Verlage Joins Top Execs from United Fresh, DNO Produce, BrightFarms For Virtual Panel On Produce Trends, Business Growth Opportunities For Indoor Growers Emerging From Covid-19 Pandemic

LAS VEGAS (May 27, 2020) – Victor Verlage, Senior Director of Agriculture Strategy Development, Walmart, will join the panel line-up for the debut session of the new Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar series announced last week.

Scheduled for Wednesday, June 3 at 4 pm EST, the program, “United Fresh Produce Association Panel: Produce Trends & Business Opportunities For Indoor Growers Emerging From Covid-19 Pandemic, ” will be moderated by United Fresh President & CEO Tom Stenzel, and also include panelists Alex DiNovo, President and COO, DNO Produce and Paul Lightfoot, President and Founder, BrightFarms.

Leading Strategic Food Sourcing at Walmart Inc, Verlage joined the company in 2010. In 2014 he relocated to Bentonville, Arkansas to spearhead the development of next-generation products and is responsible for securing the long term food supply for Walmart’s growth demand plans.

Indoor Ag-Con LLC, producers of the premier event for the indoor|vertical farming industry, created the new Indoor Ag-Conversations series to share content originally planned for its May 2020 in-person annual conference that has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

During the 60-minute webinar, Verlage and the other members of the executive panel will explore the unprecedented challenges and opportunities industry members face today. Participants will learn: key produce trends to watch; tips for building mutually beneficial relationships with produce distributors; how Covid-19 is accelerating demand for locally grown food; what indoor growers are doing now to adjust to a changing market and more. 

Attendees will also get a sneak preview of United Fresh 2020 Live, the Association’s new virtual event coming the week of June 15.

Indoor Ag-Conversation webinars are free to industry members. To register for the upcoming June 3, 2020 session, visit www.indoor.ag/webinar

In addition to Verlage, the June 3, 2020, Indoor Ag-Conversations | United Fresh  program will share insights from: 

Moderator Tom Stenzel, the President, and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association is a frequent speaker on industry issues and has been recognized for his leadership frequently throughout his career. Tom has testified numerous times before Congress and works closely with leaders at the White House, USDA, FDA, and other U.S. regulatory agencies. 

Paul Lightfoot, President, and Founder of BrightFarms, is creating the first national brand of locally grown produce. In four years, Lightfoot has led the company from a proof-of-concept to operating four greenhouses in key markets like Washington, D.C., Chicago, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.

Alex DiNovo is President and COO of DNO Produce Group of Companies, a rapidly growing family-owned group of businesses located in Columbus, Ohio. DNO is a fresh fruit and vegetable processor, as well as a distributor, with a distribution network throughout the Midwest, Great Lakes, and the southeastern United States. 

ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON LLC
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con touches all sectors of the business, covering produce, legal cannabis, hemp, alternate protein, and non-food crops. In December 2018, three event industry professionals – Nancy Hallberg, Kris Sieradzki, and Brian Sullivan – purchased Indoor Ag-Con LLC, setting the stage for further expansion of the events globally.

For more information, visit: https://indoor.ag

ABOUT UNITED FRESH PRODUCE ASSOCIATION
United Fresh brings together members across every segment of the supply chain to build relationships that are as solid with a handshake as with a contract. We empower industry leaders to join forces to shape sound government policy. We deliver the resources and expertise companies need to succeed in managing complex business and technical issues.

For more information, visit: https://www.unitedfresh.org and to learn more about United Fresh LIVE! Visit www.unitedfreshlive.org

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