What People Are Saying About the Organic Produce Summit

Excitement is building as the third annual Organic Produce Summit kicks off next week in Monterey, CA. More than 250 retailers and buyers will join over 1,200 attendees for two days of education and networking opportunities, exploring new and exciting trends and products emerging in the organic fresh produce category.

Several organic fresh produce industry leaders confirmed to attend OPS weighed in with their thoughts as the summit approaches:

Randy Riley, Kroger’s’ director of merchandising is “…grateful for the opportunity the Summit provides each year for us to connect with some of our most critical suppliers. This year, like most, we want to make sure the industry understands how grateful we are for our combined success, and how committed we are to be growing our business through theirs.” 

Randy Riley, Kroger’s’ director of merchandising

Stemilts Director of Marketing, Roger Pepperl said “organic is part of our history and culture. The OPS is getting big and I like the opportunity to talk one on one with people about the supply chain. Organic is who we are, and we want to meet people who are just like us at this show. The best is yet to come!”

Roger Pepperl, Stemilts Director of Marketing

Ken Reagan, vice president of sales and marketing at State Garden/ Olivia’s Organic is excited to “connect with retailers to see what directions they’re trending towards not just organic salads but in their overall “going forward” business plans for their produce departments.”  

Ken Reagan, vice president of sales and marketing for State Garden/Olivia’s Organics

Don Barnett, Sun Basket’s’ COO, said “Sun Basket is on a mission to make healthy eating personalized, easy and delicious.  I’m always on the lookout to find partners who share our vision.  Through smart collaboration, we can accelerate our vision.  There are so many creative people with great ideas, I hope to tap into these at OPS and find ways to further our collective objectives.”   

Don Barnett, Sun Basket’s’ COO

Award-winning nutrition expert, Ashley Koff is eager to moderate her educational panel where “you can get the information you need transform your outcomes to better ones for the benefit of the entire organic industry and your specific work. If I do my job effectively, the end result will be both panelists and audience members learning and sharing their knowledge.”

Ashley Koff RD, Award-winning nutrition expert 

British Columbia greenhouse grower Raymond Wong, from Origin Organics said “This summit has become one of THE destinations for the organic industry. It’s important to talk to the retailers and display our products and let them know how unique we are.”

Raymond Wong, Origin Organics grower