The Southeast Produce Council, Millen, Ga., has new dates for its annual show in 2021, with a Star Wars theme — Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce.
The event is scheduled for April 6-8, at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort. The original dates were Feb. 25-27. The SEPC’s executive committee delayed the event to 2021’s second quarter to ensure more retail and foodservice participation.
“We have already been encouraged by the strong attendance numbers we were seeing for February despite Covid-19, including sold-out exhibit space,” David Sherrod, SEPC president and CEO, said in a news release. “Rescheduling is the right decision to better serve our retailers and foodservice members who are currently under travel bans.”
Red Sun Farm’s Harold Paivarinta, SEPC chairman, said the group’s membership overwhelmingly support an in-person event.
“It’s a face-to-face industry built on traditional connections,” Paivarinta said in the release. “Screen time is working fine in our daily duties but cannot deliver on the connections the SEPC is renowned for.”
For buyers still unable to attend, the SEPC will have an online platform that allows them to connect in real-time with on-site exhibitors.
Disney has proven it can host events with established health and safety guidelines to guard against COVID-19, Sherrod said.
“These Disney hotels, where Southern Exposure will take place in April, were host to the NBA teams and their families during the reimagined 2020 season,” he said in the release. “Disney has proven to be effective in operating safely, and we have been working closely with their teams to ensure a safe and successful Southern Exposure 2021.”
Registration for Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, is available at https://seproducecouncil.com/.
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