Membership Registration 2024-2025
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.
*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!
JANUARY SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
NEW SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
SEPC is now offering sponsorship opportunities exclusive to driving our educational programs that are the best in class for our industry. With different tiers available, you can contribute to the future education of our next generation of produce professionals. Visit our website to learn more about the innovative ways through which you can support the future of our industry:
ALOHA!
We are thrilled to invite you to SEPC’s flagship conference, Southern Exposure, taking place March 6-8, 2025, at the beautiful Orlando World Center Marriott. This year, our theme is inspired by the warm and inclusive spirit of Hawaii, encapsulated in our tagline ~ PRODUCE MEANS FAMILY. Just as ohana means family in Hawaiian culture, we believe that our produce community is a family who supports and uplifts one another. This year, we are also celebrating the significance of family meals and the importance of eating together.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Engaging Educational Sessions: Gain insights from industry leaders and experts.
- Vibrant Trade Show: Explore the latest products and innovations in our expansive exhibit hall.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, partners, and professionals in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
- Hawaiian-Themed Events: Enjoy festive gatherings, delicious cuisine, and island-inspired entertainment.
- Family Meals Focus: Learn about the benefits of family meals and how they can strengthen bonds and improve well-being.
Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of our produce family - sharing knowledge, building relationships, and celebrating our collective successes over shared meals. Register now to secure your spot and be part of an unforgettable experience. We look forward to welcoming you with open arms and the spirit of aloha!
This year’s conference will encompass SEPC Chair Kristin Yerecic Scott’s platform celebrating the significance of family meals and the importance of eating together. The following guest speakers have joined SEPC's family for Southern Exposure:
FEATURED SPEAKERS
CELEBRITY KEYNOTE SPEAKER - BETHANY HAMILTON
Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith, and hope. At the age of 13, Bethany lost her left arm to a 14-foot tiger shark, which seemed to end her career as a rising surf star. One month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and within two years had won her first national title. In 2007, she realized her dream of surfing professionally and since then, her story has been told in a New York Times bestselling autobiography and in the 2011 film, Soul Surfer. Bethany is involved in numerous charitable efforts, including The Beautifully Flawed Foundation, which reaches out to amputees and youth, encouraging and offering hope to overcome through Jesus Christ. Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy lifestyle, she authored the book Body and Soul in 2014. Bethany’s latest film project, Unstoppable, a surf documentary which showcases her as one of the best women surfers in the world, released theatrically in the USA on July 12, 2019, accompanied by a photo book and a children’s book. Passionate about family and about helping young women be unstoppable in life and faith, Bethany launched the Unstoppable Living online courses in 2019, a mother-daughter mentorship program in 2022, known as the ‘Ohana Experience’, along with another children’s book called Surfing Past Fear. Her greatest joy is being a wife and mother, and she continues to touch and inspire lives globally as a professional surfer and motivational speaker.
INDUSTRY KEYNOTE SPEAKER - DAVID FIKES
David Fikes is the Executive Director of the FMI Foundation, which has the mission of supporting the food industry through a focus on research and education in the areas of food safety, health and wellbeing, and social responsibility. His position allows him to act upon his conviction that humans have a right to safe food and consumers have a right to clear information and viable choices. Formerly, David served as FMI's Vice President for Communication and Consumer/Community Relations and before joining FMI he was the Director of Communication for the American Frozen Food Institute. Prior to entering the world of food trade associations, he worked for 20 years as an Episcopal priest, serving parishes in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. He and his wife, Lisa, are the proud parents of thirteen-year-old Harper whose soccer skills have now far outpaced those of her father.
