SALINAS, CA - The countdown has begun as the industry prepares to converge in Orlando, Florida, for the International Fresh Produce Association’s (IFPA) first Global Produce & Floral Show.
No matter where you are in your produce events journey—experienced and comfortable, still shaking off the pandemic-pausing hiatus on gatherings, or completely new to the expo scene—even the best of us have forgotten our business cards or our noise-canceling headphones. A checklist is crucial for even the most seasoned produce traveler, and I can think of no better lead to follow than that of someone who has walked 300-plus trade floors.
“Every good pilot, no matter how many flights they have taken, pulls out their flight list before each takeoff,” Rex Lawrence, Founder of Joe Produce Search, shares with me. “Likewise, I have a list I keep in a specific drawer before I head out on business trips.”
Rex was at every Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit from 1989 to 2019, only missing the shows that were canceled. Even with 30-plus years and more than 300 produce shows of experience, though, he still refers to his packing and prep list—which is laminated.
“With everything already going on, it is very easy for the most basic things to go by the way-side, especially things that cannot be taken care of the night before you leave. Like your dry-cleaning, for example,” Rex reminds me.
With the clock ticking on having our bags packed, our smiles prepared, and our backups in place, below is a downloadable PDF to the very list Rex and his circle of produce experts reference before they are wheels up.
From our team to yours, happy and safe travels to Orlando, Florida, and the inaugural Global Produce & Floral Show.
