The third annual Southeast Produce Council BB #:191194 fall conference starts today with its focus on organic and foodservice trends and networking.
Retail Editor Pamela Riemenschneider will be covering the event – the Southern Innovations Organics & Foodservice Expo – for Blue Book.
SEPC expects more than 100 exhibitors and more than 250 retail, foodservice and wholesale buyers for the Sept. 12-14 conference.
Held in Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the event promises organic and foodservice insights, as well as performances from country music stars Chris Lane and Daniel E. Johnson.
The Thursday program features an integrated RECIPE session for foodservice, featuring teams of industry experts and guest chefs. In the afternoon, the Southern Roots Luncheon will offer ladies a presentation by Shasta Nelson, a relationship expert.
Friday has two education sessions:
-Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Organics but Were Afraid to Ask, featuring a variety of panelists discussing the challenges in organics.
-Avocado to Zucchini: Trending Produce in Foodservice, with a panel analyzing the produce items that are up and coming in foodservice, which items have grown, and which items have hit market proliferation.
The Friday keynote address will be given by Steve Robinson, former executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Chick-fil-A, followed by the expo from 1-5 p.m.
Saturday’s program offers golf, sporting clays, tours of Nashville and the social Ultimate Tailgate Experience of food, fellowship and college football.
“We are really excited to be back in Nashville this year,” said David Sherrod, SEPC President & CEO. “We have assembled an all-star lineup of industry experts to share with us the hottest new trends in both the Organic and Foodservice sectors.”
