Membership Registration for 2024-2025 IS NOW OPEN!
Behind every piece of produce are countless people who helped along the way – the skilled hands, sharp minds, and big hearts that comprise a critical industry in our country. SEPC brings these worlds together. Because together, we create a strong, vibrant industry now and for decades to come.
Together We Grow Higher!
Please review the updated membership information on our website, including restructured membership tiers, and select which annual membership* best suits your company's needs. Once your current membership status is confirmed, then you'll be able to register for our events.
*Please note that our annual membership period runs June through May of the following year. We do not prorate our membership fees. Contact our office if unsure of current membership status.
**All conference attendees are required to be SEPC members in order to attend any events. Exhibitors are required to maintain a corporate membership.**
Our Sponsors
SEPC sponsors are a vital part of our existence. Simply put, sponsor contributions help us bring more to the table for everyone. Like better networking and education events, fresh talent, and a broader awareness of best practices throughout our industry. And of course, when you help us promote produce, your organization will gain crucial exposure at our events and engagements throughout the year. Together, we create a strong, vibrant industry now and for decades to come.
Together We Grow Higher!
July Sponsor Spotlight
REGISTER NOW FOR SOUTHERN INNOVATIONS!
Discover “What’s New?” within our industry as we springboard new product items and technologies into the marketplace. Brush up on best practices, keep up with emerging trends, test new products, hear from national thought leaders, and network with other council members who share the same passions you do.
Educational sessions led by industry leaders complement our tradeshow, offering an opportunity to hear how to elevate your brand in an increasingly competitive field and receive valuable fact-based data to strengthen and improve your business. And as always, you’ll be able to sample a taste of true Southern hospitality as you fellowship with friends and colleagues.
Sold Out Exhibit Space!
Exhibitor Booth Assignments
We’ve added the exhibitor booth assignment list as well as the expo floorplan to our Southern Innovations website under the “Exhibitors” tab of the accordion menu.
Exhibitor Toolkit
Through our valued partnership with AGS Expo Services, the exhibitor toolkit information is now available! Your Welcome to Online Ordering email from eventservices@ags-expo.com will provide access to your online hub and exhibitor kit. We’ve also added the exhibitor toolkit to our Southern Innovations website under the “Exhibitor Information” tab of the accordion menu.
Sampling Guidelines
The Food Preparation Waiver Indemnification Agreement form within the Exhibitor Toolkit must be completed and submitted to the hotel in advance of any food or beverage samples being served. Food Sampling Guidelines are also included within the kit.
Wall of Innovations
There’s still time to secure your showcase space within our Wall of Innovations! Visit the “Wall of Innovations Showcase” tab of the accordion menu on our Southern Innovations website to learn more!
Speakers
Digital Toolkit
The SEPC is pleased to provide you with our newest digital toolkit. We hope you will take advantage of these digital tools as you prepare to join us in Nashville for Southern Innovations!
Visit our website to discover more!
The STEP-UPP Foodservice Class summer tour began bright and early Tuesday, June 11th, with an informative tour, lunch, and series of educational sessions hosted by Royal Fresh Cuts – Mike Rios, Executive Director of Fair Food Standards Council, joined the group to introduce the Fair Food Program; STEP-UPP Committee members directed a relationship building session; and Royal Fresh Cuts led a session on food safety education.
The tour continued Wednesday with more fantastic facility, farm, and field tours hosted by SEPC sponsors Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers and Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable, Inc.
Culminating the trip on Thursday, the class had a wonderful tour of watermelon sheds and packing houses hosted by SEPC sponsor National Watermelon Promotion Board followed by a lovely lunch and tasting before departing for home.
“The opportunity for the student members to see and experience all that goes into the farming aspect of the business creates a whole new perspective for them.” ~ David Verdrager, SEPC Foodservice Committee, RPE
“A great experience for the class to get first-hand experience on what it takes to bring fresh produce to market.” ~ Rob Bonghi, SEPC Foodservice Committee, Fresh Alliance
We truly appreciate our hosting member companies for providing these unique experiences.
