MONTEREY, CA - Plastic waste is a hot topic many in our industry have at the top of their minds but don’t quite know how to tackle. The Organic Produce Summit (OPS) is ensuring that members have the necessary tools in their back pockets with the revelation of its keynote speaker, Plastic Bank’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer David Katz, for the Empowering the World to Stop Ocean Plastic presentation at its OPS 2022.

“We continue to learn about the small amount of plastic that is actually recycled across the globe and how much plastic winds up in the world’s oceans,” said Susan Canales, President of the Organic Produce Summit. “The work of Plastic Bank is helping to stop ocean plastic while reducing poverty by enabling the exchange of waste plastic for money, goods, and services. OPS attendees will learn about David’s work across the globe and how we can reduce our need for virgin plastic while creating lasting environmental, social, and economic impact.”

According to the release, Katz will deliver a presentation on how Plastic Bank and the world’s most progressive companies are stewarding the collection of ocean-bound plastic waste and empowering communities to thrive. Plastic Bank allows people living in poverty to collect plastic and trade it in for material goods such as school tuition, medical insurance, internet access, and cooking fuel. The recycled plastic is reborn as Social Plastic™ feedstock and used in the production of products and packaging—thus helping create new life for old plastic.

Katz joins John Ruane, Senior Vice President and Chief Omnichannel Merchandising Officer for The GIANT Company, as the second keynote speaker at the trade show.

In addition to the pair of keynote presentations, a series of educational sessions at OPS 2022 will focus on sustainability, the growing importance of CEA (controlled environment agriculture), regenerative organic agriculture, branded vs. private label organic offerings, and organics in an era of inflation and consumer purchasing behavior.

The sixth annual event will be held July 13–14 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey, California, and is specifically designed to bring together organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors with retail and buying organizations from across North America. A selection of field tours for qualified retailers and buyers will also be offered, along with a gala opening night reception and a sold-out trade show floor featuring over 150 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the globe.

Registration to attend OPS 2022 is available here.

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Organic Produce Summit