SEPC's Southern Exposure set to return, honor ‘unseen heroes’ of produce industry

The Southeast Produce Council is gearing up for its flagship event, the Southern Exposure trade show and conference, March 7-9 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. 

With hundreds of exhibitors showcasing products and services, the event brings together the best in the produce industry while promising a vibrant convergence of industry leaders, innovators and buyers.

“Southern Exposure is the epitome of Southern hospitality. Through the years, it has proven to us that courteous treatment will always make our attendees the best advertisement,” said SEPC President and CEO David Sherrod.

Thousands of attendees, including foodservice and retail buyers, agricultural leaders and product innovators, are set to share ideas and make connections. Southern Exposure will also feature a wealth of educational sessions, keynote speakers and entertainment.

With the overarching theme of honoring “unseen heroes,” the conference is set to celebrate the individuals and entities working tirelessly behind the scenes to contribute to the success of the industry. Southern Exposure not only showcases the latest developments in the produce sector, but also provides a platform to express gratitude and admiration for those whose efforts often go unnoticed, offering a celebration of the unsung champions of the produce world.

The SEPC event features not only a vibrant showcase of products, but also incorporates enriching educational sessions, captivating keynote speakers and entertaining elements. Katiana Valdes, the marketing director of Crystal Valley Foods in Miami, finds this blend of offerings and the event’s substantial scale tbe a recipe for success.

“As we head into our 30th year in business, we continue to focus on innovation and investing in the future. We will be showcasing our value-added items including a new asparagus item,” Valdes said. “We will also be showing off our tropicals and ethnic items, many that now come in an easily scannable, retail-friendly clamshell.”

At Southern Exposure, Crystal Valley Foods will be at booth No. 344, where it plans to promote many of its imported items like asparagus — which it started sourcing from Caborca, Mexico — French beans, snows, sugar snap peas, baby carrots, blueberries and blackberries, Valdes said.

Valdes also sees the timing of SEPC as favorable.

“SEPC is always one of our favorite shows to attend. It is the perfect-sized show to allow for great interaction with customers, peers and potential customers,” Valdes said. “Of course, our booth will be the main way that buyers will be able to check out all that we offer, however, we are looking forward to the many other parts of the conference like the gala and other collaborative and educational events.”

Speaking to the event theme of honoring “Unseen Heroes” of the produce industry, Valdes told The Packer, “There are so many unseen heroes throughout the fresh produce supply chain that make the seemingly impossible feat of providing nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables for the world population possible. From the ag scientists to the field workers to the shippers to quality control and drivers, everyone has to work together to make an extremely complex and fast-moving industry happen.”

The action-packed schedule kicks off on Thursday, March 7, with the Tom Page Golf Classic at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, offering a day of networking and friendly competition. For those seeking a more exclusive experience, LINKS and SEPC committee meetings are scheduled, providing a platform for collaboration among industry professionals.

The day concludes with the Future Generations Celebration Dinner, an invitation-only event held at the JW Event Lawn, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to unwind and connect.

On Friday, March 8, the event continues with a series of educational sessions featuring speakers and the unveiling of FMI’s “Power of Produce” report. The day includes the SEPC board of governors’ meeting, Southern Roots luncheon and the retail and foodservice reception, providing exclusive access to the opening gala’s early festivities.

One of the highlights of the conference is the opening gala on Friday night at the Tampa Convention Center Ballroom, featuring a USO Show-themed event with a costume contest and the chance to win cash prizes.

The combination of the Southern Exposure expo and its associated events is also appealing to Dan Davis, the director of business development at Washington Fruit Growers, which will be present at booth No. 842.

“For Southern Exposure, our focus [is] on the changes that have gone on with Washington Fruit in the last year,” Davis said. “With the addition of Gilbert Orchards to the other generational, family-owned entities, we have a lot to talk about. Now with three core apple facilities within 11 miles of each other in the Yakima Valley, we’ve got something unique and new to the industry in terms of our offerings. We’re looking forward to talking with everyone at the event to let them know what we’ve added in the last six months.”

The consistently well-attended event is another factor that Davis recognizes as valuable for participating in the exhibition.

“For this event, the highlight we’re bringing to engage buyers is an ample cross section of our staff. We’ll have a good number of people to make sure we get everyone covered regarding dialogue,” Davis said. “This event is so great with top-notch attendance, and we’ll need to be ready to engage with the breadth of buyers there.”

