SPC annual conference combines tours, seminars, expo and fun
SPC annual conference combines tours, seminars, expo and fun
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- If exciting field tours, educational workshops, a bold keynote speech, a comprehensive trade show and fun-filled social events make for a successful conference, then by all accounts the Southeast Produce Council's recently completed third annual conference and expo fit the bill.
The conference, held March 2-4 in the Fort Lauderdale area, got underway with a golf tournament at the TPC Heron Bay in Coral Springs. The team from Southern Valley took first place, and all golfers enjoyed a buffet barbecue dinner at the club Thursday evening, March 2.
The event, dubbed Southern Exposure 2006, got down to business early Friday morning, March 3, with field tours that took more than 80 participants to Pero Vegetable Co. and A. Duda & Sons Inc., two of Florida's well-known and respected grower-shippers. (To view this story, click More News on the Home page.)
The gala opening party took place Friday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the headquarters hotel for the event. The party was scheduled to take place poolside, and thanks to perfect weather all through the event, attendees did enjoy the opening party under a clear, starlit sky.
Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, delivered the keynote speech Saturday morning, March 4 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center, challenging the audience with a bold theme: "How the fresh produce industry can take control of its own destiny and double fruit and vegetable consumption."
Mr. Stenzel announced the launch of a three-year, $1.5 million fundraising campaign for Project Fresh Start, and asked those in attendance for their support in launching this program to reshape government policy and drive environmental change to get kids to meet the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption.
"I believe it's time for a change," the association executive stated. "It's time for thinking outside the box."
Mr. Stenzel focused on two key points: first that it is essential to get kids to make produce part of their daily lives instead of junk food, and second that produce must become as easily available as the omnipresent vending machines that hawk candy and soda.
"We need to have convenience and great-tasting produce within arm's reach." This is how the industry will take the 5 A Day message "to the next level," he said. "People already know what to do. Now we need to make produce more accessible."
Following the keynote speech, SPC golf tournament Chairperson Tom Page of Supervalu received an award for his dedicated service to the council from SPC President Rick Estess of Apio Inc. and SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees.
Next up for attendees were two concurrent workshops. In one, Ronnie De La Cruz spoke about "Key foodservice trends: implications and opportunities for everyone from grower to operator. In the other, Heidi McIntyre, president of McIntyre Marketing Inc., moderated "Produce Merchandising for Today's Retail Customer" with panel members Jessica Wood, marketing manager of The Perishables Group, who spoke about consumer trends and demographics; Jorge Antona, president of Diaz Produce LLC, who spoke about marketing Hispanic produce and products to non-Hispanic consumers; and Tony Lima, account group supervisor with GolinHarris, who spoke about merchandising produce to different Hispanic consumers.
Following a noon ribbon cutting by Mr. Estess and other dignitaries, the expo was opened to all attendees. Mr. Vorhees noted that 140 exhibitors took part in this year's expo, up from last year. And preliminary figures showed overall attendance at about 625 people, up from last year's figure of 550.
For those who like to plan ahead, next year's SPC conference and expo will take place Feb. 22-24 in Tampa, FL. There are already some exciting changes and additions on the drawing board for the 2007 event, said Mr. Vorhees, which will be announced in the coming months.
The conference, held March 2-4 in the Fort Lauderdale area, got underway with a golf tournament at the TPC Heron Bay in Coral Springs. The team from Southern Valley took first place, and all golfers enjoyed a buffet barbecue dinner at the club Thursday evening, March 2.
The event, dubbed Southern Exposure 2006, got down to business early Friday morning, March 3, with field tours that took more than 80 participants to Pero Vegetable Co. and A. Duda & Sons Inc., two of Florida's well-known and respected grower-shippers. (To view this story, click More News on the Home page.)
The gala opening party took place Friday evening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the headquarters hotel for the event. The party was scheduled to take place poolside, and thanks to perfect weather all through the event, attendees did enjoy the opening party under a clear, starlit sky.
Tom Stenzel, president of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, delivered the keynote speech Saturday morning, March 4 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale-Broward County Convention Center, challenging the audience with a bold theme: "How the fresh produce industry can take control of its own destiny and double fruit and vegetable consumption."
Mr. Stenzel announced the launch of a three-year, $1.5 million fundraising campaign for Project Fresh Start, and asked those in attendance for their support in launching this program to reshape government policy and drive environmental change to get kids to meet the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption.
"I believe it's time for a change," the association executive stated. "It's time for thinking outside the box."
Mr. Stenzel focused on two key points: first that it is essential to get kids to make produce part of their daily lives instead of junk food, and second that produce must become as easily available as the omnipresent vending machines that hawk candy and soda.
"We need to have convenience and great-tasting produce within arm's reach." This is how the industry will take the 5 A Day message "to the next level," he said. "People already know what to do. Now we need to make produce more accessible."
Following the keynote speech, SPC golf tournament Chairperson Tom Page of Supervalu received an award for his dedicated service to the council from SPC President Rick Estess of Apio Inc. and SPC Executive Director Terry Vorhees.
Next up for attendees were two concurrent workshops. In one, Ronnie De La Cruz spoke about "Key foodservice trends: implications and opportunities for everyone from grower to operator. In the other, Heidi McIntyre, president of McIntyre Marketing Inc., moderated "Produce Merchandising for Today's Retail Customer" with panel members Jessica Wood, marketing manager of The Perishables Group, who spoke about consumer trends and demographics; Jorge Antona, president of Diaz Produce LLC, who spoke about marketing Hispanic produce and products to non-Hispanic consumers; and Tony Lima, account group supervisor with GolinHarris, who spoke about merchandising produce to different Hispanic consumers.
Following a noon ribbon cutting by Mr. Estess and other dignitaries, the expo was opened to all attendees. Mr. Vorhees noted that 140 exhibitors took part in this year's expo, up from last year. And preliminary figures showed overall attendance at about 625 people, up from last year's figure of 550.
For those who like to plan ahead, next year's SPC conference and expo will take place Feb. 22-24 in Tampa, FL. There are already some exciting changes and additions on the drawing board for the 2007 event, said Mr. Vorhees, which will be announced in the coming months.
