Presenting a stimulating topic to start a session’s unleashing of solution-minded ideas is a challenge Ben Campbell has lived up to for many years as a speaker and presenter at the New York Produce Show. This year, the Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, from the University of Georgia will present “Decoding Consumers’ Views and Perceptions of Produce and Translating Them to Increased Sales.”
“My topic will focus on how consumers view produce in general, view new technologies, and how we can use those views to shape the produce narrative and increase consumption,” says Campbell, a returning NYPS speaker and a favorite among show attendees.
The educational session will take place at 11:45 a.m. on the Industry Insights Stage during the New York Produce Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, December 6th.
Following Campbell’s presentation, a panel of innovative retail leaders will join in a dynamic discussion around driving overall produce consumption.
This retail-focused, deep-dive approach to consumer thinking as related to produce consumption will be managed by Kat Britt, Produce Buyer, The Turnip Truck Natural Market of Nashville; Jim Hancock, Vice President Divisional Merchandise Manager, Produce and Floral, Sam’s Club, Bentonville; Alan Hartline, Owner, Kingma’s Market, Grand Rapids; Martha Hilton, VP Produce and Floral, Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester; and Mike Roberts, VP of Produce Operations, Harps Food Stores, Springdale, AR.
Moderating the diverse group of panelists ranging from small independent stores to Sam’s Club and Wegmans is Wendy Reinhardt-Kapsak, MS, RDN, President and CEO of International Food Information Council, Washington, DC.
Now in its 14th year, the New York Produce Show and Conference was designed to include valuable educational sessions enabling audience members to learn from and profit from ideas shared by industry experts and thought leaders from all backgrounds serving markets of all sizes. Educational sessions at the NYPS on the Industry Insights Stage run throughout the day on the same floor as the exhibitions are located. Increasing produce consumption is the continuous theme.
