farms.
Ronny and Tina Collins of Vidalia Sweet Produce.
The Sunset team.
Jeff Rhoden, Delbert Bland, Sloan Lott and Rich Pazderski of Bland Farms.
John Pursel of AC Foods.
Amber Marquez, Dilia Marval, Joan Tabak and David Arias of Harvest Sensation.
GT Parris, Carlos Sotomayor and Tony Pellegrino of Seald Sweet /Greenyard USA.
Jake Margolis, Whitney Margolis and Ryan Walden of Birddog Group.
Matt Dinitto, Bill Bertrand and Evan Dobratz of Bright Farms.
Seth Grant, Kirby Johnson, Pat Ragusa and Kevin Campbell of Flavor 1st Growers & Packers.
Phil Crafts, John Olivo and Rob Haarburger of Fresh Express.
Max Mastronardi, Richie Keirouz, Brian DiCarlo, Nick DiCarlo and Chris Veillon of Topline Farms.
Caleb Medders, Maggie Jones, Chandler Grimes and Del Schwalls of Southern Valley.
Leona Neill, Mike Reed, Kyle Moynahan, Rob Jackson, Zanelle Hough and Mark Wehby of Red Sun Farms.
Michael D’Amato, Daryl Johnston and Larry Mitchell of Perricone Farms.
Trish James, Rebecca Waxman and Amanda Keefer of the Healthy Family Project.
Levon Ganajian and Kristyn Lawson of Trinity Fruit.
Nancy Bryner of Potandon Produce.
Bob Catinella and Carrieann Arias of USA Pears.
Albert Perez of Continental Fresh with Ramon Ojeda of the National Mango Board.
Lance Smith, Megan Adams, Megann Schooley and Kamden Bates of Smith’s Farm.
Amanda Davis, Wyatt Wickizer, Charlie Eagle, Susana Troop and Bruno Luis of Southern Specialties.
Matt Roy of Associated Wholesale Grocers flanked by Gary Zych and Jeff Moore of Crunch Pak.
Tom Salisbury and Jay Jardner of The Chuck Olsen Co.
Tim Harrington and Jocelyn Gerard of Stemilt Growers.
Jill Hughey of Rice Fruit showcased the company’s array of apple offerings.
Sicar Farms was represented by Luis Gudino, Luis Gudino Jr., Sandra Longoria and Kevin Coronado.
JC Myers and Robert Hartmann of SunFed.
The Giumarra team.
Dan Mcardle and Shannon Corbet of Good Foods.
Nicholas Leonard, David Santucci and Kirk Wilson of Giorgio Fresh.
Christine Jackson and Denise Rivera of WP Rawl.
Joseph Angelo and Chris Drew of Ocean Mist Farms.
Paul Miller, Bob Sloate and Andrew Hernandez of Duda Farms Fresh Foods.
Leigh Donath, Brian Lapin and Silvana Descomps of Catania Worldwide.
The Perricone Farms team.
The Taylor Farms/Earthbound Farms team.
Karl Lipscomb and Natali Carillo of Gold Coast Packing.
Jon Buchwald, John Farese, Drew Caneza and Richard Ryan of Spice World.
The Consalo Family Farms team.
The Pure Flavor team.
Aimee Bach, Chuck Zeutenhorst, Brian Coates, Justin Bos and Sara Palmisano of FirstFruits Farms.
Sean Steller and Larissa Rice of Phillips Mushroom Farms.
Kevin Stanger, Stephanie Bench and Joe Esta of Wada Farms.
At the Wilcox Fresh booth were Austin Reese, Jenna Owens and Derek Peterson.
Jay Alley and Tara Murray of Fresh Innovations LLC promoted the company’s popular grab-and-go line of ¡Yo Quiero! products.
Ken White, Veronica Rivas, Rick Feighery and Betsy Riera-Gomez of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp.
Scott Simmons of Bluewater Farms with George Christ of JP Food Sales Inc.
Reed Sothoron, Nicholas Nikes, Nick Sapp and Chris Ackerman of Parker Farms.
Tony Barriera, John McCann, Geoff Kyle and Tara Glazer of Fresh Taste Produce.
Blake Atkinson of the South Carolina Peach Council.
Todd Gosule, Jessica Pye, Shannon Gosule, Anna Klatwitter and Scott Young of B&W Quality Growers.
Luis Del Hoyo and Denise Gomez of J&C Tropicals.
JD Poole and Bryan Biederman of Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers.
Lindsey Lance, Tyann Schlimmer and Michele Youngquist of Bay Baby Produce.
Daniel Klausner and Sara Matejowsky of Sunkist Growers with Karin Humanik of Harris Teeter, Chris Harris of Sunkist, Michael Collins of Harris Teeter, Tyler Steele and Jamie Sells of Sunkist.
