The annual New York Produce Show and Conference (NYPS) opened Dec.10-12 2024, with Where PASSION BECOMES ACTION as the overall theme.
The show had a record audience of more than 5,000 executives attending the one-day trade show and three co-located events.
There were close to 350-plus exhibiting companies and a record of 41 sponsors. The New York Produce Show is organized by Produce Business and the Eastern Produce Council.
“Feeling grateful and showing our gratitude can be our choice as we endeavor to change forever how we experience the challenges and blessings presented by our vibrant and vital produce industry,” says Ken Whitacre, chief executive/publisher, Produce Business.
The conference opened Tuesday with the Global Trade Symposium at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
The symposium provided an intensive look into global trade from the perspective of produce moving in Routes of Success.
The critical strategies and roadmaps importers use to bring the freshest, highest quality produce into the U.S. and Canada from every corner of the globe.
Some of the topics included; The Global scope of the U.S. Produce industry, importing from Mexico leveraging the most valuable Partnership, importing from Central America, importing from Europe, North America and South Africa: Leveraging the seasons and Transportation and Logistics, The dynamics of shipping and delivery.
Some of the Speakers for the Global Trade Symposium included: Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), John Pandol, director of Special projects, Pandol Bros, Andres Ocampo, CEO, HLB Specialties, Robert Schueller, Director of Public Relations, Melissa’s, Alejandro Moralejo, CEO Salix fruits, Peng Liu, President Orchard direct and many more.
Rising Star Reception 40 under 40, young and brilliant minds involved in the produce business were honored, during this VIP and only invite reception.
Opening Cocktail reception took place, on the opening day, with who is who? of produce business in attendance, networking, enjoying drinks and good food.
The Next day Dec 11th 2024, we are at New York Javits Center, welcoming remarks by Susan McAleavey Sarlund, Executive Director, Eastern Produce Council, and Co- Organizer of the Show Alongside Produce Business.
Next up Remarks by Theresa Lowden, President, Eastern Produce Council, (EPC), Executive Vice President Produce and Floral JOH. Also Presented Produce Business innovation awards, as well as The Joe Nucci Award, Consumption Awards Recognition.
National Anthem was performed by Harlem School of the Arts. Keynote speaker was Matthew Luhn, Former creative lead, Disney/Pixar (Monsters Inc., Cars, Toy Story), Mr. Luhn’s Speech was one of the best speeches I heard for a long time, you can listen partially to it by clicking link below.
The Ribbon Cutting took place just before the Show floor opened up, with VIP people in attendance from the produce world, cutting the ribbon and officially opening the show floor.
Consumer Media and Influencers Explore Health, Consumption at NYPS Media Lunch, A select group of 65 consumer media and influencers discussed and debated health trends, produce prescriptions and how to increase produce consumption to affect health during a private luncheon and presentation held during the New York Produce Show on December11, 2024.
Attending the event were top journalists which included our Chief Editor, Dr Adal Muneer, For World Liberty TV, Food Channels and dieticians from cooking magazines, social media, radio programs, news services and television as well as retail store dieticians.
Stefanie Katzman of wholesaler S. Katzman Produce welcomed the group, talking about the role of Hunts Point Market as well as the importance of increasing produce consumption.
Main speaker Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, presented a provocative message looking at produce prescriptions and the politics of dietary choice and influencing consumption.
“We must address the politics of produce in America, from production to consumption, and argue for policy changes to make a positive difference in produce intake and population health,” said Nestle. “We need to rebalance the discussion.”
Attendees discussed the practical aspects of how to integrate more produce into diets with
Katie Calligaro, director marketing and communications at The Foundation for Fresh
Produce. “Plant-passionate communicators can help improve health through encouraging readers and shoppers to incorporate more fruits and vegetables,” she said. “We know nine out of ten Americans are not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
We want to help our communicators have access to the best information so they can deliver consistent, positive and inspirational content directly to consumers as we work together to improve consumption. This group is imperative to meeting consumers where they are.”
For a hands-on component, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s showcased unique specialty produce items and discussed Melissa’s top 20 trending specialty items for 2025 including top five: dutch yellow potatoes, ginger, baby red potatoes, steamed lentils and steamed red beets. “Reasons driving these trends are color, convenience, cross-cultural, organic, and plant based,” he says. “But, overall it still comes down to flavor.”
Attendees were treated to a fun, guided tasting of uncommon produce flavors by culinary expert Jill Overdorf of the Produce Ambassador. Additionally, event co-sponsor Thx!
