Editor’s note: This statement is from Tim Graas of AWG, the Southeast Produce Council’s executive board secretary and conference chairman.
As the Southeast Produce Council continues with preparations for Southern Exposure to be held April 6 – 8 in Orlando, Florida, the SEPC team is working diligently to ensure the health and safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff; and they have partnered with some outstanding organizations who are experts in facilitating recommended safety protocol.
SEPC is actively working with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to implement their enhanced health and safety guidelines which are already in place at the hotel and will be utilized during the conference. The SEPC team is also proud of their continued partnership with AGS Expo Services who has established a detailed plan focused on clean and safe event spaces.
Here are several of those safety guidelines which will be implemented in April:
- Enhanced cleaning protocol: reinforced cleaning systems and the increased frequency of cleaning and sanitizing in all public areas, especially for high-traffic spaces and high-touch surfaces
- Physical distancing protocol: modified floor plans, reduced seating capacities, queuing through signage and stanchions, one-way aisles in the exhibit halls
- Food safety protocol: appropriate PPE use for food handling; compliance with all Marriott and industry food safety protocols
- Provided PPE: provided personal protective equipment onsite - masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, and exhibitor sanitization supplies
- Sanitization stations: placed at key locations and contact areas such as registration areas, entrances, stairs, elevator and escalator landings
- Physical barriers: in place at registration counters as well as for most food and beverage displays
- Temperature screening: applied at registration and session entrances
- Vaccinations: COVID-19 vaccination clinic to be offered by appointment during scheduled conference hours
These guidelines and more can be accessed on SEPC’s Southern Exposure webpage within the Health & Safety section.
“The Southeast Produce Council is taking every precaution to ensure we have the safest of environments to conduct business in person. We have worked diligently with the Swan & Dolphin to ensure we meet and exceed all protocols issued by both the state and federal governments. Social distancing practices will be enforced. We are also working to provide onsite vaccinations as those supplies become more readily available.
We have listened to our membership, and we know our industry is ready for us to meet. We intend to provide the safest conditions for us all to be together again.”
Registration is open for Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, and SEPC members are encouraged to register soon at https://seproducecouncil.com/. For those who cannot attend in person due to continued travel restrictions, SEPC recommends registering as a virtual attendee so that they can connect in real-time with onsite exhibitors through the SEPC Virtual Garden.