SOUTHERN ROOTS WOMEN'S LUNCHEON SPEAKER - DOMINIQUE DAWES
Owner of the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics & Ninja Academies, Dominique opened the gyms to continue her commitment to developing a healthy and compassionate culture in the sport of gymnastics. Her first academy opened in the midst of a global pandemic, July 2020 and her second location opened in 2023. Dawes also holds minority ownership of the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League and served as the co-chair of the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition under the Obama administration alongside Drew Brees. Alongside LeBron James and Maverick Carter, she recently served as Executive Producer of the Peacock docu-series “Golden”, the journey of USA’s elite gymnasts on the road to the Tokyo Olympics, which has been nominated for a Sports Emmy. Dawes holds her degree from the University of Maryland and was inducted into UMD's prestigious Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2024, her hometown of Montgomery County, Maryland will honor her career and legacy with a life size statue to continue inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps. As a wife, mother of four, Olympian and business owner, Dominique Dawes has transcended the world of sports, politics, entertainment and culture.
GOOD SEEDS MENTOR PROGRAM SPEAKER - JASON BROWN
A native of Henderson, NC, Jason Brown is a man of faith, a former professional athlete, and community advocate. Brown studied interpersonal communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill while on an athletic scholarship. His greatest accomplishment at Carolina was meeting the love of his life and wife, Dr. Tay Brown. After he graduated in 2005, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. As a free agent in 2009, Jason signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams, served three, and was released in March 2012. With several lucrative offers on the table from the Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and the San Francisco 49ers, Jason decided instead to take a leap of faith and walk away from the NFL. After his departure from the NFL, Jason moved back to North Carolina and purchased a 1,000-acre farm in Louisburg. The farm has hosted several community events and collaborated with many faith and service organizations. The farm has yielded one million lbs of produce which were given to food pantries and churches throughout the Triangle area. Thousands of volunteers have lent helping hands in gleaning and harvest events. In his work through Wisdom for Life Ministries and First Fruit Farm, Jason and his wife, Tay, are demonstrating how to live a life of purpose. Jason serves as a great example of community service through agriculture.
Short for “Learning, Interacting and Networking with Key players in the Supply chain,” LINKS is an educational leadership program where exceptional Southeastern growers and shippers can connect with Retail/Foodservice providers in the region in a non-competitive environment. By enhancing each side’s understanding of the retail supply chain, we can facilitate our mutual goals to better service consumers and drive Southeastern produce consumption. The SEPC will provide a meeting space at Southern Exposure to participating Retail/Foodservice members who facilitate the program with invited Growers and Shippers.
LINKS Reservations for SEPC Retail/Foodservice Members*
Please submit through the link below by February 3, 2025 to request your LINKS meeting space during Southern Exposure.
*LINKS Meeting Reservations must be submitted/approved through SEPC. Requests will be accommodated as they are received, and we will do our best to coordinate your space needs with what is available.
DIGITAL TOOLKIT
CONTESTS & PRIZES!
Compete in our Southern Exposure: Produce Means Family costume and booth decorating contests! We invite all attendees to participate for a chance to win CASH!
COSTUME CONTEST
Join our Opening Gala Luau on Friday night, March 8th in Hawaiian-themed, family-friendly attire to compete in our costume contest for a chance to win one of these AMEX gift cards: 1st place: $200; 2nd place: $150; 3rd place: $100; Best Group: $300
BOOTH DECORATING CONTEST
Got a booth idea embracing our theme – Produce Means Family? Decorate your Hawaiian-inspired booth on Saturday at the expo for our booth decorating contest! Three of the best decorated booths will receive a prize of one of the following AMEX gift cards: 1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $500; 3rd place: $250
SEPC Introduces Sustainability Essentials
Kickstart Your Organization’s Sustainability Journey
Join SEPC for a live, interactive, 90-minute virtual training session hosted by Measure to Improve, the fresh produce industry’s go-to sustainability experts. This session will guide you through foundational sustainability concepts and practical steps to help your organization start or enhance its sustainability efforts.
Participants can expect to leave this training with more confidence and knowledge about starting or evolving their sustainability programs within their organization.
WHY SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS: INSIGHTS FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS
As we embark on our journey towards a more sustainable future, we are pleased to share insights from some of our esteemed industry leaders, who highlight the environmental, social, and economic benefits of sustainable practices and underscore the critical role each of us plays in this mission. We hope their perspectives will inspire and motivate you to integrate sustainability into your own operations.
