MONTEREY, CA – This week, the Organic Produce Summit announced, “Organic Sales, Analysis and the Why Behind the Buy,” the second of six educational sessions to be held during its 2018 event. Featuring representatives from research firm Nielsen and consumer insights company The Hartman Group, the session will provide a data dive into sales, trends, and analysis of organic fresh produce and examine consumer behavior and attitudes of the multi-billion-dollar category.
“The session features two of the most prestigious organizations involved with sales data collection and consumer purchasing behavior. Nielsen is a valuable partner for OPS and we look forward to their analysis of organic sales and trends as it relates to the opportunities for producers and sellers of organic fresh produce. The Hartman Group will provide insight into the thought process of consumers as they continue to seek out organic fresh produce offerings,” said Susan Canales, President of OPS, in a press release. “OPS attendees will obtain valuable information to what items consumers are buying–and seeking–from organic fresh produce suppliers. This session will benefit both the production and sales side of the organic fresh produce industry.”
The session will include panelists Jordan Rost, Vice President of Consumer Insights for Nielsen, and Melissa Abbott, Vice President of Culinary Insights for The Hartman Group, with Kevin Coupe of Morning News Beat acting as moderator. Along with providing analysis of organic sales, trends, opportunity gaps, and reasons why consumers are purchasing organic produce at record levels, the second session will also explore opportunities for even greater organic fresh produce sales in the coming years.
OPS has also recently announced the first educational session, “E-Grocery and the Future of Organic Fresh Produce at Retail,” which will provide an overview of the burgeoning e-grocery business, featuring panelists Tony Stallone, Vice President of Merchandising for Peapod; Dan Bourgault, Head of Brand Partnerships for Instacart; and Don Barnett, Chief Operating Officer for Sun Basket.
Additionally, OPS has also confirmed two keynote presentations by Ed Carolan, President of Campbell Fresh, and Dan Buettner, noted journalist and discoverer of Blue Zones.
This year’s event will also entail a selection of field tours for retailers and buyers, a gala opening night reception, and a sold-out trade show floor featuring 130 producers and processors of organic fresh produce from across North America and the globe.
Held July 11-12 at the Monterey Conference Center in Monterey California, the third annual, two-day OPS 2018 brings together organic fresh produce growers/shippers/processors and retailer and buying organizations from around the world.
OPS will continue to announce additional educational sessions and an exclusive Retailer RoundTable in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, for more information, click here.
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