Last updated on September 19th, 2022 at 10:46 am
The chief staff and elected officers of five leading produce associations will join together in the closing session of United Fresh LIVE! to share their vision for the future in rebuilding the global produce industry. Joining United Fresh Chairman Michael Muzyk of Baldor Specialty Foods and President and CEO Tom Stenzel will be:
- Western Growers Chairman Ryan Talley of Talley Farms and President and CEO Dave Puglia;
- Produce Marketing Association Chairman Joe Don Zetzsche with H-E-B and CEO Cathy Burn;
- Canadian Produce Marketing Association Chairman Davis Yung with Fresh Direct Produce Ltd. and President Ron Lemaire; and
- Freshfel Europe Chairman Stephan Weist with REWE Group and General Delegate Philippe Binard.
“I’m delighted that our colleagues representing members across the global produce supply chain will join with us for this discussion,” said Muzyk. “The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the industry around the world, and this is an opportunity to begin plotting a future course together to rebuild what has been lost and move forward to greater heights.”
The Closing LIVE! General Session will take place at noon Eastern time on Friday, June 19, with participants spanning the globe.
“With Western Growers leaders participating online at 9 a.m. in California, and Freshfel leaders participating at 6 p.m. in Europe, we’ll be hosting a global discussion like never before,” said Stenzel. “I’m particularly grateful to my colleagues Dave Puglia, Cathy Burns, Ron Lemaire and Philippe Binard in having their elected leaders join with Michael and me for this discussion.”
Daily features
Friday’s Closing LIVE! General Session will wrap up a week of the fresh produce industry’s first ever virtual event experience. It also will be the fifth of five LIVE! General Sessions offered throughout the week. United Fresh LIVE! will open Monday, June 15 at noon Eastern time with the Opening LIVE! General Session also hosted by Muzyk and Stenzel.
Tuesday will feature the Women In Produce LIVE! General Session where this year’s honoree, Sarah Frey, president and CEO of Certified Women Owned Business Frey Farms and founder of Tsamma Watermelon Juice and Sarah’s Home Grown, will share her career story.
Wednesday will feature the Organic LIVE! General Session where Tonya Antle, co-founder and EVP of the Organic Produce Network, will host a panel of top industry leaders addressing the future of organics in a post-coronavirus environment.
Thursday will be the Retail-Foodservice LIVE! General Session featuring this year’s 25 Retail Produce Manager Award winners and the nine Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award winning chefs and operators. Sponsors Dole Food Co. and FreshEdge will host a look in at the work of the front-line produce heroes.
Registration for United Fresh LIVE! is free. A schedule of general sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions, social events and a major online expo are scheduled throughout the week of June 15-19. Register here at www.unitedfreshlive.org to be part of the action.
