Produce Marketing Association has opened registration for this year’s Fresh Summit, which will be held in person in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event is in its 72nd year and will be one of the first times the entire global produce and floral industries will come together following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fresh Summit 2021 will run from Oct. 28-30 and will feature three days of content and two full days to explore the expo floor.
Cathy Burns will return for her State of the Industry session on Oct. 28 and then Daymond John, founder and CEO of FUBU and star of ABC’s Shark Tank, will lead a keynote in the afternoon. The award-winning entrepreneur’s session will focus on marketing strategies and building successful brands.
Friday, Oct. 29, will feature a fast-paced discussion with leaders from across retail and foodservice to discuss what’s next for the industry. Burns and United Fresh’s Tom Stenzel also have promised a big reveal at the end of the session. The Expo will open shortly after at 10 a.m.
On the morning of Oct. 30, Center for Growing Talent will host its Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast with a keynote and Q+A from Golden Globe, SAG and Emmy Award-winning actress Laura Linney. The breakfast does require separate registration and those interested should register early as the event traditionally sells out quickly.
There also will be other opportunities to network, reconnect and enjoy the time together, from the Retail Tours to the Fresh Summit Halloween Masquerade. Those still standing after the Masquerade can rally their team to run the Center for Growing Talent 5K fundraiser which supports CGT’s student career programs. Individual runners are welcome and teams are encouraged. Team awards will be given. This event requires a separate registration.
PMA will continue to provide information about the opportunities and activities available at Fresh Summit 2021. As always, the health and safety of guests is the top priority and PMA is providing regular information about how it is creating a healthy and COVID-appropriate environment for guests, staff and vendors.
Future co-CEOs Burns and Stenzel have named seven current association staff leaders as the senior management team for the new combined association to be launched Jan. 1, 2022. See story, here.