Dreams, discussed its socially conscious program that partners with produce brands to provide authentic connections between shoppers and farmworkers. The initiative works to help farmworkers achieve their personal dreams.
See much more about New York Produce Show 2024, in our World Liberty TV, Food Channels by clicking here.
The 14th annual New York Produce Show and Conference (NYPS) opened Dec. 5, with GRATITUDE as the overall theme. The show had a record audience of more than 5,000 executives attending the one-day trade show and three co-located events.
There were 350-plus exhibiting companies and a record of 41 sponsors. The New York Produce Show is organized by Produce Business and the Eastern Produce Council.
“Feeling grateful and showing our gratitude can be our choice as we endeavor to change forever how we experience the challenges and blessings presented by our vibrant and vital produce industry,” says Ken Whitacre, chief executive/publisher, Produce Business.
The conference opened Tuesday with the Global Trade Symposium at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
The symposium provided an intensive look into global trade from the perspective of produce moving in and out of the East Coast via land and sea.
Session topics included global trends; export and import challenges and opportunities; land port updates; and updates on avocados, citrus, grapes and mangos.
Mark your calendar for next year’s New York Produce Show and Conference: Dec. 10–12, 2024.
Connect with Fresh Media and Influencer Lunch at the New York Produce Show, Wednesday, December 6 at 11am at the Javits Center in New York City.
This complimentary lunch and program is a lunch workshop for qualified media only, including influential business journalists, writers, registered dietitians, lifestyle bloggers, and food and culinary experts.
Speaker’s Included: Dan Parker from Veg Power to talk about consumption promotion. Veg Power is a not-for-profit alliance of government, business, community and celebrities founded to turn around vegetable consumption in the UK. It uses advertising and communications to inspire kids to eat vegetables and create life-long good food habits that they will, in turn, share with their children. Their multi-award winning “Eat Them to Defeat Them” program has millions of children eating more vegetables.
Presenter Envy Apples and Chef Abbie Gellman, who shared some delicious flavors and recipes.
Live healthy Cooking demonstrations took place at the luncheon, close to 50 media from the culinary world were in attendance, enjoying speakers, cooking demonstrations, while enjoying lunch same time.
See more of the Lunch speakers in our World Liberty TV, Food Review channels by clicking here.
We want to thank Jodean Robbins Duarte, Coordinator, NYPS Consumer Media and Influencer Lunch Contributing Editor, Produce Business magazine, for inviting us annually.
It was our 14th Appearance covering the 14th annual New York Produce Show and Conference NYC-2023, it always gets bigger and better every year. We want to give Condolences to the family of Mrs. Santos, the late Marianne Santo, three-time president of Eastern Produce Council and senior category manager of produce and floral at Wakefern Food Corp., was honored with a video tribute, who passed away earlier this year.
I truly enjoyed meeting Mrs. Santos annually for the past five years, a wonderful warm kind loving personality, made you feel special when she spoke to you. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten RIP.
See more in about 14th annual New York Produce Show and Conference NYC-2023, in our World Liberty TV, Food Channels by clicking here.
The Eastern Produce Council and PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine present an exciting world-class event for the industry. The four-day event includes networking opportunities, a one-day trade show of over 400 companies, retail “thought-leader” breakfast panel hosted by Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor, educational micro-sessions and tours of the region’s vibrant industry, including local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors, urban farms and unique eateries.
The program also includes an outreach to students and faculty at regional universities as well as distinguished culinary schools, plus the “Connect with Fresh” media immersion, luncheon and show tour involving influential bloggers, consumer editors and those working with all forms of social media.
I have covered the New York Produce Show, from day one since it made its debut approxemently 13 years ago. I met Jim Prevor , Founder of the New York Produce Show. As I attended my first show and as I engaged in conversation with Jim, I asked him many questions about produce around the world. He would take time and answer my questions, this was unusually done between breaks, at cocktail hour, at the media luncheon. Jim was always on the move. Moderating a panel, introducing the next speaker.
I remember one time, Jim had to get up and speak about a topic, about produce from South America, because one of the speakers was not able to attend. So Jim took the Bull by the Horn and tackled the topic his self. He spoke so elegantly, with facts, and had everyone’s attention while he spoke, during the Q&A, he answered each question with ease.
I asked Jim, during luncheon, after the panel, how were you able to do that. He went on to tell me that his family was involved in the Produce Business for many years, in the Hunters Point Market in the Bronx, when he got out of college he got involved in the family business and was given a position as an international sales person. Selling Produce to the World. He went on to say he travelled all over the world, met some of the most brilliant minds in this profession, he went on to say, he made notes and remembered so many things in his mind.