Training Session Details:
- 🗓 Date: January 15, 2025
- ⏰ Time: 2:00-3:30 PM ET / 11:00-12:30 PM PT
- 📍 Format: Live, virtual session with presentations, polls, and interactive Q&A
Who Should Attend
This free training is tailored for SEPC members and professionals who are:
- New to sustainability or launching their company’s first sustainability program.
- Sales teams and retail buyers looking to understand the value of sustainability and its growing importance in the marketplace.
- Leaders eager to create meaningful environmental and social impacts within their organizations.
This training is not designed for:
- Experienced sustainability practitioners with well-established programs.
- Professionals seeking advanced sustainability training or certification-only content.
- Sign up now to start enhancing your sustainability efforts with SEPC and Measure to Improve:
What You’ll Learn
After attending this virtual training, participants will be able to:
1. Sustainability Foundations:
- Explain the triple-bottom-line approach (environmental, social, and economic principles) and how it applies to their organization.
2. Industry Trends and Drivers:
- Articulate how pressing challenges, such as climate change, resource scarcity, social equity, consumer expectations, and regulatory trends, impact the produce industry.
3. Benefits of Sustainability:
- Describe how sustainability initiatives can drive cost savings, enhance brand reputation, and improve employee engagement.
4. Actionable First Steps:
- Use practical guidance to assess sustainability priorities, set goals, and create a sustainability culture within their organization.
5. Tracking Progress:
- Leverage tools and metrics to measure and demonstrate their sustainability progress.
Stay tuned for more details about our upcoming book For the Love of Produce, which will be published and launch during Southern Exposure 2025! We can’t wait to share personal stories and experiences from over 60 SEPC members. The book will also include inspirational quotes and pictures, perfect for your cocktail table.
Our STARS (Southeast Top Agricultural Recruits Scholarship) program is available to outstanding students majoring in agriculture at Southeast-based land grant universities. Our goal is to recruit top students for job opportunities in the Southeast produce industry.
Ideal candidates are rising seniors in undergraduate majors related to the growing and marketing of produce and related products who also hold a minimum 3.2 GPA or higher. Additionally, it is preferred that students have demonstrated an interest in growing and/or marketing of produce. Scholarship recipients will be expected to attend the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure conference & expo. The Southeast Produce Council will cover hotel and travel expenses to this event. The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to meet with hundreds of produce industry grower/shipper members as well as the nation’s leading retailers and foodservice distributors.
Introducing SEPC's STARS Class of 2025!
We are excited to have each of these students attend Southern Exposure this year to introduce them to our members. Check out their bios and resumes on our website:
We’ve put together a variety of educational programs to help advance your career and nurture the next generation of produce luminaries. Whether you’re brushing up on the fundamentals or keeping up with the latest innovations in the industry, your SEPC membership offers plenty of opportunity to enrich your knowledge.
Community Updates
Our featured charitable partner for January 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.
"On behalf of SEPC we want to extend our deepest gratitude for everyone’s incredible participation, for those who were part of our event team and all the generous contributions we received (toys/prizes for kids, fresh produce, and booth supplies), to share with over 400 APHC children and families. Below are some great photos of the event. The kids really had a fun time (we did too)…and yes, that IS corn with the corn hole game. 😉 For all the contributions, thanks again for the generosity. We couldn’t have done this without you. A BIG Shout-Out to The Fruitist for the berries, Nickey Gregory for the apples, and Kelly at SoSA for organizing the logistics. We fed a LOT of families!" - Kim Flores, APHC Committee Chair
Faith in Action: An Update from Bridge the Gap Ministry
"At Bridge the Gap Ministry, we are dedicated to transforming lives by providing support, opportunities, and hope to individuals seeking help. One of the ways we create impactful change is through our partnership with local businesses like Ober Mountain Sky Resort, where many of our guy’s work. One of the major responsibilities is to help blow snow during the night so that the resort has a fresh blanket for the skiers the next day. They also afford employment opportunities for those who graduate our program. These roles help rebuild their confidence and develop skills that pave the way for long-term success and employment. It’s inspiring to witness their hard work and dedication.
