Nogales, AZ — Anyone looking to have a handle on produce industry trends should make a point to hear an upcoming keynote speech from Rick Stein, Vice President of Fresh Foods, Food Marketing Institute.
Coming up this November, the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) will be holding its 51st Annual Fall Nogales Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament. Starting Thursday, November 7, and going through Saturday, November 9, the event will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort and will include a myriad of activities, panels, and educational sessions with participants and speakers from all over the industry.
The FPAA Convention is a celebration to kick off another season of fresh produce entering the United States from Mexico through the port of Nogales, a major hub of fresh produce imports. It is also a fantastic opportunity to learn about new and evolving issues in the industry.
Rick Stein, of Fresh Foods at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will keynote the Thursday educational sessions with a talk on the Power of Produce presentation. Rick Stein has worked as an executive in the retail industry for than 20 years. He has been a leader in marketing, merchandising, and operating sectors for several retail companies, he has also worked from the store level to the corporate level.
“If you’ve never seen Rick Stein talk about the Power of Produce, you are missing a fascinating and enlightening discussion,” said Lance Jungmeyer, President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. “Rick brings so much passion to the data, and he really helps people understand the trends that are about to impact the produce department. If you are wondering how to position your company and your products, this presentation will be very insightful.” He will bring his expertise to the 51st Annual convention. You don’t want to miss it!
Some additional highlights of this year’s educational sessions include the new segment on Fresh Produce Story Teller, which will tell the story of three produce industry leaders. This year there will also be a hot topics panel as there have been in previous years, it will be moderated by Chris Ciruli of Ciruli Brothers, which will feature Tom Stenzel of United Fresh, Ron LeMaire of CPMA and many more.
The party starts on Thursday evening at 6pm in the ballroom and outdoor area with the Opening Fiesta. Here everyone will have a chance to mingle and unwind after a long day of educational seminars.
On Friday, November 8th FPAA will celebrate the Gala event and “Pillars of the FPAA” awards ceremony where recognition will be given to those who have volunteered their time and effort to the industry as well as demonstrated innovation and integrity throughout their career. Along with the ceremony, the gala will feature an elegant sit-down dinner, dancing entertainment, and the Salad Bar Program presentation during which a local school is chosen to receive a complete salad bar on behalf of the FPAA.
The first round of the golf tournament will begin at 9am on Friday at the Tubac Golf resort and conclude at 3pm. On Saturday, the second half of the tournament continues at the Tubac Resort. The weekend wraps up with a lunch and award presentation immediately following the conclusion of round two of the Golf Tournament.
The FPAA is very excited for this year’s convention. The three-day event offers attendees the opportunity to hear from a diverse group of experienced speakers and plenty of fun to go around. With nearly five decades of experience, the 2019 Fresh Produce Convention and Golf Tournament promises to not only live up to, but to exceed everyone’s expectations.
About the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas:
The FPAA is a nonprofit trade association headquartered in Nogales, Arizona, that represents over 120 U.S. member companies involved in growing, packing, sales and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Mexico. The FPAA leverages the efforts of private companies and partner-associations to increase the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetable from Mexico.
The FPAA Convention will be held at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, which is located a few miles north of Nogales, Arizona. Tubac is also conveniently located just 45 minutes south of the Tucson International Airport. Companies interested in registering for the event or that have more questions are encouraged to contact the FPAA office at (520) 287-2707 or visit www.freshfrommexico.com.
