Stephen Mansfield, a New York Times best-selling author and popular speaker who leads a training and consulting firm based in Washington, DC, spoke to a large crowd Friday afternoon, Feb. 27, at the Good Seeds MENtor Program, part of the Southeast Produce Council’s 2026 Southern Exposure, held in Orlando, FL.

Mansfield has written celebrated biographies of Booker T. Washington, George Whitefield, Winston Churchill, Pope Benedict XVI and Abraham Lincoln, among others.

The Southeast Produce Council's Southern Exposure 2026 was held Feb. 25 to March 1 in Orlando, FL. The event featured a record number of buyers, 316 booths and sold-out networking sessions. This year’s iteration featured many familiar events as well as some new ones for attendees to enjoy, including the Tom Page Golf Classic and the Cool Cucumber Pickleball Tournament, as well as the Southern Roots luncheon and the Good Seeds MENtor Program.

The Southeast Produce Council returned to the Orlando World Center Marriott for the 2026 Southern Exposure. Farm and family was the theme and as usual, the Southeast Produce Council did not disappoint.  The floor was busy from open to close as show-goers conducted business and fostered relationships.

Prior to the opening of the expo, keynote speaker John Maxwell, world-renowned leadership author, speaker and coach, emphasized the important role strong leadership plays in running a successful business.  

Set against the backdrop of the Southern Exposure conference in Orlando, FL (Feb. 26 – March 1), the SEPC's Southern Roots Women's Luncheon welcomed chef, author and Food Network host Molly Yeh as its keynote speaker. Renowned for her series Girl Meets Farm, Yeh brought her distinctive warmth and perspective to the stage, offering insights into her culinary style and the cultural traditions that inspire her to connect people through food. 

ORLANDO, FL – JOH, a leading food brokerage based in Billerica, MA, which services clients throughout the Northeast, North Central and Mid-Atlantic regions, held a reception for its clients and partners Feb. 26, here, ahead of the annual SEPC Southern Exposure conference. Attendees were treated to a relaxed and convivial atmosphere as they prepared for the festivities of the popular SEPC event.

ORLANDO, FL -- The Southeast Produce Council held its annual VIP dinner Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, just ahead of the opening of the 2026 Southern Exposure conference and trade show, here.

A full schedule of events was planned for Southern Exposure over the next three days, including the annual Tom Page Golf Classic (named for Tom Page, one of the founders of the council), the Future Generations Celebration Dinner, two educational workshops, the Southern Roots luncheon for women in produce, the Good Seeds MENtor Program, the Hee Haw Hootenanny (the opening