The 2023 EPC Leadership Class

The EPC proudly announces its 2023 Leadership Class, a professional development program that provides an opportunity for participants to grow and gain valuable knowledge from experiences both in the field and in the classroom.

Schedule of Events

March 21st - Visit to Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market and Holt Logistics at the Port of Gloucester, NJ.

April 25th - Food Safety Modernization Act Seminar at Top Golf in Edison, NJ, prior to EPC Membership Event.

October 3rd - New Jersey Field Trips to Hionis Greenhouses and Rutgers Snyder Research Farm & Classroom Experience with Rutgers’ Adjunct Professor.

Dec 5th-7th - Attend New York Produce Show Seminar, Cocktail Party, Keynote Breakfast, and Trade Show in New York City.

 

10th Annual
James & Theresa Nolan
Family Foundation
and EPC Scholarship 2023

Deadline to Apply:
Friday, April 21st

Winner to be Announced:
Tuesday, May 23rd

To learn more about this scholarship and how to apply, click the button below

To learn more about this scholarship and to download the application, click here.

 

2022 New York
Produce Show & Conference

Thank You!

Thank you for supporting this year’s New York Produce Show and Conference.
It could not have succeeded without your support!

 

EPC Leadership Group Attends Foundational Excellence Program at New York Produce Show & Tours Hionis Greenhouse

The fourth Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class culminated its 2022 educational program by attending the New York Produce Show (NYPS) and participating in Cornell University’s Foundational Excellence Future-Leaders-In-Produce event at the show.

Click Here To Read The Full Article

Click Here To Read The Full Article

 

EPC Hosts 8th Annual Joe DeLorenzo Family Apple Picking Event

It was another great day and turnout for the Eastern Produce Council ‘s 8th Annual Apple Picking Event at Melick Farm in Oldwick, NJ on Saturday, October 8th. Cider and doughnuts kicked off the morning and were followed by tractor rides up through the orchards to pick apples. After the ride to the orchard, EPC members and their families enjoyed fresh grilled corn on the cob, hot dogs, popcorn, and camaraderie with fellow EPC members and the DeLorenzo family.

The event was established in memory of Joe DeLorenzo, former EPC President and Hall of Fame Member and Director of Produce at Krasdale/Alpha1Marketing. Joe passed away in 2014.

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EPC Hosts Tailgate at MetLife Stadium!

It was another beautiful night at MetLife Stadium where the EPC hosted a Tailgate Event for its members on Tuesday, September 20th in the Mezzanine Lounge overlooking the field.

Following a tour of the facility for early arrivals and a Cocktail Hour, EPC President Marianne Santo welcomed the group and introduce the sponsors; Idaho Potato Commission, The Oppenheimer Group, and Zespri.

Click here to read the complete article.

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47th Annual EPC Golf Outing

The Eastern Produce Council hosted its 47th Annual Golf Outing on Tuesday, June 14th, at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ. It was a beautiful day, shared with industry friends out on the links. This year, the council went back to hosting the event on a weekday, as opposed to a weekend, and switched to a Lunch and Dinner format, versus Breakfast and Lunch which was well received, based on the strong turnout of players.

Following golf and, a Cocktail Hour and Dinner, Rich Martin represented the EPC’s Golf Committee announcing the winners on the course and in the Raffles. He thanked everyone for supporting the event, including Gold Sponsors (Dole and Giorgio), Bronze Sponsors (A&J Produce, Affinity Group, Lancaster Farms, and T.F. Produce), Putting Contest Sponsor (Suja), and a host of many others highlighted around the golf course.

On the course, the winning team was Raul Millan, Eurice Rojas, Oscar Castro, and Johnnie Pandolfino of Vision Import Group and the Second place team was Ed Swartz of Nasoya, Kurt Zuhlke of Produce Packaging, and Mark Gartenfeld.

Closest to the Pin winners were Josh Minton of Donio, Gary Roselli of Allegiance Retail Services, Jeff Garrison of Sunsweet, and Chris Hill of Little Leaf. Dylan Dembeck of Minkus Onions won the Longest Drive, and James Ferrier of organicgirl and Jay DeCamp of JOH split the Putting Contest Prize of $1,000. Mike Kominsky of Ventura Foods won the Grand Prize Drawing of a new set of golf clubs and bag.

Next up on the calendar for the Eastern Produce Council is a Tailgate Event at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, September 20th!

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NJDA Hosts Annual BBQ at Demarest Farm
EPC/Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship Awarded

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture hosted the Eastern Produce Council's Annual BBQ at Demarest Farm in Hillsdale, NJ, on Tuesday, May 24th.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, Douglas Fisher, moderated the presentation which included comments from John Banscher of the NJ Vegetable Growers Assn., Bonnie Lundblad who represented the NJ Blueberry and Peach Councils, and Joe Atchison, Assistant Secretary and Director of Marketing, NJ Dept. of Agriculture.

Following the Crop updates, EPC President. Marianne Santo, on behalf of the Nolan Family Foundation and Theresa Nolan who could not be in attendance, announced the winner of this year’s $5,000 Annual EPC/Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship. This year’s winner is Molly Bender, daughter of long time EPC member and of Fowler Packing, Derrick Bender. Molly will be attending SCAD (Savanah College of Art & Design) in the fall.

This marks the 8th year the EPC offered the scholarship together with Theresa and her Family Foundation and what makes this scholarship unique is that it is based solely on the essay that applicants write about an ethical situation they were faced with and how they responded. All essays are reviewed by the Nolan Family Foundation, not the Eastern Produce Council.

The EPC will host its 47th Annual Golf Outing on Tuesday, June 14th at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ. For more information, visit their website, easternproducecouncil.com.

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South Carolina Department of Agriculture and EPC celebrate
50th Anniversary

Pictured above celebrating their 50th Anniversary together are members of the EPC Board, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, and SC Specialty Crop Growers.

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Thank you to all those who attended Casino Night and/or supported our Ad Journal this year.

It was great to be back at The Westmount after three long years, and we apperciate your support!

Click here for the Casino Night Photos

 

2022 EPC Leadership Class Tours Philly Port and Wholesale Market

The fourth Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Class saw first-hand the increasing complexity of the produce logistics and distribution system with a tour of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) and Holt Logistics on March 22, 2022. The tour is the kick-off event of the EPC’s leadership program and provides crucial insight into these parts of the supply chain. The group began its program at PWPM with a presentation on the market’s function and benefits from Mark Smith, PWPM general manager, and walked the concourse to meet with various market merchants. The next stop on the tour was Holt Logistics Corp at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in Gloucester City, NJ, where Sander Daniel, Marketing at Holt, explained the various facilities and the value added services encompassing the Philadelphia port and its role and importance in the import supply chain. Daniel escorted the participants on a visit to some areas of the Gloucester City port including a tour of the DelMonte facility given by John McCann, Vice President Northeast Region for Del Monte Fresh Produce and EPC member. McCann explained the company’s system of receiving, processing and shipping imported product and treated the class to delicious samples of ripe DelMonte pineapple and cantaloupe.

Click here to read the complete article.

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