NEWPORT, CA - I always feel there's something special about hosting the industry in my own backyard. It has the childhood excitement of a sleepover mixed with the possibilities of fresh connections and beginnings. When I visit a new area, it is always with wonder that I admire the local fare to those who call it home. For those who enjoyed a nautical evening in Newport, California's Balboa Bay last weekend, such a gift was given back to me as the Fresh Produce & Floral Council hosted its annual Dinner Dance.

"What a great event, it's always great to get people from the produce and floral industry together to catch up and have a delightful and entertaining evening!" Ryan Sanchez, FPFC Board of Directors and Produce Sales Manager at Albertsons, shared with me as we reflected on the evening as a whole.

With suppliers from all over, as well as retail attendance including Stater Bros, Save Mart, Gelson's, Bristol Farms, Raley's, Grocery Outlet, Northgate Market, Cardenas, Albertsons, Super King's Markets, and more, the one-night event was one that drew fantastic industry energy to the California coast.

"This year, as the Dinner Dance Committee Chair, I challenged my committee to bring forward new and fresh ideas for the event. Boy, did they deliver!" Blair Butterworth, Key Account Manager at Fresh Gourmet, shared with me. "We took the Dinner Dance down to the beautiful Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, and the event drew in over 330 attendees! The programming included the passing of the gavel from Past Chair Michael Schutt to Kristen Reid, the 2024 Chair of FPFC, all a part of an evening that was a nautical night to remember!"

As we awaited a delicious and high-energy dinner, old acquaintances met new ones, and the industry caught up on life and work for the first time (for many) since the year kicked off.

Laughter and chatter rang throughout the Balboa Bay Club until the xylophone sounded and the doors opened for us all to find our tables and new conversations.

It was a joy to see Michael Schutt of Bay Area Herbs & Specialties reflect on achievements and accomplishments as he moved into his new role as Immediate Past Chair, literally passing a gavel to Kristen Reid of MIXTEC Group and the new Chair for FPFC—and kudos to Kristen for using said gavel! As she stepped into the role and took the podium, her excitement on what is to come was infectious and complemented the evening'sCouncil'sCouncil's festive mood.

Finally, Blair and Ryan took the stage together for a fun raffle that started a winning enthusiasm among the crowd, which carried into the casino setup that awaited us after the dinner plates were cleared.

With the rest of the Saturday night to enjoy monopoly-moneyed roulette, poker, and more when not on the dance floor, it was certainly a great night to be a member of an industry that is just as much about the people as it is the produce!

The industry's event calendar is officially in motion, and with such a strong start, I am optimistic about what we have in store for us as the industry gathers throughout 2024.