SAN FRANCISCO, CA - It’s a wrap for United Fresh’s 3^rd annual BrandStorm, and another great year it was! With over 225 attendees–nearly doubling the attendance since its first year in 2015–produce members experienced marketing and packaging inspiration from engaging panelists and show floor offerings. Here’s what some of this year’s industry members had to say.

“BrandStorm comes at a great time of year to energize your creativity, to meet up with fellow industry marketers, network, and add new tools to your produce marketing toolboxes!” Elana Hernandez, Duda Farm Fresh Food's Marketing Manager, tells me about the event. “A huge thank you to the United Fresh team for organizing an event that our industry was definitely needing!”

Over the course of two days, attendees were able to receive inspiration from packaging experts, learn how to differentiate their brands through storytelling, and focus on leveraging dates to support their budgets and grow their marketing ROI as produce marketers from across the industry gathered under one cloud.

“BrandStorm has emerged as the industry’s 'must attend' marketing event of the year!” 4Earth Farms' Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mark Munger, shares. “The topics ranged from emotional marketing and brand storytelling, to intelligent packaging and cutting-edge marketing trends. As an experienced marketer, I am returning back to my office with a notebook full of notes and my head full of tangible marketing and communication ideas. Education and ideas aside, the best part of the BrandStorm experience was the opportunity to network and build community with my fellow fresh produce marketers. I am already looking forward to BrandStorm 2018!”

BrandStorm kicked off day two of the event by hosting an unprecedented panel of produce industry marketing firm principles who, for one hour, shared candid, provocative, and sometimes uncomfortable realities of marketing in our industry. Their insights and suggestions for how we can move forward and improve our stories set the tone for the day and raised the bar for the industry. This year's panelists included:

• Dan'l Mackey Almy, President & CEO of DMA Solutions, Inc.
• Karen Nardozza, President & CEO of Moxxy
• Mike Caplan, Co-Founder of Fiction Tribe
• Missy McDill, CEO/Creative Director of McDill Associates
• Steven Muro, President of Fusion Marketing

“The keynote speaker was exceptional, the panel discussion was relevant and lively, and the intimate size of the conference allows for high-quality discussions with experts in the fresh industry,” Moxxy Marketing's President & CEO, Karen Nardozza, tells me. "For produce marketers looking to elevate their knowledge and improve the impact of their marketing, BrandStorm has become a don’t-miss learning and networking event."

With the conclusion of this year’s BrandStorm, everyone seems to agree: the industry is abuzz with excitement to get home, go through their notes, and start implementing their 'ah-ha' ideas.

For those who couldn’t make it this year, not to worry! The 4^th annual BrandStorm planning is underway and the United Fresh Produce Marketing and Merchandising Council will continue to contribute to the development of the event in order to create a unique opportunity by the industry, for the industry.

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United Fresh