Fresh Digest | 21
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council plan to
kick-off the produce industry’s 2022 trade
show activities with one of the first events of
its kind as the FPFC Expo is slated for April
6 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The April date and the new venue represent a
change for the organization in an effort to bring the
Western produce community together after a twoyear
absence because of Covid. Dave Howald of the
Pear Bureau Northwest, who is the 2022 chair of the
Expo Committee, said several factors went into the
decision to change the venue and date. “Part of it had
to do with availability,” he said. “But space, more flexibility
and a better set-up were also important factors.”
He noted that the Anaheim Hilton on Convention
Way in Anaheim will serve as the host hotel with its
adjacent location being a perfect pairing. He added
that the April date offers a perfect opportunity to
take advantage of Southern California’s great spring
weather as most of the rest of the country will typically
still be dealing with a lingering winter. “And because
we have missed having the Expo for the past
two years, we wanted to come in as early as we could
in the calendar year,” he said. “It’s been a while since
we were able to hold an Expo.”
The Expo format will be fairly similar to the traditional
format with a Retailer/Exhibitor event scheduled
for the night before, April 5, and a morning general
session preceding the opening of the trade show
on April 6. Howald said the pre-event the night before
will be at Splitsville in Downtown Disney and will offer
a great opportunity for the exhibitors to mingle
with the buyer community in a relaxed setting. As of
early December, booth sales were robust. “We already
have 80 booths committed,” he said. “Our target is
150, but we have room to expand beyond that.”
Former professional basketball player Lisa Leslie,
who is currently a coach and a broadcaster, will be the
featured speaker during the morning breakfast. Leslie
had an outstanding career as a player in the Women’s
National Basketball Association spending her entire
12-year career with the Los Angeles Sparks.
She joined the team in the inaugural season of the
WNBA as a first-round draft pick, helping to get the
fledgling league off the ground. She was one of its
top stars throughout her career and still holds many
L.A. Sparks career and season records.
Howald said the luncheon will also feature the
awarding of the Norman H. “Buz” Bolstad Produce
Award as well as the FPFC Floral Achievement
Award. He added that other details of the FPFC
Expo were still being worked out as the Fresh Digest
was going to press, but it will live up to the impressive
track record that it has during its decades-long
history. The FPFC Expo, in one form or another, is
the oldest regional produce trade show in the country.
He noted that sponsorship sales are going well
but there are still some slots available. For more information,
registration and sponsorship opportunities,
check out the FPFC website (www.fpfc.org).
FPFC EXPO SET FOR APRIL WITH NEW VENUE