As an executive at Ogilvy & Mather, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, Todd Hunt learned the “inner workings” of communication.

Additional jobs with an insurance administrator, direct marketing company and in the ad department of a major retailer confirmed what he had suspected all along: We all mess up communicating! Then he started his own successful marketing agency in Chicago. Having worked with trade associations, retailers, nonprofits and financial companies, Hunt has discovered that people are hungry to hear his funny stories about sales, customer service, leadership and change.

Hunt’s bringing his message of “Communication Bleeps and Blunders in Business” to attendees of the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey, Pa.

The convention is set for Jan. 28-30 at the Hershey Lodge. More than 2,400 fruit, vegetable and berry growers, and other industry persons from throughout the Mid-Atlantic and beyond are expected to attend.

This year’s convention will feature several preconvention workshops, a farm market bus tour and a trade show with over 160 exhibitors, plus three full days of six or more concurrent educational sessions.

Preconvention tours

The day before the main convention opens attendees can choose between a bus tour of farm markets in the Lancaster area or several different workshops, including a “Cultivating Leadership” workshop; an FSMA grower training; tomato school; hemp production; bees, pollinators and pollination; and Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator License training.

Educational sessions

The first day of the convention will feature sessions on tree fruit, basic vegetable production, tomatoes, soil health, farmers’ health, retail marketing and more.

Day two will feature sessions on pumpkins and vine crops, organic vegetable production, employee recruitment and retention, and creating value-added products and services. 

Day three will feature sessions on high tunnels, potatoes, small fruit, leafy greens, cut flowers, agritourism and social media.

Trade show and cider contest

The Great American Hall and the Aztec Room of the Hershey Lodge will host most of the trade show with several additional booths located in the Confection Level lobby. Specialized horticultural equipment, farm market merchandise and packaging will all be on display along with information on the latest seed varieties, fruit varieties, pesticides, and other supplies and services for the commercial grower.

The 14th annual Mid-Atlantic Cider Contest will be conducted during the convention to determine the best tasting cider produced in the region.

The Fruit and Vegetable Growers Banquet will be held Jan. 28, and on Jan. 29 there will an ice cream social and reception for apple growers.

The Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention has been jointly sponsored by the State Horticultural Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association, the Maryland State Horticultural Society and the New Jersey State Horticultural Society for the past 42 years, making this year’s convention the 43rd meeting.

In 2014, the Virginia State Horticultural Society also began meeting at the convention. Penn State, University of Maryland, Rutgers University Cooperative Extension and Virginia Tech all assist in organizing the three days of educational sessions.

Many pesticide applicator update training credits will be available to Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia growers.

Registration is required for all persons attending the convention trade show or educational sessions. Registration with any of the five sponsoring organizations allows one to attend any of the sessions although there are additional charges for workshops and meals.

For further information, go to mafvc.org or call 717-677-4184 or 717-694-3596. 

Source: Pennsylvania, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.