MONTEREY, CA - As members across the industry wait with bated breath for the Organic Produce Summit 2021, taking place September 15–16 in Monterey, California, the first of four educational sessions has been released as a teaser for the event.

Examining and discussing the growth of indoor-grown fresh produce and its impact on organically grown fruits and vegetables, Growth of CEA and Its Impact on Organic Fresh Produce will be moderated by Walter Robb, former CEO of Whole Foods, and will feature leaders from three Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) producers including Philip Karp, President, Shenandoah Growers; Marc Oshima, Co-Founder, AeroFarms; and Caitlin Tierney, Director of Business Development, Mastronardi Produce.

“Indoor agriculture is increasingly playing a more meaningful role in our fresh produce supply, in terms of volume, variety, and geographical footprint,” said Robb. “The ability of indoor ag to provide predictability and resiliency for supply, coupled with its lower impact on both the environment and resource use, is drawing substantial interest from both investors and consumers. Clearly the future will be a hybrid one, and our panel will explore how quickly and responsibly this will happen.”

With CEA becoming a $100 billion-plus industry, the leaders will share their insights on the growth of the emerging market segment and how these products are reshaping the industry landscape. According to a press release, the session will also focus on the obstacles and challenges faced by CEA today and what it will mean for the future of the organic fresh produce industry.

Other educational sessions and keynote presenters at OPS 2021 will be announced in the coming weeks. The event will also include a selection of field tours for retailers and buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a sold-out trade show floor with over 150 producers and processors of organic produce from across the globe.

Over 1,000 fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors with retailer and buying organizations are expected to be in attendance at the two-day event. To register to attend, click here.

Be sure to keep checking back with AndNowUKnow as we share the latest updates for OPS 2021.

Organic Produce Summit