The Southeast Produce Council offers many programs and services designed to meet our member’s business needs, as well as, provide our members community support with scholarship opportunities and charitable community contributions in the southeast.

Customized Training:

We believe that training should be developed based upon each members needs. We offer one on one consultation with you to develop the right training program.  As a regional non profit trade association we can bring this training to you in the Southeast states in which you operate. Whether it’s training for your in store associates, foodservice sales rep’s, merchandising staff, or warehouse quality control staff “we listen” and provide you with the tools you need to meet your objectives.

 

Educational Road Show Program:

Through our Educational Road Shows we provide information pertaining to our industries current trends and issues. Food safety, sustainability and merchandising trends have been the topics of some of our past road shows. These events are held in various cites each year in the Southeast.


STEP-UPP (Southeast Training & Education Program for Upcoming Produce Professionals)

New in 2010 the objective of STEP-UPP is to provide an enriched learning experience for high potential retail and foodservice produce professionals so they can develop a greater understanding of the industry through an emphasis on development of strategic orientation, personal leadership and hands on field experience.

Potential candidates must belong to organizations that are currently members of the Southeast Produce Council. Each class will be made up of 12 individuals that have been selected through an application and interview process based on their leadership potential and interest in developing a career path in fresh produce.

There is no age limit, but applicants should be employed in an entry to middle management position in a related retail or foodservice role such as: produce manager, produce merchandiser, category manager or produce buyer. 

STEP-UPP Registration 2010

STEP-UPP Application (Word .doc)

STEP-UPP 2011 Training Schedule

 

 

Produce Inspection Training:

Our Produce Inspection Training Program will be offered starting in 2010. The training will be in May and October.The two day course is intended for quality control personnel, produce buyers, inventory control personnel and other company associates involved in the receiving, handling, buying and shipping of fresh produce.

A certificate of completion is awarded to each attendee who completes both the spring and fall courses.

 

Conferences & Expositions:

Southern Exposure, our annual conference and expo offers an interactive trade show along with educational field tours as well as workshops on industry trends and issues. Southern Exposure is limited to a small number of exhibitors so each exhibitor as well as the attendees has ample time to interact.

“Friendly people, focused event. Large enough to be cost effective, small enough to be people effective” Robert Van Liew, Director of Produce, Associated Wholesalers, Inc.

Our annual Fall Conference is a smaller conference which provides several educational components. Directors are elected at the fall conference and the annual “State of the Council” address is presented by the Council’s President. The Ken Lanhardt Memorial Golf Tournament is held at each Fall Conference. Ken was one of the founding members of the SPC. Funds raised from the tournament are used to support charitable causes in our Southeast communities.

Member Scholarship Program:

We are very proud of our annual member scholarship program. In the early beginnings of the SPC the scholarship program awarded ten annual $500.00 scholarships to our members, their sons and daughters and their grandchildren. Currently we provide ten annual $2000.00 scholarships.