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Fresh connections: this year's Fresh Summit promises innovation, education and top-notch speakers to inform and inspire.

Article Excerpt
AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER, retailers, produce growers and distributors, buyers and sellers will converge for one of the largest international events solely dedicated to fruits, vegetables and floral in North America. As they enter the doors of the 2009 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Anaheim, Calif., they will discover innovative new products,

Hosted by the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Fresh Summit annually draws more than 17,000 attendees from more than 50 countries. This year's convention will also feature 800 exhibitors showing off their wares and offering to help retailers. Held at the Anaheim Convention Center, the 2009 Fresh Summit includes appearances by Condoleeza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, David Plouffe, President Obama's 2008 campaign manager and workplace innovator Kevin Carroll, author and founder of Katalyst Consultancy.

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This year Fresh Summit will also offer 18 educational workshops on hot topics, including marketing to consumers in a new economy, food safety and management leadership. A Produce Traceability Learning Center in the exhibition hall will offer a one-stop resource to help retailers and their supply chain partners move to electronic case coding of produce.

Additionally, the PMA convention's perennially sold-out exhibition hall features the latest products and services in produce and retail floral. It also gives exhibitors and attendees an insightful educational program covering the burning issues facing the industry.

Retailers from around the globe--from Wal-Mart to New Zealand's Woolworths Supermarkets--are expected to attend.

PMA positions itself as "the leading global trade association serving the entire produce and floral supply chains by enhancing the marketing of produce, floral, and related products and services worldwide." PMA members include buyers and sellers from every segment of the produce and floral supply chain. The organization advocates for the industry in Washington, D.C. and calls itself "the industry source" for late-breaking news, information on industry trends, consumer and industry research, education and networking opportunities, and industry standards and technologies.

The following represents a roundup of some of the show exhibitors and what attendees will discover...