March/April 2019 - 24

Change is here for upcoming United Fresh Convention & Expo
UNITED FRESH WWW.UNITEDFRESH.ORG
T HE
U N I T ED
FRESH CONVENTION
& Expo has consistently
kept
the produce
By Ben Massoud
Manager of
Communications,
United Fresh
Produce
Association
industry connected
and informed. This
year's event returns to
Chicago's McCormick
Place, but that's one of
the few things that is
the same. United Fresh
Produce Association
keeps a pulse on the
industry, and the 2019
event promises to raise the energy and
excitement for both attendees and
exhibitors like never before.
" We're excited to gather with our
attendee and exhibitor communities
this June to experience the energy of
United Fresh 2019 in Chicago, " said
United Fresh President & CEO Tom
Stenzel. " The infusion of excitement
this year throughout our education,
networking and expo activities allow
industry decision makers to discover
a total store solution driven in a
dynamic environment. By bringing
industry partners together through
new programs, we are helping the fresh
produce industry grow in consumer
impact, direct sales and consumption
and, of course, profitability. "
United Fresh organized a Convention
Committee of more than 40 industry
leaders who are driving the development
of the changes taking place at United
Fresh 2019 Convention & Expo.
Enhancements focus on four major areas:
* Energetic, exciting and busy expo
floor;
* Programming that attracts VIPs and
adds real value to all;
* New opportunities for business-tobusiness
connections; and
* Increased networking events that bring
the produce community together.
Enhanced expo floor
United FreshMKT and United
FreshTEC will share the show floor with
Global Cold Chain Expo for the fourth
straight year. The new and improved
expo floor will be reenergized with the
addition of two stages as they make their
debut June 11-12: the " Main Stage, " will
house special events including culinary
demos, panel discussions and Ted
Talks, and " Stage Next, " will be where
innovation comes to life, spotlighting
new technologies, future-oriented topics,
concepts and strategies that will advance
the fresh produce industry.
The United Fresh Start Foundation
will receive enhanced exposure on the
expo floor, with the inclusion of a salad
bar and kids' activities to demonstrate
the foundation's mission of increasing
kids access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Valuable programming
The Produce Outlook general session
will kick-off the event on Monday, June
10. This session will feature industry
leaders forecasting the future of
produce, followed by targeted education
sessions in the afternoon, and a keynote
breakfast general session on Tuesday.
In addition to providing a larger
forum for this event, The Women in
Produce session will have its own
breakfast session on Wednesday, June
12, allowing Tuesday afternoon to hold
more community-building events.
Increased business-to-business
connections
On Monday, the new Partner
X-Change is a cutting-edge B2B
matchmaking program where the
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24 MARCH/APRIL 2 019
buying and selling communities can
come together throughout the afternoon
for meetings, engaging new retail and
foodservice operators to present new
products, pitch new programs and
develop new relationships.
The Retail-Foodservice Celebration
returns Wednesday, as the entrance
of the show floor will be transformed
for a closing celebration of
the
best-of-the-best in produce, honoring
the top 25 produce managers on the
front lines and chefs excelling in
implementing fresh produce strategies
in the kitchen.
Diverse networking
Following the Partner X-Change, the
Opening Party takes place at an iconic
Chicago landmark, Crystal Gardens
at Navy Pier.
Fresh Festival for School Foodservice
will relocate to the main registration
area of the convent ion hall on
Tuesday so all attendees can catch the
kid-friendly products on display; a
cocktail reception will be held there
from 4-5 p.m. This will lead into the
inaugural United Fresh Late Night
at the House of Blues, which will be
a unique opportunity for attendees
to network, gather and celebrate the
first day of the expo with an evening
of entertainment and relationship
building in the lively and vibrant
downtown Chicago.
" This year's enhancements have
been strategically positioned to ensure
all attendees see added value in their
participation at United Fresh, " said Greg
Corrigan, senior director of produce
and floral at Raley's Family of Fine
Stores and United Fresh Convention
Committee chairman. " I'm most
looking forward to the opportunity
to build new relationships through the
Partner X-Change program, and to then
further develop those relationships on
the show floor. "
Early bird rates for 2019 are
available through May 10. Special
all-access packages are available.
For more information, visit www.
unitedfreshshow.org.
http://WWW.UNITEDFRESH.ORG http://www.produceprocessing.net http://www.unitedfreshshow.org
March/April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2019
