Wrapping up a year back on the road in NY

AUSTIN—As I prepare to board my flight for the New York Produce Show, I’m reflecting on a year back on the road.

For many of us, 2022 represented a return to “normal,” travel, seeing face-to-face interactions, and experiencing the world of produce first-hand.

And I will never be more thankful for a few delayed flights, and a few nights in hotels.

In New York, pre-show events kicked off Nov. 29 with Foundational Excellence Cornell University Future-Leaders-in-Produce Program, followed by the Global Trade Symposium on Nov. 30.

The bulk of what I’m seeing on social media is industry colleagues traveling to New York for programming on Dec. 1 and 2 at the Javits Center.

Education sessions include a panel of retail experts — women in produce, likely not a coincidence — including Marianne Santo of Wakefern Food Corp., Mary Mitchell of FreshDirect, Caitlin Tierney of Sprouts Farmers Market, Lisa Hellman of H-E-B (and also co-founder of Brighter Bites), moderated by Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Concurrent with the trade show are two tracks of education sessions, one focused on university research into consumer behavior, CEA lettuce, local produce, category management, food waste, and risk management. The other is focused on industry insights pertaining to wholesalers, food banks, supply chain, foodservice, CEA, and managing family business.

There’s a little something for everyone.

It goes without saying this edition of the New York Produce Show will be different with the unexpected passing of founder Jim Prevor a few weeks ago.

I’m hoping the event will be more of a vibrant, larger-than-life celebration of an industry icon rather than a somber affair.

I hope to see you there. Find me or my colleague Frank Sanchez at booth 301.