NEWPORT BEACH, CA - When I first joined the produce industry, I was taken aback by the community. Whenever we get the chance, we like to connect in person—and yes, we like to have some good food while we’re at it! Celebrating in style, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council (FPFC) brought back the FPFC Luau for the second time. I connected with 2022 FPFC Chair Kori Martin to learn more.
“The FPFC Luau is one of the few family events for our industry where they get to include their significant others and families. It brings out a network of produce and floral suppliers, wholesalers, growers, and buyers networking together for what felt like a last taste of summer on the sand with incredible entertainment and the Hawaiian spirit flowing just before heading into the fall season. We had retail attendees from Stater Bros, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, Vallarta, and Raley’s among many FPFC members,” Kori, Senior Sales Representative and Key Account Manager of Oppy, told me.
The event itself is meant to connect people in a fun way while simultaneously supporting the FPFC.
“It was an opportunity to share our personal lives with people we work with day in and day out and introduce our families to this incredible industry of people,” Kori added. “Our hope was to have an incredible evening by the bay in Newport Beach, right on the sand, to lift our spirits and connect each other to deepen the relationships in this hardworking industry—and that was exactly what was achieved!”
Finding a community is certainly a reason to celebrate! Not to mention the Hawaiian-style buffet dinner, shaved ice truck, Volkswagen photo booth, limbo contest, Hawaiian shirt contest, and dancing.
“We might have even seen a few of our own attempting to hula!” Kori said with a laugh. Now that I would have paid to see!
Be sure to swipe through our photo gallery of the event—you won’t want to miss seeing the folks who attended.
FPFC’s next event is the December Luncheon & Charity Auction on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. As always, stay tuned to us here at AndNowUKnow as we cover the latest events in the produce industry.
