MILLEN, GA - In a year marked by changes, The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has announced that its Southern Exposure event dates will be changed from February 25­–27, 2021 to April 6–8, 2021. The decision was strategically made by the SEPC Executive Committee to ensure safety and that retail and foodservice members were able to attend the event.

“When presented with the opportunity to adjust show dates, we recognized the increased potential to host an in-person event with Southern Exposure 2021. Most organizations’ travel restrictions extend through the first quarter of 2021. Moving the dates to April could allow increased SEPC members to gather and maximize the value of in-person interactions, albeit at a socially distant and safe environment,” said Harold Paivarinta, Director of Sales and Business Development at Red Sun Farms and SEPC Chairman of the Board. “Overwhelming feedback from our membership strongly supported an in-person event over the current trend of virtual shows. It’s a face-to-face industry built on traditional connections. Screen time is working fine in our daily duties but cannot deliver on the connections the SEPC is renowned for.”

Health and safety for Southern Exposure attendees, exhibitors, and staff were top priorities of SEPC as it took to planning this year’s event. According to a press release, the council is working alongside Walt Disney Wold Swan and Dolphin Resort to implement enhanced health and safety measures which are laid out on the company’s website.

“We are excited to reunite at a venue that has proven itself as a protected space during the pandemic. These Disney hotels, where Southern Exposure will take place in April, were host to the NBA teams and their families during the reimagined 2020 season. Disney has proven to be effective in operating safely, and we have been working closely with their teams to ensure a safe and successful Southern Exposure 2021,” explained David Sherrod, SEPC President and CEO.

Registration is open for this year’s Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, and SEPC Members are encouraged to sign up soon as the council is expecting strong attendance.

“We have already been encouraged by the strong attendance numbers we were seeing for February despite COVID-19, including sold-out exhibit space. Rescheduling is the right decision to better serve our retailers and foodservice members who are currently under travel bans. We were fortunate to experience an extremely successful Southern Exposure 2020 just as COVID-19 was beginning to affect our industry and nation,” continued Sherrod. “We are beyond thrilled to host Southern Exposure: The Rise of Produce, and we are committed to making this year better than ever. This Star Wars themed experience in April will surely be an intergalactic success. Stringent safety measures and social distancing solutions will ensure the force is with us for a reunion that will be out of this world!”

Those interested in attending can click here to register. Those who are not able to attend in Quarter two will be able to utilize the SEPC Virtual Garden where buyers can connect in real time with onsite exhibitors.

As the excitement mounts, we here at ANUK look forward to seeing what Southern Exposure has to offer at this year’s event.

Southeast Produce Council