Consolidated trade show, reorganized education sessions on tap for PMA Fresh Summit 2012

The 2012 Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Oct. 26-28 will feature a consolidated trade show for exhibitors and education sessions designed to promote conversation among those with like and focused interests.

The 2012 exhibitors’ Expo has been shortened from three days to two. Previously running Saturday through Monday, the show will instead be open Saturday and Sunday with about 900 exhibitors on 670,000 square feet of floor space at California’s Anaheim Convention Center.

“Ninety percent of the Fresh Summit Expo exhibitors requested that we take Monday away because it only attracted about 34 percent of attendees,” said Meg Miller, PMA public relations director. “This modification allows companies to spend more show time effectively and efficiently and it reduces Expo hours by only one-and-a-half hours.”

It’s one of several changes in store for PMA’s annual fall trade show, expected to attract more than 18,500 attendees  — about 43 percent of them buyers — representing 60 countries from around the world.

Education sessions have been consolidated to one day — Friday — and structured around what PMA is calling “communities of interest.” Those categories include Food Safety and Technology, Business Innovation and Leadership, Global Trade and Trends and Marketing and Sales.

This year’s New Product Showcase will feature a new “Just 4 Kids” corner.

“There are so many companies coming out with products that are geared toward increasing consumption with kids, and a lot of the packages that are being crafted are kid-friendly,” Miller said. “They’re going to be separating out the ones specifically geared for the kids.”

The deadline to register and receive an early discount is Sept. 21. Advance registration cutoff is Oct. 12. To inquire about exhibit space, contact George Szczepanski at [email protected].

For assistance with registration or obtaining a visa, email to [email protected] or phone 302-738-7100. Other information is at www.freshsummit.com.