H-T’s Morganthall, Laura Bush to Keynote United Fresh 2012

United Fresh Produce Association has assembled an impressive lineup of headline speakers for United Fresh 2012, which is scheduled to take place May 1-3 in Dallas. In addition to former First Lady Laura Bush, who will deliver remarks on her life experiences, sharing perspectives learned from eight years in the White House and beyond, event attendees will hear from Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Chairman and Harris Teeter President Fred Morganthall, Teeter, who will discuss ways to strengthen the relationship between producers and retailers to better serve consumers.

Bush will appear at the Wednesday Breakfast General Session on May 3. A former public school teacher and librarian, Bush is currently the honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade and honorary chair of the National Park Foundation, as well as a staunch supporter of breast cancer and heart disease awareness campaigns. As First Lady from 2001 to 2009, she was active in education, health care and human rights issues, and continues to raise awareness of these causes in the United States and abroad.

“To host the former First Lady at United Fresh 2012 in her home state of Texas is an honor,” noted Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of Washington-based United Fresh. “Laura Bush is one of the nation’s most admired and respected women.”

Fred Morganthall will present his vision for the future of food retailing at the May 2 Breakfast General Session. A past president of North Carolina Food Dealers Association and Carolinas Food Industry Council, Morganthall is a member of the Spartan Stores and the YMCA of Greater Charlotte boards of directors. He began his career with Matthews, N.C.-based Harris Teeter in 1986 and, before becoming president in 1997, was EVP, SVP of operations, VP of sales and distribution, and VP of merchandising. His previous retail experience includes working as manager of grocery, frozen and dairy purchasing for Spartan in Grand Rapids, Mich.; buyer for Viking Foods in Muskegon, Mich.; and sales representative for Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble in western Michigan.

“Fred Morganthall brings a valuable perspective to the fresh produce audience,” said Stenzel. “He has been at the forefront of interpreting consumer trends for decades, and that information is vital to helping our industry better understand retail and customer needs.”

Bush and Morganthall are just two of the many speakers slated to appear at United Fresh 2012. Set to be held at the Dallas Convention Center, the show will be co-located with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), American Meat Institute (AMI) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) conventions. Twenty-five thousand decision-makers from the produce, retail and meat industries are expected to attend.

For more information, call 202-303-3400.
 

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