At Southern Exposure, Consalo Family Farms will be at booth No. 1030.

Consalo Family Farms grows a full line of produce. Core items are blueberries, wet vegetables, herbs, cooking greens, salad items, grapes and citrus. 

“We have 52-week supply capabilities, and our diverse offering of products has allowed us to continue to be successful. In the business since 1927, our family is quality-driven and customer-centric,” said Chelsea Consalo, executive vice president of Consalo Family Farms.

“Our vertical integration allows us to monitor the quality of product at all stages,” Consalo added. “We will be featuring all of our products at SEPC but specifically showcasing our citrus lineup, Little Smoochies.”

Consalo sees Southern Exposure as an opportunity to not only reconnect, but also to get new ideas and meet people.

“I am looking forward to getting together as an industry while showcasing our product lineup in our booth, we will be able to present our company’s core strengths and really highlight our brand’s identity,” Consalo said.

As a partner of the Healthy Family Project, Consalo said, “We are specifically involved in attending their event at SEPC. One of our company’s key pillars is commitment to giving back, and this is also a part of the mission at Healthy Family Project.”

Consalo said the company’s farm employees are its unseen heroes. 

“They work tirelessly, often for long hours, always ensuring the highest quality of the product. Their job is not an easy one, yet they do it with grace and dedication,” Consalo said. “Many of them have been working in the industry for years, and their expertise and knowledge is invaluable to the success of Consalo Family Farms.”

The show happenings continue Saturday, March 9, with a keynote brunch with celebrity speaker Kurt Warner, former NFL quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, and keynote moderator Adam Mendler, creator and host of the “Thirty Minute Mentors” podcast, a State of the Council review and an exposition showcasing the Bright Ideas Fresh Arrivals, innovation stations where team members may highlight a new product, product line or service during the Southern Exposure expo, and refreshment and relaxation stations.

“The SEPC does a wonderful job of providing things to do across the length of the week. While the show floor is a highlight, there are a wealth of other ways to network and collaborate from start to finish,” said Davis of Washington Fruit Growers.

Although Southern Exposure draws a produce audience from throughout the country and beyond, the event’s location in Florida is ideal, said Palmer Linscott of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Marketing and Development.

“Fresh From Florida values the opportunity to showcase our state’s wide selection of fruits and vegetables to retail and foodservice buyers at the SEPC Southern Exposure trade show and conference,” Linscott said. “Florida ranks first in the U.S. in the value of production of sweet corn, oranges, watermelons and fresh-market tomatoes and second in the U.S. in the value of production of strawberries, bell peppers and grapefruit.”

As a vendor participating in the event, Fresh from Florida will be at booth No. 325 and will be meeting with existing and prospective retail partners to discuss Fresh From Florida promotional opportunities and sourcing Florida produce.

“It’s always great to see the industry come together to celebrate fresh produce. Southern Exposure provides us with the invaluable opportunity to network with industry innovators and experts to determine how we can better promote Florida commodities and increase sales for Florida growers,” Linscott said.

He said he is looking forward to the “Power of Produce” education session as it “provides great insight into past, current and future trends within the industry.”

Taylor Farms, which will exhibit at booth No. 932, is looking forward to hearing about needs and opportunities to assist its retail partners in "Power of Produce" session, Micah Shea, vice president of sales for Taylor Farms Retail, told The Packer.

"We will be featuring multiple products and services at SEPC's Southern Exposure event including our retail line up of Taylor Farms Chopped Salad Kits, Vegetable Meal Kits, Salad Kits, Snack Tray, Salad Blends, Vegetable Blends, Salad Bowls, Vegetable Trays and Earthbound Farm organic products,” Shea said. “In addition to retail, we'll have foodservice and deli presence and be showcasing our retail capabilities on the East."

The conference wraps up with the closing reception Saturday night at the JW Tampa Bay Ballroom, offering one last opportunity for networking and celebration.

Southern Exposure concludes on Sunday, March 10, with the Al Finch Memorial Prayer Breakfast at JW Marriott Ybor Salons, providing a spiritual and reflective start to the day.

SEPC invites all members and industry enthusiasts to join this event, promising a unique blend of business, education and entertainment in the heart of Tampa.