NASHVILLE, TN - Walking the glistening, neon-lit street of Broadway in Music City, with live music pouring out of every doorway, and seeing people connecting and enjoying the atmosphere, it’s easy to remember what makes this industry shine.
Such is the warmth left from a few days in Nashville, Tennessee, for Southeast Produce Council’s 2026 Southern Innovations, which moved from the Gaylord to the heart of the city itself at the Music City Center.
SEPC hosted 208 exhibitors, with over 320 self-registered retail, foodservice, and wholesale buyers ready to join the event.
The show's opening acts came early. Wednesday morning sent early risers out to the Founders Memorial Golf Tournament at Hermitage Golf Course, the Martin Eubanks Sporting Clays Classic at Nashville Gun Club, and the Cool Cucumber Classic Pickleball Tournament—a trio of tournaments that balanced competition and Southern hospitality.
And the first evening belonged to the Welcome Reception in the Karl F. Dean Grand Ballroom, where SEPC leaned fully into this year's theme—the grit of Broadway meeting the glow of the produce industry's future.
"Southern Innovations has become a powerful catalyst for our industry because it puts innovation at the center of the conversation. It’s not simply about showcasing new products," David Sherrod, President and CEO, Southeast Produce Council. "It’s about bringing together people, ideas, technologies and solutions that are shaping the future of produce. The success of Southern Innovations reflects our industry’s appetite for progress and our collective commitment to finding better ways to grow, move, market and ultimately drive more fresh produce consumption. That is what makes this event truly distinct.”
Thursday shifted the week into education mode. SEPC University opened the morning with Anne-Marie Roerink, President of 210 Analytics, debuting the council's sixth annual "What's New?" consumer research session with information that had attendees buzzing through the rest of the day.
From there, the morning turned toward the horizon with futurist Mike Lee, Principal of The Future Market, completing a morning framed by a scope of where the industry stands today against where it's headed next. Midday brought the Good Seeds & Southern Roots Keynote Luncheon, featuring New York Times bestselling author Ryan Leak, who gave the crowd inspiration, wisdom, and a renewed commitment to lean into failure as an opportunity to “level up.”
“Southern Innovations is designed to look around the corner and to anticipate where our industry is going. We want to create a platform that helps our members get there. As we look toward 2027 and beyond, we will continue to challenge ourselves to make the show more immersive, more experiential and more connected to the innovations transforming every part of the fresh produce supply chain," Raina Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, Southeast Produce Council. "Our vision is for Southern Innovations to be the place where the next great idea is discovered, the next meaningful connection is made, and the future of our industry begins to take shape. We’re not just showcasing what’s new, we are helping to define what’s next.”
The afternoon kept the momentum going with a hands-on Working Genius Workshop led by husband-and-wife facilitation team Clark and Susan Ann Roper, giving attendees a chance to put the luncheon's ideas into practice.
Thursday closed out with the Chairman's Dinner Dance, themed "An Evening of Stars, Stripes, and Spirit"—a tribute, per SEPC, to the resilience and hard work behind both the American farmer and the American dream.
“Another great show in Nashville. The educational sessions were outstanding, and the trade show itself was top-notch. Connecting with suppliers, other retailers, and the very important tech sector was second to none in this smaller setting. Hats off to Dave Sherrod and his team for pulling it all together yet again!” Chris Keetch, Director of Produce and Floral for The GIANT Company, shared.
Friday closed the gathering by handing the floor over to the exhibitors themselves. Retail and foodservice buyers got an exclusive early hour with Gold and Silver Level exhibitors before the Exposition officially opened, centering on the Wall of Innovations showcase—SEPC's curated look at the newest products, packaging, and technology hitting the market.
Celebrations included not only the official graduation of this year's STEP-UPP class, but also the Unseen Hero Award recipients.
Congratulations to the Unseen Heroes
- Grower/Shipper: Charlie Meadows of L&M
- Foodservice: Estera Pawlik of US Foods
- Retail: Casey Sanborn of Harps Food Stores
As Saturday brought the week to a quieter close with SEPC's traditional Al Finch Memorial Prayer Breakfast, it was the perfect send-off to cap off a dynamic few days together in Music City.
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Southeast Produce Council
The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) is a member-driven, non-profit association of more than 2,500 leaders from all…
