Presented by AFFI | February 22-26, 2021
2020 Event Schedule
Four days of business-to-business meetings, professional networking opportunities, and education covering key industry issues.
Below you will find the schedule from the 2020 event to give an idea of how the event flows. The schedule for 2021 will be released later this fall.
Food Export, in conjunction with AFFI, will conduct a Frozen Food Buyers Mission at AFFI-CON 2020. 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 – Northeast International Marketing Program Assistant Andrew Haught at info@foodexport.org or Activity Coordinator Maureen Coughlin at (812) 877-1397.
Saturday, February 29
Morning
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
AFFI and Food Export USA-Midwest & Northeast Frozen Food Buyer’s Mission Orientation – Nolita 1
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyer’s Mission Meetings – Nolita 1
9:00 a.m.
Registration & Exhibits / The Hub Open – Belmont Ballroom
11:00 a.m. – Noon
Nutrient Database Committee Meeting (AFFI Members Only) – Yaletown 4
Afternoon
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Making the Case for Incorporating Food Safety into your Business’s Risk Management – Belmont 4
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Produce Safety in the U.S. Marketplace: How to Minimize Disruption – Belmont 4
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
AFFI-CON Happy Hour – Frozen Advantage Lounge Harmon Corridor
Evening
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
AFFI-CON First-Timers Reception – Frozen Advantage Lounge Harmon Corridor
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
AFFI-CON Welcome Reception – The Hub
Sponsored by: Sierra Pacific/World Group & Pacific Valley Foods
Sunday, March 1
Morning
7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyer’s Mission Meetings – Nolita 1
7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Morning Buzz Education Session – Gene Editing & Seed Science – Belmont 4
Sponsored by Lineage Logistics
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Registration and Exhibits Open – Belmont Ballroom
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
FPPI Board of Directors Meeting – Yaletown 4
Afternoon
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
AFFI Scientific Advisory Council Lunch and meeting (Council Members Only) – Yaletown 4
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
AFFI-CON Happy Hour – Frozen Advantage Lounge Harmon Corridor
Evening
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
AFFI-CON Craft Beer & Wine Tasting Reception – The Hub
Monday, March 2
Morning
7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Hub Open – Belmont Ballroom
7:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
AFFI Annual Meeting & Industry Spotlight – Belmont 4/8
Including Frozen Food Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Sponsored by Lineage Logistics
9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
AFFI and Food Export USA Frozen Food Buyer’s Mission Meetings – Nolita 1
9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Exhibits Open – Belmont Ballroom
Afternoon
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
AFFI Regulatory Affairs Council Lunch & Meeting (Council Members only) – Yaletown 4
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Associate Member Council Meeting – Yaletown 4
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
AFFI-CON Happy Hour – Frozen Advantage Lounge Harmon Corridor
Evening
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
AFFI Chair’s Reception (by invitation only) – Chair’s Suite
Tuesday, March 3
Morning
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Registration Open – Belmont Registration Desk
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Leadership Innovation Visionary Entrepreneurs (LIVE) Education Session – Nolita 1
This schedule is subject to change.
Education Sessions
Doing business effectively means knowing more about the current challenges and opportunities in the frozen food industry, which is what our conference education highlights.
Business Session
Getting the Science, Legal and Business Case Right: Incorporating Food Safety into Enterprise Risk Management
February 29, 2020, 12:30-2 p.m.
What do a food scientist, a food lawyer, and a food safety leader in one of the world’s most notable brands have in common? No, this is not the start of a bad joke. They have a common dedication to integrating food safety into a larger corporate risk management framework often referred to as enterprise risk management (ERM). The presenters will deliver novel insights into the role that science, testing, new data analytic and risk assessment tools as well as the changing legal and regulatory landscape and brand reputation play in shaping food safety program requirements and incorporating these into a corporate-wide, systematic approach to risk management. This session will provide attendees with the unique perspectives from a scientific, legal and business lens to build a case for assessing food safety risk relative to other risks a food company faces and must manage, and demonstrate how to utilize these principles when identifying, assessing, mitigating and monitoring food safety risks. This session will also provide attendees with more tools to leverage a more cross functional, multi-disciplinary approach to food safety.
Speakers:
Dr. Martin Wiedmann, Professor, Cornell University
Melanie Neumann, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Matrix International Sciences, Inc.
Michael Cramer, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc.
Food Safety Workshop
Produce Safety: How to Minimize Disruption in the U.S. Marketplace
February 29, 2020, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Part 1: Listeria monocytogenes (Lm)
Lm is a unique pathogen that has challenged global regulatory agencies and food manufacturers alike. Even as Listeria science, prevalence and risk assessment knowledge for many food categories has grown significantly, Lm-related outbreaks continue to occur and the pursuit of public health goals relative to listeriosis incidence has remained challenging. Panelists will review risk assessment and modeling studies and discuss alternative regulatory concepts such as the application of quantitative Lm performance standards, and the benefits and limitations of these approaches.
Speakers:
Dr. Craig Hedberg, Professor, University of Minnesota
Dr. Mark Harrison, Emeritus Professor, University of Georgia
Brittany Magdovitz, Research Assistant, University of Georgia
Part 2: Enteric Viruses in Frozen Fruits
Human norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide, and amongst the most prevalent of the foodborne pathogens. Hepatitis A virus, while less common, has recently surged to epidemic proportions in parts of the developed world. Concerns about these pathogens have led to calls for more routine testing across the food supply chain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently undertaking a sampling program for enteric viruses in frozen berries. Panelists will discuss AFFI’s efforts to mitigate impact on the frozen berry industry and share efforts in the development of best food safety practices for frozen fruit facilities and their supply chains.
