From March 6 – 8, 2025 the Southeastern Produce Council (SEPC) held their annual Southern Exposure event, themed Produce Means Family. The theme was inspired by the warm and inclusive spirit of Hawaii. For the very first time, SEPC took place at the Orlando World Center Marriott hotel.
The event seems to break attendance record after record. This year, a total of 3,354 people traveled to Orlando to spend time with their produce family. While the climate and proximity to Disney attractions are a big plus, there's more that makes this event special. "The magic is to have everything under one roof," says Harold Paivarinta with Red Sun Farms. "Over the course of three days, you bump into buyers all the time." A total of 659 buyers came to Orlando this year to spend time with their suppliers.
The three-day networking event started with the Tom Page Golf Classic on Thursday, March 6. Friday was filled with educational sessions, lunch meetings, and an opening gala. Saturday, the final day, kicked off with a keynote brunch and an afternoon trade show where 307 exhibitors showed their products and met up with industry friends, colleagues, and buyers one more time.
Click here for the photo report from the show.
Highest number of exhibitors
Adjacent to the Orlando World Center Marriott hotel was the conference center. It was very convenient to walk from the hotel straight to the conference area. The new venue allowed for a slightly higher number of exhibitors compared to years past while still keeping enough space for attendees to mingle and sit down. While this show isn't necessarily the event where new products are launched, some new greenhouse grown tomato varieties were introduced and a convenient mango product called organic mango fries caught the eye. Mostly, growers are excited for their domestic growing seasons to kick off.
"SEPC did it again," said Paivarinta. Kellee Harris with The Giumarra Companies added how consistent the event is. "It was very well attended, we saw the buyers we wanted to see, and we certainly get business out if it," she said. "It's the complete package that makes this event special," added Giumarra's Gary Caloroso. "The SEPC Lifetime Membership Award and Terry Vorhees Lifetime Achievement Award are a big part of that and it was great to see these awards go to Mike Casazza and Kent Kuwata from the west coast, who have done so much for the council."
Next year, Southern Exposure will be back to this same venue in Orlando, but it will take place slightly earlier, from February 26 until March 1, 2026.
Click here to see the photo report from the show.
