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.
*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!
September Sponsor Spotlight
GET READY FOR A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT ROCK-N-ROLL AT SOUTHERN INNOVATIONS!
Know Before You Go
REGISTRATION DESK HOURS
You’ll be checking in or registering with us at the Tennessee Registration Desk where our staff will be happy to help during the following times:
Thursday, September 12th & Friday, September 13th
7:30am – 5:00pm
If you are arriving Thursday after 5pm and are pre-registered for the Welcome Reception that evening, Registration Staff will be available 5pm-9pm to print your badge at the Registration Desk.
TRANSPORTATION
All session/activity transportation will take place at The Magnolia Canopy Entrance:
- VIP Dinner
- STEP-UPP Team Building Experience
- Founders Memorial Golf Tournament
- Martin Eubanks Sporting Clays Classic
- Local Tour
GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT & CONVENTION CENTER
2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214
Don't forget use our hashtag: #SEPCSouthernInnovations
PRODUCE DONATIONS
The SEPC is proud to donate all leftover produce from Southern Innovations to Society of St. Andrew. A Society of St. Andrew representative will be dropping stickers off to each booth during the Expo. If your company is interested in donating leftover product, please attach the stickers to donated product and leave in your booth after the Expo. If you have any questions, please stop by the AGS Service Desk.
WHO'S ATTENDING?
The attendee list can be accessed by logging in to your registration and selecting “Attendees” within the “Post Registration” dropdown.
*Please note that any external company solicitation has not been approved by the SEPC.
WHAT DO I WEAR?
Overall conference attire is business casual. Use this guide to help decide what to wear throughout the weekend (also available in the conference app).
- Welcome Reception (Thursday): Business Casual
- Founders Memorial Golf Tournament (Saturday): Golf Casual
- Martin Eubanks Sporting Clays Classic (Saturday): Outdoor Casual
- Local Tour (Saturday): Casual with comfortable walking shoes
- Chairman’s Dinner Dance (Saturday): Rad 80’s Rock Attire or Dressy Casual
***Please note, you must wear your conference badge and bring a valid ID to each of the events. Any badge swapping will result in dismissal from the event***
FUN STUFF
Expo Extras
We will feature refreshment stations as well as a relaxation station during the expo. We’ll also have Happy Hour during the final hour of the expo. All badge-wearing attendees of Southern Innovations are welcome…and did we mention it’s complimentary?!
Al Finch Memorial Prayer Breakfast
We invite SEPC members and family to join us in worship and fellowship on Sunday morning during our SEPC Prayer Breakfast.
Exhibitor Toolkit
Your Welcome to Online Ordering email from eventservices@ags-expo.com provides access to your online hub and exhibitor kit. The exhibitor toolkit is also on 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.
Speakers
EDUCATIONAL SESSION
Join us to take an in-depth look at all that is new in the ever-evolving world of fresh produce. SEPC and Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics have teamed up to bring you the latest consumer perceptions about innovations in four growth areas. We will unveil the key research insights in combination with consumer interviews and best-in-class retail pictures from around the world. These valuable insights can help shape your business strategies and product offerings going into 2025. Between the four sections, we will have interactive table discussions, encouraging participants to engage with each other, share insights and experiences, and begin to identify the 2025 fresh produce pockets of growth!
WOMEN'S LUNCHEON
The Enneagram & You
A personalized path to growth.
The Enneagram is a transformative personality system, offering a tailored approach to self-discovery and personal development. This ancient framework categorizes nine distinct personality types and serves as a roadmap to understanding one’s own core motivations, fears, and desires. During our time together, Dan’l and Megan will educate us about our individual types, addressing our fears and motivations. At the end of the session, we should feel informed and empowered to use the Enneagram on our journey to become a better version of ourselves.
MENTOR PROGRAM
Chairman's Dinner Dance
LET'S ROCK THE NIGHT AWAY!
Join us at Southern Innovations as we prepare to celebrate the leadership of the Council with a night filled with "Open Arms" and "Heat of the Moment" as we journey back to the electrifying era of '80s rock during the Chairman's Dinner Dance! Get ready to rock out to hits like "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Urgent" as we take you on a musical adventure with the music of Foreigner, Journey, and Asia.
Please Note: In order to secure your spot at this unforgettable '80s rock experience featuring the former lead singers of Foreigner, Journey, and Asia, tickets must be purchased during the registration process. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door, so be sure to reserve yours today to guarantee entry.
Don't miss out on this epic night of music and nostalgia—grab your tickets now and get ready to rock!
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!
Our office will be closed Monday, September 9th through Monday, September 16th. Please contact us with any questions at info@seproducecouncil.com. Be sure to visit our FAQs section of the Southern Innovations website for help during our absence.
SEE Y'ALL IN NASHVILLE!
Registration Opening Soon!
Community Updates
Our featured SEPC Cares charitable partner for September is Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. For the past few years, SEPC has been the Title Sponsor of the Strong4Life Superhero Sprint and gives away fresh, free produce to event attendees. All proceeds benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Strong4Life program, which helps Georgia families raise healthy, resilient kids. We invite you to join our team each year as we support this super benefit, or if you aren’t up for the run, but would like to help out, we would love for you to volunteer with us!
The Hope Grows Garden sponsored by the SEPC provides opportunities to use nature and the cultivation of plants as a living and breathing metaphor for the growth in our own lives.
Learn more about the garden and how you can support it with flowers, fruit trees, and butterfly gardens donated in honor or memory of loved ones
SoSA's BILLIONTH Pound Shared
This September, SoSA will share its BILLIONTH pound of food. A hunger relief milestone 45 years in the making, one billion pounds represents the hard work of gleaners, volunteers, and staff and the unwavering generosity of donors, farmers, and supporters.
For over four decades, SoSA’s mission has been to bring people together to harvest and share fresh, nutritious produce with neighbors in need. The tireless efforts of volunteers, farmers, donors, and partners have turned one billion pounds of produce that would have gone to waste into a blessing for countless families nationwide!
Each pound of food rescued speaks to the power we can have when we work together. SoSA’s mission is to build caring communities through sharing food, and each pound of produce tells a story of that connection. We want to hear your stories!
Thanks a Billion! ~ Lynette Johnson, Executive Director, Society of St. Andrew
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.
Congratulations to Kari Cordero of MDI for being the first to answer our August SEPC Fruit & Veggie Trivia Question correctly!
September Trivia Question
Be the first to answer correctly and win a $25 gift card!
What term refers to the process where vegetables’ enzymes and micro-organisms are neutralized during preservation, allowing them to be stored at ambient temperatures for extended periods?
Freezing
Fermenting
Canning
Drying
Contact us
242 North Masonic Street | Millen, GA 30442 | 877.720.SEPC (7372) | info@seproducecouncil.com