Serving as co-chairs of the convention will be Ron Anderson, vice president of perishables, Spartan Stores, Inc.; Fred Williamson, president, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce; and Alan Heinzen, president, Heinzen Manufacturing International. “These three Board leaders will provide a total supply chain focus from retail, to produce marketers, to the equipment and tools needed to grow our industry,” Lazopoulos said. “They will work with our 2008 Convention Committee to ensure that our exhibits, general sessions, workshops, tours and networking events all deliver real business value to our worldwide attendees,” he said.
United Fresh Las Vegas 2008 will bring together the FreshTech and Fresh Marketplace expositions in a side-by-side format, allowing customers and suppliers to spend time addressing both marketing and merchandising opportunities, and supply chain technology solutions over the three days of the show. Attendees can focus on their special interests in one exposition or the other, or move freely between the expos. For the first time, attendees can examine a major packaging machine or fresh-cut processing line, and then walk across the hall to see the final produce products that have been produced through those technologies. With three full work days devoted to the show, attendees will also have time to explore the co-located FMI Show and its specialized information technology section Marketechnics.
United Fresh Las Vegas 2008 will also offer attendees an extensive educational conference and networking events delivering new ideas, business solutions, technical knowledge, information on trends, and contacts to enhance their business. “Both United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association and the International Fresh-cut Produce Association have long been known for their excellence in conference program,” Lazopoulos said. “By teaming up, we can now offer the most comprehensive array of technical, marketing and business programming, focused to help attendees in every sector of the produce chain to improve their personal skills and performance.”
The 2008 Convention Committee is now forming, and volunteers are welcome. Please contact Jerry Welcomeat the United Fresh headquarters office, jwelcome@unitedfresh.org, 202/303-3404. The committee will meet in Las Vegas in September to consider priorities and programs to enhance attendee and exhibitor value. Throughout the year, committee members will provide advice and counsel to the association in preparing for the event. Finally, committee members will serve as onsite ambassadors in Las Vegas, welcoming attendees to the event.
