The United Fresh Produce Association will give attendees to its annual June event a new experience this year.
It’s scheduled for June 10-12 at McCormick Center in Chicago, and John Toner, vice president, convention and industry collaboration, said United’s volunteer leadership met several times since last year’s event to bring a different feel this year.
The event will begin Monday, June 10, with a Produce Outlook general session, along with other education meetings and an opening reception at Chicago’s Navy Pier.
June 10 will also offer one-on-one partner exchange meetings between buyers and suppliers.
The two-day (Tuesday-Wednesday) expo will feature a main stage on the show floor and side stage for programming during expo hours, Toner said.
At the end of the expo hours each day, United will host a special event. Tuesday features the Fresh Festival for School Foodservice, and Wednesday will see the Retail and Foodservice celebration for retail produce managers and chefs.
The Women in Produce award moves from a post-expo reception to part of the Wednesday morning general session.
Toner said attendees have gotten spread out in downtown Chicago the past few years, and this year there are more networking events to bring attendees together more, including an afterhours party June 11 at the House of Blues.
“We want to have more Instagram-able moments,” Toner said.
United Fresh also announced its June expo will move to San Diego in 2020.
Registration for the June 2019 expo should be open this week, Toner said.