Hence forward I developed a great friendship with Jim, for many years he would enjoy all my articles and videos which I would send him to view. He would reply many times thanking me for the coverage. He had me attend almost every event and opened doors for me by introducing me to many great people in the industry.
As I hold my tears back, while writing this next sentence. Jim Prevor passed away on November 7th 2022, at age 61. A breakfast tribute took place to honor his legacy with a video tribute, his business partner for over Thirty years Ken Whitacre, Publisher of Produce Business, had tears rolling down his eyes as he saw the tribute on video.
Let me just say this, Jim was a walking genius who was vastly knowledgeable, had such a wonderful personality. Down to earth person you can ever know. I am proud to call him a friend, he will be deeply missed and never forgotten. Thank you Jim for your wisdom, friendship to me over the 13 years I have known you, Rest in Peace. We will eventually all join you. All I ask you is having a table of Fruits and produce ready to welcome us, so we can continue our conversations forever, dear friend.
The New York Produce Show 2022, broke every record, with attendance doubling on the show floor, I have not seen so many people in attendance, over the years I have attended. I plan on attending and showcasing Jim’s organization for many years to come.
See Many videos and blogs of Jim Prevor in our World Liberty TV, Food Channels by Clicking here.
See New York Produce Show 2022, in our World Liberty TV, Food Channels and Blogs by clicking here.
The Eastern Produce Council and PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine have once again joined forces to present an exciting world-class event for the industry. The four-day event includes networking opportunities, a one-day trade show of over 400 companies, retail “thought-leader” breakfast panel hosted by Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor, educational micro-sessions and tours of the region’s vibrant industry, including local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors, urban farms and unique eateries.
In addition to the 1-day Trade Show are three co-located conferences for those wishing to expand and enhance their visit to our one-of-a-kind produce industry experience?
Tuesday, December 10, the Foundational Excellence program – with Cornell professors offering one day of industry trends and take-aways for executives with less than 5 years in produce.
Wednesday, December 11, the Global Trade Symposium offers attendees the latest insights on produce importing and exporting to and from the Northeast Region.
Thursday, December 12, our 1-day Trade Show and Exposition, featuring ‘Perishable Pundit’ Jim Prevor’s Keynote Breakfast & Thought Leaders Panel, show floor educational Micro-Sessions, Chef’s Demonstrations, the Connect with Fresh Media Immersion, and an exciting day in NYC for our Spouse and Companion Program participants.
Friday, December 13 the “Ideation Fresh” Food service Forum covers the role of produce in culinary innovation and food service profitability.
We at World Liberty TV Food and Produce review team have covered the Annual New York Produce Trade Show and Conference, for the whole 10 years since it started in New York City.
See More in our World Liberty TV Food and Wine Channel Reviews Blogs and channels by clicking here.
“Connect with Fresh” Food Media Luncheon” at the 2015 New York Produce Show. In addition to our keynote speaker, Top Chef Master Suvir Saran we will also welcome an additional guest Marilyn Dolan of the Alliance for Food and Farming who will share information about the Safe Fruits and Veggies Initiative aimed at promoting consumption of all fruits and vegetables by providing credible, science-based information to ease common fears about pesticide residues. We anticipate a lively, interactive discussion with both Chef Saran and Ms. Dolan.
Chef Saran is recognized as the only Indian chef in the US to receive a Michelin star for his Devi restaurant in Manhattan. He also is known for his cookbook, American Masala, and for being a Top Chef Master and frequent guest on television cooking segments. Ms. Dolan has over 29 years’ experience in the field of agricultural public relations and issues management. As Executive Director of the Alliance for Food and Farming she speaks frequently on the topic of food safety.
World Liberty TV, Food & Wine Channel team was on hand to cover this great luncheon ,See it in our World Liberty TV, Food and Wine Channel ,and we like to also thank Mrs Jodean Robbins of Produce Business Magazine for her kind invite, like always.
The Eastern Produce Council and PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine have once again joined forces to present an exciting world-class event for the industry. The three-day event included networking opportunities, a trade show of over 400 companies, retail “thought-leader” breakfast panel hosted by Perishable Pundit Jim Prevor, educational micro-sessions and tours of the region’s vibrant industry, including the local retailers, wholesalers, foodservice distributors and urban farms and unique eateries.
The program also included an outreach to students and faculty at regional universities as well as distinguished culinary schools; the “Connect with Fresh” media immersion program involving print, radio, TV and online outlets, plus a “Consumer Influencer” luncheon and show tour reaching out to bloggers, consumer editors and those working with all forms of social media.
