CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - If you didn’t get your fill of Southern flavor at this year’s Southern Exposure, you’re in luck. Southern Innovations Symposium, the newly named Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) Fall Conference, will be this September 17–19, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina, focusing on the organization’s key pillars of networking, education, and community outreach. 

New to the conference this year is the Southern Innovations Bright Ideas Platform, essentially a mini version of a tradeshow, showcasing the best new and innovative ideas in produce. The Bright Ideas Platform will be held as part of the Southern Innovations Symposium on September 18 from 12:30pm to 3:00pm, and will give all attendees an opportunity to showcase and see new products and services that the industry has to offer. 

“Charleston will offer our guests the best in southern hospitality, while providing some of the best networking and education in the industry. The new Bright Ideas Platform is shaping up to showcase the best and innovative ideas produce has to offer, and we’re looking forward to providing our members with a fresh intimate networking platform from which to build their relationships and businesses,” said David Sherrod, SEPC Executive Director.  

The conference will host industry suppliers, retailers and foodservice attendees alike, and promises a new spin on industry exhibitions. According to a press release, the symposium will deliver events such as a general session, educational workshops, golf, inshore fishing, a Charleston plantation tour, team building for the ladies of Southern Roots, and the annual tailgate party. The weekend will also host special celebrity guests and a special donation to a local charity. 

All SEPC member companies are invited to apply to exhibit at the Bright Ideas Platform, but with only 50 spots available space will be on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be reviewed by the SEPC Education Committee and will need to fulfill the following requirements:

• The qualifying product or service must be scheduled to release to market between March 23, 2015 - December 14, 2015.
• The qualifying product or service must be new to the Southeast market area.

To register for the Southern Innovations Symposium or apply to exhibit at the Bright Ideas Platform, visit seproducecouncil.com.

Southeastern Produce Council