The graduation ceremony for the inaugural STEP-UPP Foodservice Class of 2024 will be held during Southern Innovations on September 14th in Nashville, Tennessee.
The STEP-UPP Retail Class summer tour kicked off Wednesday, June 12th, in Charlotte, North Carolina, as they embarked on a wonderful series of facility, farm, and field tours hosted by the following SEPC member companies: Dole Fresh Vegetables, Bottomley Enterprises/Evergreens & Farms, and Hollar and Greene.
The tour resumed in Virginia on Thursday with more fantastic facility tours hosted by SEPC sponsor Red Sun Farms as well as university partner Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Back in Charlotte, the class culminated their trip with a facility tour of SEPC sponsor Dole Fresh Fruit where they were also treated to lunch prior to their departure.
“The 2024 STEP-UPP Retail Class had a very educational trip this June with visits to SEPC Members Dole Fresh Vegetables, Bottomley Farms, Hollar & Greene, Red Sun Farms, Virginia Tech Agriculture Department, and Dole Fresh Fruit. The Class learned a lot about Salad Production at the Dole Bessemer facility, Cabbage and other insights including logistics at Hollar & Greene and Bottomley Farms. Virginia Tech educated the class on sensory testing, drone testing along with pest control, and the final day at Dole Fresh Fruit they learned everything there is to know about bananas! A great trip of education with some of the industry’s brightest talent! A special thank you to all of our members who helped in the education of the class and to the companies that invest in their future and the future of our industry.” ~ Mike Roberts, SEPC Chairman of the Board and STEP-UPP Retail Committee Co-Chair, Harps Food Stores
“The second round of our STEP-UPP Retail field tours proved to be another eventful and educational experience for our diverse group of students from various retail backgrounds. They were thoroughly immersed in educational insights at Dole Fresh Vegetables in Bessemer City, NC; Bottomley and Hollar and Greene Farms in Mount Airy, NC; Red Sun Farms in Dublin, VA; Virginia Tech and Kentland Farms in Blacksburg, VA; and Dole Fresh Fruit in Charlotte, NC. This field tour not only educates students about the produce industry but also fosters strong connections that will benefit their future careers.” ~ Gary Baker, SEPC Treasurer and STEP-UPP Retail Committee Co-Chair, Merchants Distributors
A heartfelt THANK YOU goes to each of our hosting member companies for providing these incomparable experiences.
The graduation ceremony for the STEP-UPP Retail Class of 2024 will be held during Southern Innovations on September 14th in Nashville, Tennessee.
APPLY NOW for one of our 2025 STEP-UPP Classes
Are you, or do you know, a retail or foodservice professional looking to develop a greater understanding of the produce industry through strategic orientation, personal leadership, and hands-on field experience?
If so, we invite you to find out more and apply for our 2025 STEP-UPP (Southeast Training Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals) available to both Retailer and Foodservice members where you'll experience exceptional networking opportunities and learn the inner workings of the supplier side of the industry.
The 2025 class year for both our STEP-UPP Retail and STEP-UPP Foodservice participants officially starts in January 2025 and will provide a variety of experiences through both classroom experiences and on-the-ground field tours in the spring and summer. The year will culminate with graduation at Southern Innovations held September 2025 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC.
We will be accepting applications for the 2025 Retail and Foodservice classes now through Friday, July 12, 2024 before 5:00 pm EST. Only 10-12 students are accepted each year within each class, so get your application in today!
For more information about the STEP-UPP program as well as other SEPC educational opportunities, please visit the Education page of the SEPC website.
Community Updates
Our Featured Charitable Partner for July is Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children where children’s health and well-being are at the heart of what they do every day. For more than 30 years, families have been able to find an environment where healing and hope are inspired by the fearless spirits of the kids they treat; where you’ll enjoy the most advanced technology, Central Florida’s only pediatric Level One Trauma Center and ED, and compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff who have your child’s health as their top priority. We are honored to partner with them to help coordinate programs and events such as their Healthy Lifestyles Camp for children with life-threatening illnesses.