Speakers:
Dr. Lee-Ann Jaykus, Professor, North Carolina State University
John Tentomas, President & CEO, Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods LLC.
Jeremiah Sasser, Director, Quality Assurance and Food Safety, Superior Foods
Dr. Sanjay Gummalla, Sr. Vice President, Scientific Affairs, AFFI
Business Session
Gene Editing & Seed Science
March 1, 2020, 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
Thanks to innovation and deeper understanding of genetics, scientists can make targeted genetic improvements to plants and animals to address some of society’s most urgent challenges including climate change, sustainability, hunger and improving health and wellness. All these benefits confer to fruits and vegetables intended to be frozen. But questions remain: How will gene editing be regulated and most importantly, will consumers accept gene editing technology? Hear from experts in the field of plant breeding and gene editing on the future of this important technology to the business of frozen fruits and vegetables.
Speakers:
Jeff Zischke, Senior Director of Research and Development, Sakata Seed America, Inc.
Dr. Allen Van Deynze, Director of the Seed Biotechnology Center and Associate Director of the Plant Breeding Center at University of California, Davis
Industry Spotlight Session
The Power of Frozen in Foodservice
Sponsored by Lineage Logistics
March 2, 2020, 7:15 – 8:45 a.m.
Following up on the success of our Power of Frozen in Retail report at last year’s event, we are excited to launch the next edition in our research series this year – the Power of Frozen in Foodservice. This research examines the frozen food landscape in foodservice to uncover operator attitudes, perceptions and opportunities for our industry. Most importantly, it identifies how frozen food manufacturers and distributors can most effectively meet operator needs to strengthen demand for frozen food in foodservice.
Featured Speakers:
Alison Bodor President & CEO, American Frozen Food Institute
Michael CastaganaVice-President of Foodservice Marketing, Ajinomoto Foods
Marie Molde RD, Researcher, Datassential
Melissa Woodbury,Director of Customer Marketing, McCain Foods 
We invite you to watch highlights from one of our most popular 2019 sessions about how to properly handle a recall.
Business Session
The Lens of Leadership
Presented by Kevin Paul Scott
February 24, 2019. 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
The way we view things changes how we do things. Discover the importance of perspective and how this pivotal principle will unlock and unleash your potential as a leader. In this session, Kevin will help you see things differently for your business, your role, and quite possibly the rest of your life.
About Featured Speaker: Kevin Paul Scott
Kevin Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries. Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.” Kevin works with businesses to develop leaders and build their brands, including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, and the Atlanta Braves. Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest, “The Lens of Leadership.” In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the ’40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and CNBC. He lives with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia.
Agriculture Session
The Lens of Leadership
Presented by Kevin Paul Scott
February 24, 2019. 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
The way we view things changes how we do things. Discover the importance of perspective and how this pivotal principle will unlock and unleash your potential as a leader. In this session, Kevin will help you see things differently for your business, your role, and quite possibly the rest of your life.
About Featured Speaker: Kevin Paul Scott
Kevin Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries. Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.” Kevin works with businesses to develop leaders and build their brands, including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, and the Atlanta Braves. Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest, “The Lens of Leadership.” In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the ’40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and CNBC. He lives with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia.
Logistics Session
The Lens of Leadership
Presented by Kevin Paul Scott
February 24, 2019. 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
The way we view things changes how we do things. Discover the importance of perspective and how this pivotal principle will unlock and unleash your potential as a leader. In this session, Kevin will help you see things differently for your business, your role, and quite possibly the rest of your life.
About Featured Speaker: Kevin Paul Scott
Kevin Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries. Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.” Kevin works with businesses to develop leaders and build their brands, including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, and the Atlanta Braves. Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest, “The Lens of Leadership.” In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the ’40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and CNBC. He lives with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia.
Food Safety Session
The Lens of Leadership
Presented by Kevin Paul Scott
February 24, 2019. 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
The way we view things changes how we do things. Discover the importance of perspective and how this pivotal principle will unlock and unleash your potential as a leader. In this session, Kevin will help you see things differently for your business, your role, and quite possibly the rest of your life.
About Featured Speaker: Kevin Paul Scott
Kevin Scott has traveled to six continents and spoken to leaders from more than 100 countries. Kevin co-founded the leadership consultancy ADDO, which is Latin for “Inspire.” Kevin works with businesses to develop leaders and build their brands, including Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, and the Atlanta Braves. Kevin is the author of three books, including his latest, “The Lens of Leadership.” In consecutive years, Kevin was named to the ’40 under 40′ lists for Georgia Trend and then the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Kevin is a frequent guest on numerous media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and CNBC. He lives with his wife and son in Marietta, Georgia.
About AFFI
The American Frozen Food Institute is the member-driven national trade association that advances the interests of all segments of the frozen food and beverage industry. AFFI works to advance food safety and advocates before legislative and regulatory entities on the industry’s behalf to create an environment where members’ foods and beverages are proudly chosen to meet the needs of a changing world.
Questions about AFFI-CON?
Please contact the AFFI Conferences Department at (703) 821-0770 or events@affi.com.