1:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Registration Open

Location: Center Registration Desk

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Poolside Gathering
Join us for some afternoon networking outside in the beautiful Florida weather!

Location:
Hard Rock Pool - Cabanas 11-13

5:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Buses will transport attendees from Hard Rock to marina & back

Buses will depart at 5:15pm from the Hard Rock Lobby and
return back to the hotel at 9:30pm

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Breakfast
Sponsored by: Highline

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

8:30 am - 9:30 am

General Session:
Produce Trends and the Conscious Consumer
Delve into the identity of the conscious consumer and uncover what factors drive their loyalty in the retail fresh produce space. Join us for this engaging presentation that explores the retail dynamics, growth drivers, shopper trends and strategies to position the fresh produce industry for success in the coming year.

Speaker: Alex Kalausich
Produce Lead, Fresh Foods Group at Circana 
 

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

BREAKOUTS - ROUND 1

9:40 am - 10:20 am 

Top 5 Trends in Regenerative Ag

 

Speaker:  Amy Skoczlas-Cole, President, Trust In Food



Location: Salon West

Achieve Optimal Results with Omnichannel Retail Promotions

Whether you’re on the retail side or supply side, a seamless experience and customer satisfaction are your ultimate goals. Omnichannel marketing unites user experiences across different touchpoints, such as in-store, web, mobile, social media, email, text and print, ensuring a consistent and cohesive brand presence. Learn how this approach will elevate your promotions and solidify retailer/supplier relationships.

Speakers: 
Angie Thomas, Owner, Insights to Grow
Brock Nemecek, Marketing Manager, Fresh Produce, Farm Journal


Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

10:20 am  - 10:40 am

BREAK

Location: Seminole Foyer

10:40 am - 11:20 am

BREAKOUTS - ROUND 2

Communicating the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to Consumers

The most significant update to organic regulations since the original act in 1990, the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule is slated for implementation on March 19, 2024. Intended in part to augment the trust of consumers in the organic brand, what are the toplines and messaging points of the new rule and how can retailers, suppliers, industry organizations and fresh produce stakeholders best communicate what it means to be organic in 2024?

Moderator: Matt Dillon, OTA

Panelists: 
Joe Merenda, Misionero
Sara L. Neagu-Reed, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA); 
Daniel Montes, Control Union

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

The World of Flavor: Navigating the Next Taste Sensations

Restaurants are the playgrounds of adventurous eaters who are seeking new and exciting food experiences, and flavor is at the forefront of these culinary quests. But how, where and why do flavor trends originate? And what emerging delicacies will inspire us next? Join us as foodservice gurus, fresh produce experts and other trendsetters predict what’s just around the corner and share how these future taste sensations can be sensational for the entire supply chain.

Speakers:

Jennifer Petersen, EVP/Chief Science Officer, Sun-World International, LLC ; 
Lou Caputo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Caputo ; 
Jim Moody, Fresh Origins




Location: Salon West

11:30 am - 12:15 pm

Lunch & Networking

Seminole Ballroom C-F

12:15 - 1:15pm

General Session:  What do Retailers Really Want from Their Produce Partners?

Ask them. This panel brings together produce buyers and executives from omnichannel grocery operations of different shapes and sizes who will share their wish list for the produce industry and take questions from the audience.

Moderator: Kristina Lorusso, Giumarra

Speakers:

Jeff Cady, VP of Produce & Floral, Northeast Grocery Inc. ; 
Dennis Payne, Senior Category Manager at The Fresh Market ; Daniel Bell, Grocery Outlet; Anthony Chanka, Head Category Manager, GIANT

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

1:25 - 2:05 pm

BREAKOUTS - ROUND 3

What You Need to Know About Food Safety Now
The Food Safety Modernization Act 204 has a compliance deadline of Jan. 20, 2026. Is your organization ready? A panel of food safety experts will share how players across the fresh produce supply chain can best prepare, and the resources available to help them on the journey to compliance.

Moderator: Liz Sertl, GS1

Panelists: 
Todd Baggett, Redline Solutions; 
Ray Connelly, Procurant; 
Rafael Davila, Eurofins; 
Andrew Kennedy, iFoodDs
Angela Nardone, COO, Share-ify

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

Innovation and the Conscious Consumer
The majority of consumers think sustainability is important when making a purchase decision and most consumers prioritize buying from companies whose values align with their own. The conscious consumer is driving innovation in fresh produce and floral like never before. This session will explore how leading companies are harnessing the power of innovation to grow their businesses and engage today’s shopper.

Moderator: 
Cristie Mather, VP, Food, Curious Plot Agency

Panelists: 
Gabriela D'Arrigo
VP of Marketing & Communications, D'Arrigo New York
Kevin Kelly, Emerald Packaging
Brian Dey, Four Seasons Produce; 
Rebecca Catlett, Okanagan Specialty Fruits

Location: Salon West

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Closing General Session: Conscious Leadership Unleashed: Me, We, Us

This session is designed to empower participants with a three-fold approach to becoming a conscious leader, starting with self-discovery (Me), progressing to team awareness (We), and culminating in organizational inspiration (Us). Through engaging insights and practical tactics, attendees will gain the tools to become conscious leaders who not only understand themselves but also drive awareness within their teams and inspire and lead their organizations to new heights. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the full potential of conscious leadership.

Sponsored by: Giumarra

Speaker: Vaishali Jadhav
Leadership Development Instructor for the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute


Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

BizMatch

Location: Salon East

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Poolside Reception
Sponsored by: Florida Strawberry Growers Association and Wholesum

Location: Hard Rock Pool

8:00 am - 9:30 am

Breakfast

Location: Seminole Ballroom C-F

8:00 am - 9:30 am

BizMatch

Location: Salon EAST

9:30 am

Expo Open

Location: Seminole Ballroom B-G

12:00 pm

Lunch Served on Expo Floor
Sponsored by: Highline

Location: Seminole Ballroom B-G

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Happy Hour Closing Reception
on Expo floor
Sponsored by: Vitalis Seeds

Location: Seminole Ballroom B-G

2:30 pm

Expo Closes