Produce professionals from across the industry are preparing for the New York Produce Show and Conference, which will be held from December 10 to 12.
The event serves as a major gathering for the produce community, offering a platform to reconnect with established contacts, form new partnerships, and expand business relationships.
“This event stands out because it’s the only opportunity in the New York area where everyone in the produce industry comes together,” says Anthony Serafino, Executive Vice President and Principal of Exp Group, based in North Bergen, NJ, who attends annually.
Spanning three days, the event features networking opportunities, a one-day trade show on December 11 with over 400 participating companies, an opening keynote breakfast, educational micro-sessions, and regional tours showcasing the area’s diverse produce industry. These tours include visits to local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors, urban farms, and distinctive eateries.
The opening cocktail reception will take place on Tuesday evening, December 10, at the Sheraton New York Times Square. The following morning, the keynote breakfast will feature Matthew Luhn, the creative force behind beloved Disney and Pixar films such as Cars, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc.
The trade show, set for Wednesday, December 11, at the Javits Center, is expected to draw more than 4,000 attendees. With buyers comprising 40% of the crowd, the event ensures fairness by offering all exhibitors booths of the same size, promoting a level playing field.
A new addition for 2024 is the Mexico Pavilion, which will showcase top Mexican brands, reinforcing their reputation for quality and reliability within the industry. This addition highlights the event’s commitment to creating a buyer-centric atmosphere and offering producers opportunities to raise their visibility in the market.
Additionally, attendees can enjoy chef demonstrations throughout the trade show.
Attendees can also enhance their experience with three specialized conferences held alongside the main event. On Tuesday, the Foundational Excellence program, led by Cornell professors, will provide insights into industry trends, targeted at executives with less than five years of experience in produce. The Global Trade Symposium will offer the latest information on produce importing and exporting in the Northeast region. On Thursday, December 12, the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum will explore how produce plays a crucial role in culinary innovation and improving foodservice profitability.
This year’s Connect With Fresh Consumer Media session will feature renowned nutritionist and author Marion Nestle as the keynote speaker on Wednesday afternoon.
Also, the popular tours offered on Thursday will provide unique industry insights. The Manhattan Tour includes visits to the world-famous Eataly, along with Wegman’s Astor Place, Brooklyn Fare, and the new Morton Williams store at Broadway and 68th. This year’s Brooklyn Tour will take participants to Wegman’s in Flushing, the newly opened Foodtown in Williamsburg, and the Food Bazaar in Red Hook, which offers breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty from its parking lot. Additionally, the tour will visit 3 Guys from Brooklyn, an open-air market with over 50 years of experience in providing high-quality produce while serving the local community.
The Philadelphia Tour will feature the Reading Terminal Market, which will be beautifully decorated for the holidays, along with the state-of-the-art, fully refrigerated Philadelphia Wholesale Market, home to 18 independent produce businesses.
The New Jersey Tour will provide a mix of distribution and retail experiences, with visits to supermarkets such as Shop Rite and A.J. Seabra in Newark, and Food Bazaar in North Bergen. Participants will also visit Exp Group’s headquarters and distribution center, where tropical fruits and vegetables are ripened, stored, and distributed seamlessly.
For those interested, a visit to the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx is also available. As the largest food distribution center in the world, it serves an impressive 22 million people.
The New York Produce Show and Conference promises to be a highly impactful event, with valuable experiences and opportunities for all involved.
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