With one month to go, Organic Produce Summit 2023 is on track to be the largest in the event's history and will include several new additions.
Over 300 retailers have already confirmed their attendance, and a sold-out trade show floor of 170 organic fresh produce growers and producers from across North America awaits attendees.
"From retailer field tours, engaging ed sessions, and a trade show, OPS 2023 will engage attendees on the strengths of the organic fresh produce industry and what the future may look like," said Susan Canales, president of OPS.
The trade show features 170 organic fresh produce growers and producers.
The event brings together organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors with retailers and buying organizations from across North America. The seventh annual event will be held July 12-13 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California.
New activities this year include:
- A pre-reception event for OPS first-time attendees and those new to the produce industry.
- The first-ever ed session is to be held at the Monterey Marriott hotel. OPS has expanded its venue space to include the Monterey Marriot, where a keynote session on the growth of plant-based foods will take place.
- The expansion of the trade show floor to include 20 new exhibition booths.
"Our educational program is designed to cover the most topical and important issues facing our industry, and our trade show floor is five hours of networking energy that offers both retailer and organic producer leadership an intimate and dynamic opportunity to exchange ideas and information," said Canales.
Highlighting the educational program is a pair of keynote presentations. The Retailer Roundtable keynote, What Lies Ahead for Fresh Produce and Grocery Marketing, will feature Daniel Bell, director of produce for Grocery Outlet; Sonya Constable, vice president of produce for Sprouts Farmers Market; and Abhi Rashem, CEO and founder of Misfits Market. The session will be moderated by Kevin Coupe of Morning News Beat.
Last year's OPS keynote session.
In the second keynote, Divert co-founder and CEO Ryan Begin will share about his company's role in addressing the human and environmental crises created by food waste in a TED Talk-style presentation titled, Protecting the Value of Food: Learning to Value Food at All Stages of Its Lifecycle—from Seed to Wasted Food to Renewable Energy.
In addition, ed sessions will round out the educational program and cover topics including sustainability, the growing importance of CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture), new organic rules and regulations, the power of plants, and organic produce sales in an era of inflation.
OPS 2023 will also include field tours for qualified retailers/buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a trade show floor featuring over 170 producers and processors of fresh organic produce.
Registration to attend is here.
For more information:
Matt Seeley
Organic Produce Network
Tel.: +1 (831) 884-5092
[email protected]
www.organicproducenetwork.com