For the past several years, the Southeast Produce Council has been the Title Sponsor of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life Superhero Sprint. Reinforcing their SEPC Cares initiative, SEPC member volunteers joined the CHOA team once again on Saturday, June 8th, at Piedmont Park to distribute fresh produce to event attendees, benefiting their Strong4Life program which helps Georgia families raise healthy, resilient kids. SEPC member companies donated and transported over 14,000lbs of nutritious fruits and vegetables to share with race participants and their families who welcomed the generous offering with gratitude.
“Strong4Life's Superhero Sprint is a great event that my family has been attending for almost a decade and looks forward to every year. We had more produce than we've ever had this year, and it's special watching the participants' excited looks as they grab healthy snacks to enjoy at the race and afterwards. Our CHoA committee really does further SEPC's overall mission in increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and veggies in the Southeast at this event. From watermelons to peaches to berries to sliced apples and oranges to carroteenies to baby potatoes to mandarins to sweet corn to bananas to pineapple chunks and coined cucumbers to grapes to pears to grape tomatoes to long sweet peppers there was something for everyone.” ~ Blair Greenhill, SEPC CHOA Committee Chair, Nickey Gregory Company
The Southeast Produce Council is extremely thankful for the generous support of the following member companies who donated their time, energy, and resources to this worthy cause: B&W Quality Growers, Bolthouse Farms, California Giant Berry Farms, Chick-fil-A, EarthFresh, FreshPoint/Sysco, Genuine Georgia, LG Herndon Jr. Farms, Nickey Gregory Company/Family Fresh Foods/Gregory Family Express Brokerage, Red Sun Farms, Robinson Fresh, Royal Foodservice, Sbrocco International, The Fresh Market, Wish Farms, Wonderful Citrus.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Camp Strong4Life is a unique camp experience designed to make practicing healthy habits fun, in a traditional camp environment. One of many camps hosted by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Camp Twin Lakes, Camp Strong4Life welcomes as many as 60 campers each summer from all over Georgia.
Campers will learn about the Strong4Life healthy habits and enjoy traditional overnight camp experiences, such as archery, rock climbing, swimming, sleeping in a group cabin and more! It’s where campers feel an instant sense of belonging, discover their own strengths, make memories to last a lifetime and try new things in a pressure-free environment.
At Strong4Life, they know that healthy habits are the key to feeling good, performing our best and being healthy inside and out. their camp teaches kids and parents about the four Strong4Life healthy habits: Eat smarter, drink water; Screens away, go play; Get rest to be your best; Emotions are real, express how you feel.
“We delivered our 2nd set of produce boxes to Camp Strong4Life in Rutledge, GA today. Campers will take these home with them to hopefully continue some of the healthy habits they've been learning and living the last couple of weeks.” ~ Blair Greenhill, SEPC CHOA Committee Chair, Nickey Gregory Company
SEPC & Society of St. Andrew Provide Community Product Distribution in Macon, Georgia
The Southeast Produce Council partnered with Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) to distribute free, nutritious produce during their 3rd annual community food distribution in Macon, Georgia on July 21st. Reinforcing their SEPC Cares initiative, SEPC member volunteers joined the SoSA team, in collaboration with Atrium Health, to provide much-needed provisions for the community. More than 120,000 pounds of fresh produce were handed out to people struggling with food insecurity by a volunteer effort of 250 people strong.
“Thank you to Southeast Produce Council and Atrium Health for a wonderful day feeding hungry people at the annual food distribution in Macon, GA yesterday. Three trucks of fresh food were handed out to people struggling with food insecurity. Thank you to all the Southeast Produce Council, Inc. growers, shippers, packers, and members who donated food and time to this event. Thank you to all the volunteers and staff from Atrium Health who provided tents, the location, and so much support to host this event. Thank you to the truck drivers and the forklift and pallet-jack operators who unloaded the trucks safely and efficiently. It takes a village to do these events and we could never do this without all the kindness and help of so many! Over two thousand families were served!” ~ Kelly Stainner, Florida Regional Director, Society of St. Andrew
The Southeast Produce Council is extremely thankful for the generous support of their member companies who donated their time, energy, and resources to this worthy cause.
