Washington, DC - The annual FreshTech expo and conference in Palm Springs, Calif. attracted record numbers of exhibitors and attendees to this unique fresh-cut, value-added produce show. The number of exhibitors was up nearly 15 percent over last year at 138 and attendee registrations were more than nine percent above last year at 1,600.
“The industry participation in the show was stronger than ever,” said Jerry Welcome, executive vice president, business development at United Fresh. “It is a true testament to the industry’s commitment to excellence that so many companies recognize the value in coming together to network, discuss food safety issues and learn about new equipment and services.”
Highlights of FreshTech 2007 include the all new Produce Safety Summit, The Global FreshTech Conference, the presentation of the United Fresh Technical Award, and the exposition featuring processing equipment, fresh-cut products and services, and the new Food Safety & Research Pavilion.
“The new Produce Safety Summit, the Food Safety & Research Pavilion on the show floor, and the broad supply chain Global FreshTech Conference workshops were of real value to attendees. Several of the conference sessions were standing-room only,” added Welcome.
“As a fresh-cut processor and a member of IFPA before the merger, I am impressed with how FreshTech built upon the success of the former Fresh-cut Expo to provide even more value.” said Mark Miller, president of Fresh From Texas and current United Fresh co-chair.
“During this merger transition year, the FreshTech show was successful in retaining its strong support as the leading meeting place for the fresh-cut produce industry, while attracting more companies from the total supply chain and a greater number of exhibitors of new technologies and food safety tools,” said United Fresh Chairman-elect Emanuel Lazopoulos, Senior Vice President, North America, Sales, Marketing and Product Management, Del Monte Fresh Produce. “In addition to fresh-cut processors, this year we also saw greater participation from grower-shippers, wholesalers and the retail and food service sectors, which re-enforces the Board’s decision to co-locate FreshTech with Fresh Marketplace in Las Vegas next year.”
FreshTech 2008 will be co-located with the FMI show in Las Vegas and the Fresh Marketplace show, which in 2007 is being held May 5-8 in Chicago. For more information on the United Fresh shows, visit http://mail.unitedfresh.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.unitedfresh.org/ or call 202-303-3400.
|
