The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) is again joining forces with FMI—The Food Industry Association to unveil the 2021 edition of produce industry’s research, the Power of Produce, at Southern Exposure on April 7.
“We are excited to once again debut the Power of Produce to the industry during Southern Exposure,” says David Sherrod, president and CEO of SEPC. “This year’s study will provide insights into produce purchases throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, how the people of the produce industry shone and how we can improve as an industry moving forward.”
With more Americans cooking more meals at home than ever before, the industry can embrace unique engagement opportunities for the produce department as a shopper solution. At the Southern Exposure education session, three produce retail and foodservice industry leaders will add real-life market insights to the study findings with the help of Rick Stein, moderator and FMI vice-president of Fresh Foods. Panelists for the session include Gary Baker, produce director at Merchants Distributors, Inc.; Price Mabry, director of produce and floral at HAC, Inc.; and Mike Roberts, director of produce operations at Harps Food Stores, Inc.
“Today’s produce shopper has a lot on their mind—from health and well-being to addressing cooking fatigue,” said Stein. “Food retailers and suppliers have an opportunity to support shoppers in their health and wellbeing goals and offer culinary experiences around produce. At the same time, we see an increase in online produce sales, which opens a whole new way to meet shopper’s produce needs. It’s an exciting time for the produce industry and I’m looking forward to diving into the Power of Produce findings at Southern Exposure.”
With attendee health and safety top of mind, the Power of Produce education session will be in a room double the historic session size with seating that is socially distanced. Personal protective equipment and sanitation stations will be provided on-site as well as temperature screening at the session entrance.
The Power of Produce is developed by FMI, conducted by 210 Analytics and supported by data from IRI. This research, revealed annually during Southern Exposure, is made possible by the sponsorship of the Southeast Produce Council, Burris Logistics and Yerecic Label.
Industry professionals and press can register here for the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure. To learn more about the Power of Produce study, click here.
For more information:
Southeast Produce Council
Tel: +1 (877) 720-7372
info@seproducecouncil.com
www.seproducecouncil.com
FMI—The Food Industry Association
Tel: +1 (202) 452-8444
https://www.fmi.org