WASHINGTON, D.C. – Organizers of the International Floriculture Expo have announced plans to co-locate the 2015 and 2016 editions of the floral industry’s leading education program and trade show with the United Fresh Produce Association’s United Fresh Show, starting in Chicago June 9-11, 2015 at McCormick Place. The floral and produce expos will be staged side-by-side, directly across from the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI Connect. Together, the multiple events are building Chicago into the one-stop shopping and learning center for the fresh food, floral and retail industry, serving the entire supply chain from grower through retailer.
The annual International Floriculture Expo (IFE) is the leading trade exposition and educational conference for mass market retailers, supermarkets, garden centers, retail florists, growers, nurseries, event floral designers, and other retailers of floral and foliage products. The 2014 event coming up June 10-13 in New Orleans brings together more than 225 exhibitors and floral industry buyers, merchandisers and decision makers for a full day of education and three days of networking, sourcing and celebrations of the floral industry.
“As United Fresh and FMI Connect are getting ready for an amazing 2014 event in Chicago in just a couple of weeks, I’m thrilled that the excitement surrounding our partnership in this year’s show has led to the International Floriculture Expo coming on board as a partner for future years,” said United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel. “The International Floriculture Expo is the leading trade show and educational event serving the floral industry, and we believe it is destined to grow together with us in Chicago in 2015 and beyond,” he said.
“This move to Chicago opens up an array of buyer and supplier opportunities as we join with shows already attracting 15,000 attendees and 900 exhibitors,” commented Bob Callahan, Show Director for Diversified Communications, owners and organizers of the International Floriculture Expo. “The combination of these powerful events will bring together cross-category retailers from high volume mass markets and mid-size grocers, to independent operators from the local, national and international markets.”
The International Floriculture Expo will continue its focus on delivering value to the floral industry’s buyers and decision makers, while United Fresh retains its focus on serving the entire fresh produce supply chain. In 2015, unique education programs designed for the floral and produce sectors will take place on Tuesday, June 9. All exhibit halls will be open for a two-day exhibition on June 10-11, with admission to all shows for one registration price. The International Floriculture Expo and United Fresh will share the North Exhibit Hall, with a main aisle running down the center of the hall. The FMI Connect expo and its partners will be located directly across the main concourse in the South Hall.
“We look forward to producing United Fresh 2014 as a world-class produce event in just a few weeks, and can’t wait to get started planning for 2015 as the floral supply chain and produce supply chains come together to create the single ‘must attend’ event for our industries in the coming years,” Stenzel said.
Founded in 1904, the United Fresh Produce Association serves companies at the forefront of the global fresh and fresh-cut produce industry, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and Western Regional office in Salinas, Calif., United Fresh and its members work year-round to make a difference for the produce industry by driving policies that increase consumption of fresh produce, shaping critical legislative and regulatory action, providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health, and developing educational programs and business opportunities to assist member companies in growing successful businesses. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org or call 202-303-3400.
Source: United Fresh Produce Association