Bridgette Weber, David Baxter, Alan Asbury and Liam Slavin of Bard Valley Natural Delights.
Ardy Haerizadeh and Anna Kirsch of Calavo.
Attendees were treated to gourmet coffee at the Equifruit booth, hosted by Marianne Stamatelos, Shelby Dwyer, Madison Hopper and Ashley McPhee.
Mark Daniels, Matt Zapczynski and Stanley Trout of the Idaho Potato Commission.
Sam Snyder, Eric Frasse and Hannah Cleveland of I Love Produce.
Jordan Carter and Bailey Leger of Leger & Son.
At the National Mango Board booth were Cesar Favero, Lavanya Setia, Ramon Ojeda and Meg Buchsbaum.
The 2025 National Watermelon Queen Elaine Nicole Mason joined Stephanie Barlow and Juliemar Rosado at the National Watermelon Promotion Board booth.
Sam Roberts, Shimon Efergan and Nick Kraus of MamaMia Produce.
Paulina Villareal (third from left) of Fresh Directions International stopped at the Avocados from Mexico booth to visit with Alfonse Delgado, Tanya Edwards and Oscar Garcia.
Ken Gray of Bushwick Commission with Ramon Ojeda of the National Mango Board.
Michael Anne Evans and Clara Alcantara of IFCO.
Diana Quintero, Jose Barragan, Gabriel Villaseñor, Valeria Villaseñor and Jason Adams of La Bonanza Avocados.
Joseph Sferrazza of TerraFreshOrganics.
Neil Brassell of Joolies Dates, Bob McGowan of Affinity Sales and Joe Kaszuba of House Foods Holding USA Inc.
Karen Brux and Allison Myers of Frutas de Chile.
Blair Greenhill (second from right) of Nickey Gregory with Sergio Rodriguez, Marcus Marderosian and Monique Mueller of Bee Sweet Citrus.
Kevin Steiner, Ryan Easter and Krista Beckstead of Mountain View Fruit Sales.
Desirae Perez of Prime Time Produce with Jackie Nakashian and Levon Ganajian of Trinity Fruit Co.
Maclaren Oglesby, Harold Sbrocco, Mark Danza and John Sbrocco of Sbrocco International Inc.
Sean Siri, Dana Mulroy and Matthew Trento of Freshline Produce LLC.
Bob Mast, Loren Foss, Rich Mendosa and Rochelle Bohm of CMI Orchards with Brian Haul of Publix and Danelle Huber of CMI Orchards.
At the Dole Fresh Vegetables booth promoting their new salad kit varieties were Adam Heick, Mark Baber, Jon Day, Jim Straub, Kim St George, Eric Cowles and Angel Baez.
Ginny Williams and Traci Sensenig of Four Seasons Produce.
Harris Trock, Andrew Castellano, Jamey Friedman, Mariangela Barbieri and Matthew Sytsema of Freshouse/Hapco Farms.
The team at Lange Farms was in full force at the SEPC Southern Exposure.
Ian Zimmerman, Bruce Klein, Kelvia Payero and Josh Auerbach of Maurice A. Auerbach Inc.
Bobby Creel, Charlie Gray, Cal Parker and Reece Wilson of L&M Cos. Inc.
Tom Thompson, Ken Reagan and Kevin Keough of State Garden/Olivia’s Organics.
Jon Kiley of Envy Apples with Stefanie Katzman, Melissa Melendez and Brittany Pearson of Katzman.
Ross Nelson of FreshEdge with Bryan Barsness of Prophet North America.
George Dalie of Oppy and Jon Kiley of Envy with Sydney Schutkowski, Peter Cole, Moriah Lingenfelter, Daniel Sebetic, Julie Barber and Jonathan Vagelatos of Oppy.
Dave Masser, Lela Reichart, Bob Meek, Kathy Michael-Sponheim, Tiffany Readinger and Kathleen Triou of Fresh Solutions Network.
Bryan Roberts, Lisa Corrigan, Christine Etcheverry-Root and Shawn Caldwell of Sunview Marketing International.
Kathryn Hearn, Eddie Reynolds and Maria Howarth of the California Table Grape Commission.
Scott Simmons of Bluewater Farms.
Coleman Oswald, Rhett Ricks, Austin Wagstaff and Michael Daroshefski of Eagle Eye Produce.
Representing Farms Fresh Direct of America were Mike Hulett, Cindy Adkins and Randall Wright.
Kevin Scrivanich, Chris Hill, Corrine Barry, Max Pozzessere and Joe McErlean of Little Leaf Farms.
Tagged in:
