What’s new at OPS 2023

The countdown is on for Organic Produce Summit 2023, which organizers say is on track to be the largest in the event’s history and is slated to include several new additions to the two-day gathering focused on organic fresh produce.

Designed to bring together organic fresh produce growers, shippers and processors as well as retailers and buying organizations from across North America, the seventh annual event is scheduled for July 12-13 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, Calif.

Over 300 retailers have confirmed their attendance, and a sold-out trade show floor of 170 organic fresh produce growers and producers from across North America awaits attendees of OPS 2023, according to a news release. 

“OPS 2023 is shaping up to be our highest-attended event yet, providing all facets of the organic fresh produce industry a tremendous opportunity to meet under one roof to address the growth, opportunities and challenges of the organic fresh produce industry,” Susan Canales, president of OPS, said in the release. “From retailer field tours, engaging ed sessions, and a sold-out trade show floor, OPS 2023 will engage attendees on the strengths of the organic fresh produce industry and what the future may look like.” 

New activities set for OPS 2023 include:

• A pre-reception event for OPS first-time attendees and those new to the produce industry. The pre-reception will be held just prior to the gala opening reception.
• The first-ever educational session to be held at the Monterey Marriott hotel. OPS has expanded its venue space this year to include the Monterey Marriot, where a two-hour keynote session on the growth of plant-based foods will take place.
• The expansion of the OPS trade show floor to include 20 new exhibition booths.

“As OPS continues to grow, our No. 1 objective is providing a place where members of the organic fresh produce community can discuss and share information on the most current and relevant issues we face,” Canales said. “Our educational program is designed to cover the most topical and important issues facing our industry, and our trade show floor is five hours of networking energy that offers both retailer and organic producer leadership an intimate and dynamic opportunity to exchange ideas and information.”

Highlighting the educational program is a pair of keynote presentations. The Retailer Roundtable keynote, “What Lies Ahead for Fresh Produce and Grocery Marketing,” is set to feature Daniel Bell, director of produce for Grocery Outlet; Sonya Constable, vice president of produce for Sprouts Farmers Market; and Abhi Rashem, CEO and founder of Misfits Market. Kevin Coupe of Morning News Beat is scheduled as the roundtable moderator. 

In the second keynote, Divert co-founder and CEO Ryan Begin plans to share his company’s role in addressing the human and environmental crises created by food waste in what OPS says will be a “TED Talk-style presentation” titled, “Protecting the Value of Food: Learning to Value Food at All Stages of Its Lifecycle — from Seed to Wasted Food to Renewable Energy.”

In addition to the keynote presentations, a series of educational sessions are planned to round out the OPS 2023 educational program, covering a range of topics including sustainability, the growing importance of controlled environment agriculture, new organic rules and regulations, the power of plants, and organic produce sales in an era of inflation.

In addition to the trade show, OPS 2023 also plans to include a selection of field tours for qualified retailers and buyers and a gala opening night reception.