FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 02, 2002
Waldrep leads SC delegation to host Eastern Produce Council
SECAUCUS, NJ---Senator Bob Waldrep (District 3, Anderson Co.), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, recently led a delegation from South Carolina to the New York metropolitan area to host the 31st consecutive Eastern Produce Council meeting. The event, organized by Wayne Mack, Director of Marketing, and Martin Eubanks, Senior Marketing Specialist, of the SC Department of Agriculture, was held on Tuesday, April 30, 2002, at the Crown Plaza in Secaucus, New Jersey.
The delegation included: peach grower and former Chairman of the Ag Commission of South Carolina Larry Yonce of Johnston; watermelon grower and President of the SC Watermelon Association Billy Jenkins of Jefferson; and vegetable grower and President of the newly formed SC Fruit, Vegetable, and Specialty Crop Association Chris Rawl of Lexington.
The Eastern Produce Council membership represents the major wholesale and retail buying community in the greater New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia areas. The event has proven throughout the years to be a very successful effort in promoting the movement of the state’s products to this large consumer population.
About 100 growers, shippers, brokers, and fresh produce handlers attended this year’s Eastern Produce Council meeting. Because of this event South Carolina has developed lasting relationships with buyers as well as an opportunity for networking with potential customers.
Having participated in the Eastern Produce Council meeting last year, Senator Waldrep asked to attend once again this year because he "believes that this event is one of the best opportunities the state has to promote South Carolina grown fruits and vegetables in this major market." The major buyers in the produce industry in the northeastern area of the country attend the Eastern Produce Council meeting. Senator Waldrep said, "Produce growers and others in the industry as well as all South Carolinians can be proud of the marketing results attributed to this event."
Senator Waldrep said, "Agriculture in South Carolina is big business, and the fruit and vegetable industry is a large part of that business. But, the loss of a market like the buyers in the Eastern Produce Council could strike a severe blow to the people in the communities served by the state’s produce industry."
Senator Waldrep added, "As we have seen in other parts of the country and the world, when agriculture fails, the economies fail, too. I, for one, encourage the SC Department of Agriculture to continue this effort to keep farm families and their communities in business. In addition, I pledge my support and will continue to urge my fellow citizens and legislators to support this and other marketing efforts to keep agriculture strong and viable in the state."
Wayne Mack said, "Hosting the Eastern Produce Council meeting is an important part of the state’s produce marketing program, and it’s vital that we maintain the relationships with these buyers that we have established throughout the years." He added, "However, some of the older buyers are retiring and many of the new buyers are now attending the event each year. So, it’s important that we maintain a marketing edge over the competition by developing these new working relationships just as we have in the past. This one of the most successful marketing tools for produce that we have in South Carolina."
For more information on the Eastern Produce Council meeting, contact Martin Eubanks, South Carolina Department of Agriculture, at (803) 734-2200. For information about legislation affecting agriculture and natural resources in South Carolina, contact Senator Bob Waldrep at 803-212-6230 or 864-224-6341.
Photo available here.
