Trade shows and other events coming up during the first half of 2021 show the immense flexibility of the produce and food industry, with some organizers offering in-persons venues and others refining virtual events to an art form. Our hats are off to the people who structure these shows and festivals for their dedication and hard work. You all are amazing!
As the shows and events draw nearer, we’ll share more about venues, speakers and sessions.
United Fresh’s BrandStorm™ will be a virtual event from March 9-11 this year. “The annual gathering of the industry’s top and aspiring marketing experts will explore new strategies and tactics, provide solutions to shared marketing challenges and create camaraderie as we work together to grow fresh produce consumption,” the website notes. Registration is online at https://www.unitedfresh.org/events-programs/ufbrandstorm/.
Japan’s enormous FoodX is set to be live March 9-12 at Makuhari Messe. Attendance is predicted to include 80,000 buyers, and you can check out at the event’s agenda and exhibitor list at https://www.jma.or.jp/foodex/en/.
SXSW (South by Southwest) is digital in 2021 but maintains an amazing line-up and agenda for the March 16-20 run. Full info is available at https://www.sxsw.com.
Viva Fresh is live this year, with a two-day event set at Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, on March 26 and 27. Dante Galeazzi, CEO/President of the Texas International Produce Association, told us in mid-January, “Viva Fresh 2021 is definitely still happening. Check out www.vivafreshexpo.com for more details.” He said the event will have capped attendance at 1,200, “limiting the number of people per company and keeping safety a priority pillar for this year’s event.”
The Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, will be a hybrid live-virtual event from Tuesday, April 6-8 at the Swan & Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. SEPC is working with Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to implement “enhanced health and safety guidelines, which are already in place at the hotel and will be utilized during the conference.” The event has a full agenda and a great guest speaker line-up, and you can register at https://web.cvent.com/event/cf711438-d2f2-4eb4-9f24-c476ace074da/summary.
Our friends at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association have a terrific virtual event planned from April 12-16. CPMA Fresh Week will include tours, meetings, webinars and roundtable discussions as well as a trade show. More information on the event as well as registration can be found at https://convention.cpma.ca/program/fresh-week-schedule.
Live at McCormick Place in Chicago, the National Restaurant Association Show is scheduled to run May 22-25. The scope of the event is enormous, and you can check out speakers, sessions and the lay of the land at https://www.nationalrestaurantshow.com.
Natural Products’ Expo West will take place live May 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Details about the event are being posted at https://www.expowest.com/en/home.html. Check frequently.
United Fresh’s 2021 convention, held jointly with the Fresh Produce & Floral Council, is “a celebration reuniting our industry in person” June 24-26 in Los Angeles. In addition to live general sessions, the event will feature workshops, speakers and of course the expo. Details will be provided on the website soon; visit https://www.unitedfresh.org/united-fresh-convention-expo-2021/.