At Bridge the Gap Ministry, we believe it is vital to be obedient when God calls us to help others. His guidance leads us to serve those in need, transforming not only their lives but also our own. This past week, we celebrated the graduation of two men from our program, a testament to the power of answering His call. Their success reminds us how meaningful it is to step out in faith and support those striving for a fresh start. Obedience to God’s direction allows us to make an eternal impact, one life at a time."
"However, this year has presented challenges that remind us of the importance of coming together as a community. Hurricane Helene’s recent impact was devastating, leaving many farms and properties in ruins. With that being said, we knew it was only right to cancel our annual November golf tournament. This event has been a key fundraiser for the ministry, enabling us to continue our mission of offering resources and support to those in need.
While we are deeply saddened by this setback, our commitment to helping others remains steadfast. We humbly ask for your help during this Christmas season. Your donations can make an immediate difference, allowing us to continue providing services to those in our care. Whether large or small, every contribution helps bridge the gap for individuals striving to build a better future. Together, we can ensure that Bridge the Gap Ministry continues to be a beacon of hope and transformation in our community. Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission. We can’t do this without your love and support."
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.
The Southeast Produce Council is excited to embark on the third year of the SEPC Next Generation Leadership Academy (NGLA), and we are now accepting applications for the 2026 Class. This year-long professional development program is truly unique and is designed for up-and-coming leaders in the produce industry. The program provides participants with a unique approach to conscious leadership ideals and methodologies. Participants will develop and galvanize leadership skills to better navigate industry challenges with a growth mindset. The Academy features quarterly modules that will include virtually guided events and up to two in-person programming events. The program equips and prepares participants for future leadership responsibilities with content relevant to their leadership challenges.
If you or your organization has a potential candidate for the Next Generation Leadership Academy, applications will open January 6, 2025. The deadline to submit applications is February 7, 2025 before 5:00 pm EST.
Applicants should have organizational level support to participate. The incoming class will be announced during the Keynote Brunch at Southern Exposure 2025 and will graduate at Southern Exposure 2026.
Applicants are eligible if they are:
- Emerging leader in produce, mid-level manager or above
- Employed in the produce industry for at least 4 years
- Member in “Good Standing” of the SEPC*
- Must possess a vision for leadership, a strong drive to carry it out, and strong communications skills to convey why they believe they would be a good candidate for the program by submitting a short video for selection process
*To be in “Good Standing”, a member must actively participate in the SEPC by their attendance, contributions, or both and must be included in our Membership Roll.
The Vorhees Vision Scholarship was created to reward the achievements of young individuals who demonstrate a true entrepreneurial spirit in their lives as they pursue their educational goals. This scholarship is named in honor of the late Terry L. Vorhees, founder and first Executive Director of the Southeast Produce Council. Because of his vision and efforts, the Southeast Produce Council became and remains one of the best resources in the produce industry today.
One college-aged student (graduating high school senior or current college student) will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000 to their enrolling college/university. The 2nd place recipient will receive $1,500, and the 3rd place recipient will receive $1,000.
The application can only be submitted online through our link which was provided beginning November 25, 2024. The application deadline is January 10, 2025 at 5pm EST.
Visit our website for more scholarship information!
Congratulations to Vicki Greer of KVAT Food Stores for being the first to answer our December SEPC Fruit & Veggie Trivia Question correctly!
JANUARY Trivia Question
Be the first to answer correctly and win a $25 gift card!
Which of these fruits is spelled correctly...
Pinapple
Watermellon
Persimmon
Nectarin
Contact us
242 North Masonic Street | Millen, GA 30442 | 877.720.SEPC (7372) | info@seproducecouncil.com