The Council Connection October 2024

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!

Thank you for attending Southern Innovations in Nashville, Tennessee, where we provided abundant opportunities for Networking, Innovating, Connecting, and Educating –

TOGETHER WE GROW HIGHER!

While our conference is still fresh on your mind, here’s more info below:

Feedback Surveys

Please take a moment to complete our surveys. We truly value your feedback to further cultivate Southern Innovations for next year!

Attendee List

Don’t forget that you can still connect with fellow attendees through either our conference app or by logging back into your registration and selecting “Attendee List” within the menu dropdown.

Conference Photos

All of our conference photos are just a click away in our Google Photos Gallery

SEPC University Educational Session

Good Seeds MENtor Program

No other industry displays the power of faith like the produce industry – an industry that relies on the belief that a seed will sprout and grow into a wonderful product which we can market, sell, and consume to sustain us each day. During the session, 200 Good Seeds Buckets were filled with essentials for those in need. Once the buckets were filled, they were then distributed by Matthew 25, Inc. Good Seeds Buckets will now be available for purchase during registration for SEPC events and will then be distributed to the needy at each respective location.

This session video is available upon request.

Southern Roots Luncheon

Southern Roots - Giving Back to YWCA

Leading up to and during Southern Innovations 2024, Southern Roots teamed up to support YWCA, an organization focused on empowering women and eliminating racism. Through their various programs, they’re able to help a wide array of community members. Because of Southern Roots members' generous donations to their wish list, we were able provide 44 items in addition to SEPC’s match of $610.23 that has been given as a monetary donation to their cause.

This session video is also available upon request.

Special Thanks

We sincerely appreciate our Sponsors, Committee Members, Exhibitors, and Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale Buyer Attendees for making Southern Innovations such a tremendous success.

Roots on the Road

Southern Roots members volunteered on Thursday, September 26th, at the Community Food Pantry of McKinney, TX, a nonprofit outreach providing food to families who have found themselves in crisis.

Community Updates

SEPC Cares Activation in Wake of Hurricane Helene

Due to the overwhelming need for disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Helene, SEPC is reaching out to our members for donations to Samaritan’s Purse. Hurricane Helene hit Florida with 140-mph gusts, the strongest recorded storm to ever hit the Big Bend region, continuing to wreak havoc as it blew devastating winds through Georgia and the Carolinas, with historic rainfall and flooding in areas in the southern Appalachians. The storm has left a path of devastation across the Southeast, from the coast of Florida to the mountains of North Carolina, and SEPC is ready to respond to help those in need.

SEPC will match all donations up to $25,000 in total. Please consider making a contribution to join in our cause:

Please keep the millions of people affected by this massive storm in your prayers. Please pray for volunteers as they respond and bring the hope and comfort that only the Lord Jesus Christ can offer.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” ~ Hebrews 4:16

Our featured SEPC Cares charitable partner for October is Palmer Home for Children, a faith-based organization that provides a family and community to children in need regardless of race, gender, or background. Palmer Home provides superior care for children while introducing the love of God through their service to each individual child. Palmer Home ensures restorative environments where children feel safe, connected, and supported.

Whether on campus or off, each child served by Palmer Home has a safe place to call home with trustworthy, supportive adults to guide them as they grow and develop into all that God created them to be. Palmer Home provides holistic care to each child based on their unique physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs.

SEPC partners with Palmer Home for Children to coordinate efforts for children in need, including the annual Palmer Home Radiothon, Hope Grows Garden, and Ag Literacy Programs.

The Society of St. Andrew thanks the Southeast Produce Council, Inc. and the many exhibitors who donated fresh produce at the 2024 Southern Innovations show in Nashville, TN. SoSA volunteers from Florida and Tennessee packed over 28,705 pounds of fresh produce for food insecure families in Nashville.

Special thanks to Nickey Gregory Company for providing storage, transportation, and logistics before the show. Thank you to Move For Hunger who helped provide two refrigerated trucks to stay on site during the show to keep the food fresh and cold.

Approximately 6,730 pounds of produce was donated to One Generation Food Bank. Feed America First Food Bank received 21,970 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Thank you, SEPC for believing in the mission to help end hunger!