May/June 2019 - 23

WWW.UNITEDFRESH.ORG
UNITED FRESH
United Fresh 2019 offers plenty to help food producers
INNOVATION IS
By Ben Massoud
Manager of
Communications,
United Fresh
Produce
Association
FRONT AND CENTER
throughout the three
days of United Fresh
2019 Convention &
Expo, June 10-12
in the North Hall of
Chicago's McCormick
Place. In addition
to the newest fresh
produce, better-foryou
products and tech
innovations showcased
in the booths of the
North Hall, United Fresh provides special
events and destinations on and off the
show floor that will inspire thousands
across the supply chain to change the
way they do business. Here is a preview
of some of the new energy, new content
and new experiences for veteran United
Fresh attendees and newcomers alike.
Monday
United Fresh 2019 begins with the
Produce Outlook Roundtable Luncheon
from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Monday, June 10,
as attendees gather for an exclusive look
at what's ahead for the produce industry.
Six executives from some of the most
innovative companies will draw from
their decades of experiences, to predict
what trends, best practices and insights
lie ahead. United Fresh CEO Tom Stenzel
will moderate the discussion.
Panelists include:
* Paul Lightfoot, CEO, BrightFarms
* Mary Thompson, CEO, Bonduelle
Fresh Americas/Ready Pac Foods
* James Rogers, CEO, Apeel Sciences
* Jose Antonio Gomez, CEO, Camposol
Fresh USA
* Melissa Melshenker Ackerman,
president, Produce Alliance
* Rich Gonzales, vice president, global
produce sourcing, Walmart Stores
The education continues with a set of
workshops in four tracks - marketing,
technology, business management and
food safety - rounding out from 2 to
5 p.m. Monday.
In the business management track,
the " Understanding the Competitive
Food Landscape " workshop covers new
research from IRI that outlines challenges
for fresh and fresh-cut produce items,
with competitive foods fighting to take
market share from produce. Following
IRI's data presentation, the speakers
will share their strategies to fight back
and drive consumer loyalty.
One of the workshop's speakers, Mark
DeAngelis, Principal, Client Insights,
IRI shares a preview:
" Over the past year we have seen a
slowdown of dollar and volume growth
overall in produce, but devspite this, it's
still exciting to see which commodities
are growing and exciting consumers, "
DeAngelis said.
" During our session we'll cover
some of the latest trends, including
the growing appetite for convenience,
whether it be portable, cut/sliced or
snack packs. And as consumers look
to save time, they're also looking for
easier ways to achieve a balanced diet
through the pairing of fresh fruit and
vegetables with protein-rich foods. "
Tuesday & Wednesday
Two new stages brimming with
entertainment, education and energy
make their debut on the enhanced show
floor, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Main Stage provides constant
engagement and entertainment,
converging the passionate people,
business and energies created in the
fresh produce industry. Main Stage
sessions include " Produce at the Center
of the Plate: A Chef's Perspective, "
" Retail Insights From Visionary Produce
Managers, " " Winning in Today's Food
Media " and more.
Stage Next is where innovation comes
to life, spotlighting new technologies,
future-oriented topics, concepts and
strategies that will advance the fresh
produce industry.
Stage Next sessions inc lude
" Leveraging Technology to Improve
Produce Safety and Quality, " " The
Future of Packaging: Tomorrow's
Solutions to Today's Challenges, "
" Uberization: Real Time, On-Demand
Produce and Production " and more.
PRODUCE PROCESSING
23
You won't have to travel far to
step into the future of produce at the
FutureTEC Zone. Located on the show
floor, the FutureTEC Zone hosts more
than 25 start-up companies showcasing
the next generation of tech for the fresh
foods industry. Find ways to improve
operations, tools and services through
new technology.
Innovation truly is around every
corner on the show floor. Draw
inspiration from new and innovative
products in the United Fresh Innovation
Awards. Vote on your favorites among
seven categories including, Best New
Packaging/Processing Equipment, Best
New Food Safety Solution, Best New Field
Technology and more. Winners will be
announced on the afternoon of June 12.
United Fresh has dialed up the
this June, delivering
excitement
curated experiences for the industry,
and changing the way thousands of
industry accelerators connect, learn
and do business.
Registration is available at www.
unitedfreshshow.org.
SizeN™
SizeN™ supplies Nitrogen in a
form that encourages compact
growth and rooting rather than
the weak vegetative growth
stimulated by conventional N
fertilizers.
SizeN™ uses a unique chemistry
to hold nitrogen in the amine
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Read all about SizeN™ at
www.omex.com/usa
Contact Us:
Call: 559-661-6138
Email: OmexUSA@omex.com
www.omex.com/usa
http://WWW.UNITEDFRESH.ORG http://www.unitedfreshshow.org http://www.omex.com/usa http://www.omex.com/usa
May/June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2019
