Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, has issued an update on COVID-19-related precautions as plans continue for an in-person Fresh Summit in New Orleans, set for Oct. 28-30.
In a short video released Aug. 13, Burns talked about preparations for the event.
From the video:
“I wanted to take a couple of minutes to give you an update as we plan for Fresh Summit at the end of October. We continue to plan for the in-person Fresh Summit with the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors and staff as our highest priority. We are monitoring all facility, local and federal recommendations very closely to guide our planning decisions.
"Right now, in New Orleans, indoor events require that all attendees wear a mask and show proof of vaccination or provide a negative COVID PCR test. Now while we cannot guarantee that this will be New Orleans’ requirements when we get together in two-and-a-half months, we do encourage all guests to keep this in mind while you’re doing your planning. We are using the most updated science-driven guidance to determine our health and safety protocols. So, while some details may not be available until we actually get closer to the event, we have already put some measures in place.
"For example, you will see plexiglass shields at registration, hand sanitizing stations throughout the convention center and an enhanced sanitation process for all surfaces. We’ve also designed the show floor to broaden aisles and allow for optimal personal spacing. We know it’s important to you to have access to the most up to date information and the best way to stay informed is to visit our Fresh Summit Health and Safety page. You can also find other Fresh Summit-related information on Freshsummit.com or pma.com. And as always, if you have any questions or any concerns, you can reach out to me directly or any member of the PMA team. In the meantime, be well, stay safe, and I really look forward to seeing all of you in October.”