Mark your calendars for Palmer Home's 12th annual Radiothon Thursday, July 11, 2024, and tune in from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on SuperTalk Mississippi, either on your radio or online. This event promises to be a day filled with touching stories and insightful interviews with those directly impacted by Palmer Home’s mission: children in care, alumni, dedicated staff, and supporters.
Stay connected and hear firsthand accounts of the positive influence Palmer Home has had in the lives of so many. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn more and support a cause that makes a real difference. Subscribe to their channel for updates and join in making a meaningful impact!
Follow along on Paul Anderson Youth Home's 2024 Annual Bike Ride! They'll be cruising from Vidalia, Georgia, all the way up to Athens, Georgia, and back around. Contribute today and get in on the two-wheeled action - just go to payhbikeride.com, or text BIKERIDE to 71777.
If you feel led to contribute, please visit their link below...
To learn more about SEPC Cares and how you can join the Southeast Produce Council in giving back to the community by educating others about the benefits of healthy eating and habits, click the link below.
Last week, the Southeast Produce Council's Next Generation Leadership Academy embarked on an extraordinary journey in central Florida, blending transformative leadership experiences with unique educational opportunities to explore the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture.
Throughout the trip, participants engaged in a series of visits to producers and researchers that showcased the latest AI technologies and their applications in agriculture. From AI-powered precision farming to advanced supply chain analytics, the Academy members gained firsthand knowledge of how these innovations are driving efficiency, sustainability, and profitability in the produce industry.
Beyond the technical education, the trip was also a profound leadership experience. Interactive workshops and leadership exercises fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging Academy members to push their boundaries and grow as leaders.
A highlight of the trip was the formation of lifelong relationships among the participants. The shared experiences and collaborative spirit forged strong bonds, creating a supportive network of peers committed to advancing the produce industry together. These connections are expected to yield lasting professional and personal benefits, enriching the participants' careers and the industry as a whole.
“Our Next Generation Leadership Academy trip last week was a remarkable journey of transformative leadership and cutting-edge education. Participants delved into the revolutionary impact of AI in agriculture, gaining invaluable insights and experiences. I saw lifelong relationships being forged, ensuring a brighter and more connected future for our industry. This is exactly why SEPC is investing so much into this program, and I was personally so inspired by this Class!" ~ Raina Nelson, SEPC NGLA Committee Chair, Westfalia Fruit US
The Southeast Produce Council's Next Generation Leadership Academy trip was more than an educational experience; it was a catalyst for innovation, leadership development, and community building. As the participants return to their respective organizations, they carry with them the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to drive the produce industry forward into a new era of technological advancement and collaborative success.
Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship was established to memorialize Jim Nolan, who took an ethical stand on a business matter at great cost to himself. As a result of his professional ethics, Nolan was ostracized by colleagues and remained isolated in his efforts to maintain moral integrity in his workplace. It would have taken only a few others with the courage to speak out to change the course of events. Tragically, Jim died before the trial that finally vindicated his actions by a judge and a jury of 13 who found in his favor. Our sincere thanks to Theresa Nolan for providing this scholarship to the members of the Southeast Produce Council. She is a lifetime member of the SEPC and is always available to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
Scholarship Details
One college-aged student (graduating high school senior or current college student) will receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to their enrolling college/university. The scholarship will be awarded based on GPA (3.0 or higher), references, and quality of essay.
Thank you to all applicants! The recipient will be announced July 29th!
Visit our website for more scholarship information!
Contact us
242 North Masonic Street | Millen, GA 30442 | 877.720.SEPC (7372) | info@seproducecouncil.com