Education & Networking
AFFI-CON offers attendees industry specific education and training and a robust set of networking opportunities. All events are included in the price of registration unless otherwise noted below.
Attendees Include:
Importer Regulatory Compliance and Fundamental Food Safety Training
Wednesday, February 22 – Friday, February 24, 2023
Registration Add-On: $250/person
Taking place in advance of AFFI-CON 2023, this workshop is designed to help train importers and their foreign manufacturers serving the United States on the market’s regulatory obligations and the foundational elements of a robust food safety program. food safety requirements.
Importers of frozen fruits and vegetables into the United States need to be well versed in the liability they assume with import transactions and compliance requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Action (FSMA). This pre-conference workshop has been developed for importers of frozen fruits and vegetables so they can become well-versed in compliance requirements with FSMA-related rules.
Frozen Food Buyers Mission
Saturday, February 25 – Monday, February 27, 2023
Food Export, in conjunction with AFFI, will conduct a Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON 2023. This is the perfect opportunity for suppliers of product with at least 50 percent U.S. agricultural origin to meet qualified buyers from around the world. These buyers of frozen food represent retailers, wholesalers, distributors and foodservice.
For more information, please contact Food Export USA Program Assistant Teresa Miller at tmiller@foodexport.org.
Saturday, February 25, 2023 (PST)
Lunch & Learn: Frozen’s Economic Trends
Speaker:
Food and Agricultural Economist, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue University
Welcome Back to San Diego Reception
We want to welcome everyone back to San Diego, a long-time home of AFFI-CON. This reception kicks off the conference and sets the tone for four successful days of business meetings and education. Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres before heading out to dinner with your current and potential clients.
Sunday, February 26, 2023 (PST)
Importer Briefing
The briefing will include special guest speakers from the FDA’s Investigations Branch for the Division of West Coast Imports (DWCI) who will provide additional regulatory perspective:
- Gordon Chu, Director of Investigations Branch
- Keeshunna Daniels, Supervisor
- Anita Liu, Supervisor
- David Serrano, Compliance Officer
Lunch & Learn: Annual Meeting and State of the Frozen Fruit and Vegetable Industry
Following the Annual Meeting, our guest speaker will give a detailed analysis of frozen industry market research
Speaker:
210 Analytics
AFFI’s latest market research report Frozen Fruits and Vegetables – Perceptions, Usage, and Expectations among U.S. Consumers and SNAP-Eligible Households provides insight on frozen fruit and vegetable shoppers to understand:
- Who they are
- Where they shop
- What they buy
- Why they buy
- Applications
- Perceptions
- The influence of innovation and claims
- Supply chain impact
- Pain points and opportunities
Overlayed with IRI retail sales data, this latest research provides an in-depth understanding of “the why” behind frozen fruit and vegetable purchases.
Women’s Networking Happy Hour
Join the women of the frozen food industry to celebrate their contributions and engage in thought-provoking networking.
Dueling Piano Bash
Registration Add-On – $100/person (must be 21+)
Join us for a celebration of the frozen food industry at San Diego’s best live music venue. The dueling piano show will consist of two piano players, performing at face to face grand pianos. The performances will be high energy and audience participation is strongly encouraged.
The show is request driven by the audience and the performers play everything from classic rock hits, to modern rap songs and everything in-between – so make sure you have a song request in mind!
This event will be limited to 265 total registrants, so register early. This is a great after dinner event to attend with your business partners.
We are offering ten (10) $2,000 sponsorships of the event where you can get your brand out in front of AFFI-CON attendees and receive a block of 10 tickets that you can give to out before or during AFFI-CON. Contact Brian Peteritas, Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing for details.
Monday, February 27, 2023 (PST)
Learn & Learn: Frozen Food Hall of Fame and Keynote Speaker
This special luncheon will include an induction ceremony for the Frozen Food Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023.
Following the awards presentation, we will hear from our keynote speaker.
Former Chicago Bears Super Bowl Champion, NFL Coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Developing a Great Team
Teamwork has been the cornerstone of Mike Singletary’s career. As team captain for the NFL’s Chicago Bears for ten years, Singletary worked with management and the players to help them understand each other’s perspectives, appreciate their differences, and to work together as a successful organization. Drawing on this experience and his work as coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Singletary explores the key components of developing and sustaining a great team: effective communication, trust, shedding egos, sharing a vision, understanding expectations, and commitment to the team’s goals. He shares the valuable lessons he has learned on the road to success and offers practical steps that can be put to use immediately, in every area of life.
Executive Leadership Forum
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