Paul Rice, founder and CEO of Fair Trade USA, will be the keynote speaker for The Packer’s 2023 Global Organic Produce Expo.
At the event, set to take place Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2023, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., Rice will speak about conscious capitalism and reaching the conscious consumer.
Since launching the Fair Trade Certified label in 1998, Paul has helped establish fair trade as one of the fastest-growing segments of the food and apparel industries. To date, Fair Trade USA has partnered with over 1,400 leading companies, including Green Mountain, Nespresso, Whole Foods, Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Kroger, Chobani and Target. Fair Trade USA now certifies coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, coconut, fresh produce, dairy and fish. Recently, through partnerships with Patagonia, Athleta, Williams-Sonoma and J. Crew, Fair Trade USA has begun certifying apparel and home goods.
Rice’s presentation will be at 9:45 a.m. EST, on Jan. 31.
GOPEX 2023 is set to draw scores of retailers, grower-shippers, wholesalers, importers, exporters and other decision-makers from across the fresh produce industry. This year, GOPEX will feature the theme: “Reaching the Conscious Consumer.” Increasingly, consumers make purchasing decisions they believe will improve their health and the health of the planet — while also having a positive social, environmental and economic impact.
From highlighting sustainably sourced superfoods to indoor agriculture to imported fruits and vegetables grown by socially and environmentally responsible companies, GOPEX 2023 will gather the organic, social and environmental leaders who are moving fresh fruit and vegetables forward.
Additionally, the popular BizMatch meeting scheduler will be offered throughout the event to pair organics suppliers with qualified retail and wholesale buyers.
