Schedule of Events
Business-to-business meetings, professional networking opportunities, and education covering key industry issues.
All AFFI-CON events, unless otherwise noted, take place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. View the hotel map to help you navigate the hotel property. All events will be monitored, and non-members and non-registrants will be asked to leave.
*Please note that some AFFI-CON events are only open to AFFI members.
AFFI-CON Registration, Company Showcases, the AFFI Member Lounge, and Semi-Private Tables are open from Saturday to Monday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harbor Foyer & Ballroom. All times on the schedule are Pacific Standard Time.
Friday, February 23, 2024
Satellite registration open – Seaview Foyer (Level 2)
Saturday, February 24, 2024
About AFFI (Open to Current & Prospective Members) – Promenade
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Orientation – Cortez Hill
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
Food Export, in conjunction with AFFI, will conduct a Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON 2024. 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 Benjamin Cortese at Bcortese@foodexport.org
Lunch & Learn: Frozen’s Economic Trends – Grand Hall A & B
AFFI-CON Welcome Reception – Harbor Ballroom
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Update on the Frozen Berry Market Protection Plan – Promenade
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
Lunch & Learn: Food Safety Culture – Grand Hall A & B
Women’s Networking Happy Hour – Promenade
Join the women of the frozen food industry to celebrate their contributions and engage in thought-provoking networking.
Dueling Pianos Bash (Separate ticketed event) – The Shout! House
Registration Add-On – $50/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.
Monday, February 26, 2024
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
AFFI Annual Meeting & Keynote Speaker (Lunch Served) – Grand Hall A & B
Join us for the AFFI Annual Meeting for an overview of the Institute’s strategic goals for the frozen food industry and the induction of new AFFI Officers and Board of Directors Candidates. Following the meeting we are honored to hear from Former U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O’Neill. He will discuss Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that resulted in Osama bin Laden’s death on May 1, 2011. O’Neill will also share what he learned during his more than 400 combat missions across four theaters of war. Through his moving and emotional stories drawn from lessons learned during some of the country’s most headline-stealing conflicts, O’Neill will show us how the best of the military’s best approach strategic planning when mission failure is not an option. Join one of the legends of our nation’s military as he shares his views on the ingredients to a successful mission: the right people, preparedness, decision making under pressure, and, above all, a commitment to never quit.
Through the Generations Mixer – Promenade
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
AFFI-CON Council Meeting – Promenade
Help Desk & Semi-Private Meeting Space Open – Harbor Foyer & Ballroom
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Pre-conference workshop day – additional registration fee required
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Pre-conference workshop day – additional registration fee required
Morning
9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Importer Regulatory Compliance and Fundamental Food Safety Training – Balboa B & C
Friday, February 23, 2024
Pre-conference workshop day – additional registration fee required
Morning
9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Importer Regulatory Compliance and Fundamental Food Safety Training – Balboa B & C
Afternoon
3:30 – 5:30 p.m. PST
Satellite registration open – Seaview Foyer (Level 2)
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Morning
7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Registration, Company Showcases, AFFI Member Lounge & The Hub Open – Harbor Foyer & Ballroom
7 a.m. – 8 a.m. PST
Advocacy Leadership Breakfast – Promenade
8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PST
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Orientation – Cortez Hill
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PST
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
Afternoon
Noon – 1 p.m. PST
Lunch & Learn: Frozen’s Economic Trends – Grand Hall A & B
Food and Agricultural Economist, Distinguished Professor and Head of the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue University
Evening
5 – 6:30 p.m. PST
AFFI-CON Welcome Reception – Harbor Ballroom
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Morning
7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Registration, Company Showcases, AFFI Member Lounge & The Hub Open – Harbor Foyer & Ballroom
7 a.m. – 8 a.m. PST
About AFFI: Learn about the organization behind AFFI-CON – Promenade
7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
Afternoon
Noon – 1pm PST
Lunch & Learn: Food Safety Culture – Grand Hall A & B
210 Analytics
Evening
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PST
Women’s Networking Happy Hour – Promenade
9 p.m. – Midnight PST
Dueling Pianos Bash (Separate ticketed event) – The Shout! House
Monday, February 26, 2024
Morning
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST
Registration, Company Showcases, AFFI Member Lounge & The Hub Open – Harbor Foyer & Ballroom
9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PST
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyers Mission Meetings – Cortez Hill
Afternoon
Noon – 1:00 p.m. PST
AFFI Annual Meeting & Keynote Speaker (Lunch Served) – Grand Hall A & B
Former U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O'Neill will discuss Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that resulted in Osama bin Laden's death on May 1, 2011. O’Neill will also share what he learned during his more than 400 combat missions across four theaters of war. Through his moving and emotional stories drawn from lessons learned during some of the country’s most headline-stealing conflicts, O’Neill shows his audience how the best of the military’s best approach strategic planning when mission failure is not an option. Audiences come to appreciate the people who are asked to do the hardest jobs – the warriors, husbands, and family men who they know exist but have never met, who are focused solely on making their missions successful. Join one of the legends of our nation’s military as he shares his views on the ingredients to a successful mission: the right people, preparedness, decision making under pressure, and, above all, a commitment to never quit.
Evening
5 – 6 p.m. PST
Through the Generations Mixer – Promenade
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Morning
7 a.m. – 8 a.m. PST
AFFI-CON Council Meeting – Promenade
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. PST
Help Desk & Semi-Private Meeting Space Open – Harbor Foyer & Ballroom
Afternoon
3 – 4:30 p.m. PST
AFFI-CON Council Meeting (AFFI Members Only) – Promenade AB
This schedule is subject to change.
International Buying Missions
Food Export, in conjunction with AFFI, will conduct a Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON 2024. 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 Benjamin Cortese at Bcortese@foodexport.org
