MONTEREY, CA - As we shuffle our produce calendars around, the Organic Produce Summit has welcomed a new, seasoned voice to its list of keynote presenters that could further sway you to make room for the Monterey, California, event this summer.

Geoff White, President of Albertson’s Own Brands, including the bestselling O organic brand, has been announced as the third keynote presenter, joining Ed Carolan, President of Campbell Fresh, and Dan Buettner, noted journalist, author, and discoverer of Blue Zones.

“We’re honored to have Geoff as a major participant at OPS this year. Geoff is a true visionary and recognized as an inspiring leader for the entire organic produce industry,” said Susan Canales, President of the Organic Produce Summit, in a press release. “Our attendees will be treated to a tremendous overview of how one of the largest retailers in the world approaches organic fresh produce—and what lies ahead in the ever changing retail landscape.”

White has nearly 40 years of retail experience, having started as a General Clerk in Burnaby, British Columbia, in 1981 before moving up to positions of increasing responsibility over the next 17 years. He was eventually named Director of Canadian Produce Operations, where he was responsible for all produce sales, marketing, and merchandising, spanning western Canada with 210 stores.

In December of 2004, White was named to a Group Director position at the Safeway corporate office, moving up to Vice President of Produce, then Senior Vice President, and over the next five years led several functions including Dairy, Frozen, Deli/Food Service, Branded Concepts, Produce and Floral. In 2015, he was named the SVP of Marketing and Merchandising for the Northern California Division.

In his current position leading Own Brands, White is responsible for furthering the growth, development, and innovation of the company’s Own Brands products, including:

• O Organics
• Lucerne
• Open Nature
• Signature™ extensive line of products

White also oversees Albertson’s Culinary Kitchen and Technical Center.

Each of the speakers will deliver a TedTalk presentation that will be followed by a Retailer Roundtable, focused exclusively on the organic fresh produce industry. Supporting the keynote presentations and Retailer Roundtable, the third annual OPS will offer is a series of six educational sessions, featuring informative and engaging topics benefiting those on both the production and sales sides of the organic fresh produce industry.

Taking place July 11-12 at the Monterey Conference Center, a sold-out exhibition will showcase 130 of North America’s organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors, exhibiting products to over 200 retailers and buyers.

Field tours at several of the nation’s leading organic producers are also available for qualified retailers and wholesalers at OPS.

OPS