Kevin Schooley. Debby Wechsler Deborah S. Wechsler Executive Secretary, NC Strawberry Association ,

Transcription

1 An Invitation to Exhibit & Sponsor 2013 Southeast Strawberry Expo December 3-6, 3013 (Trade Show December 5-6) Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham North Carolina This year s Southeast Strawberry Expo is a very special conference, as the North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) brings its annual meeting to the NC Strawberry Association s Strawberry Expo. The program schedule and the trade show area will both be expanded, and many more people are expected to attend this combined conference. NASGA will bring in attendees from across the country, primarily from northern and mid-atlantic states, as well as from Canada and abroad. Local growers won t want to miss this either, so there should be a higher than usual turnout of Southeastern growers. Expect an exciting meeting! Always at the Expo: Attendees are involved, focused, and eager to make connections. Exhibitors comment on the high level of interest they receive during our trade show. Fees for exhibit booths and grower registration are reasonably priced. All breaks take place in the trade show area. Sponsorship, program ads, and auction donations provide opportunities to show your company s support of our strawberry industry and increase your visibility at the Expo. These options are also available to companies that choose not to have a booth at the trade show. Confirmed exhibitors and sponsors will be listed in both association s newsletters and websites as part of our pre-conference publicity, so register soon. Host sponsors confirmed before printing will be listed on the general registration brochure. Feel free to contact either of us if you have sponsorship questions, program ideas, or special exhibit needs we hope to see you there! Sincerely, Debby Wechsler Deborah S. Wechsler Executive Secretary, NC Strawberry Association , info@ncstrawberry.com Kevin Schooley Kevin Schooley Executive Secretary, NASGA , info@nasga.org

2 2013 Southeast Strawberry Expo Schedule This is the schedule as of mid August. Session topics and timing of individual sessions may change, but the general outline of the program should remain as shown below. Presenters include growers, extension specialists, and other experts. For details contact the NC Strawberry Association or consult the general registration brochure and website as the Expo gets closer. The planning committee welcomes exhibitor input on topics, speakers, schedule, and social/trade show activities. Bolded items are areas of particular interest to exhibitors or that provide specific opportunities for sponsorship. Call or to discuss these and other opportunities. Tuesday, December 3 Meetings, workshops, opening reception Afternoon NASGA Board and committee meetings. 1-4:30 Workshop: Plasticulture for New Growers Workshop: Direct Market Food Safety Practices & Messages Evening Registration, Opening Reception/Hospitality Room for early arrivals Wednesday, December 4 - Tour 8:30 am- 7:30 pm Farm tour. Itinerary includes 3 strawberry farms: Page Farms of Raleigh, The Vollmer Farm, Deans Farm Market, plus Finch Nursery/Jones Farms (blueberry/blackberry nurseries), Dinner at Bill Ellis BBQ in Wilson, NC. 8:00 pm Hospitality Room at the Sheraton Imperial. Registration in Hospitality Room 7:00-10:00 Exhibitor setup Thursday, December 5 - Educational sessions, trade show 6:30-7:30 Exhibitor setup. Trade show open all day. Continental Breakfast in exhibit area. 7:30-9:00 Registration. Respirator testing by appointment all day. 9:00-10:30 GENERAL SESSION Grower Spotlight: Russ Shlagel, Shlagel Farms, Waldorf, MD Weather and climate: A look into the future for strawberry growers - Ryan Boyles, NC Climate Office 10:30-11:00 Break in Trade Show area 11:00-12:00 Breakouts Disease Issues in Strawberries So What Can You DO About That Weather? A follow-up discussion 12:00-1:45 Lunch and NC Strawberry Association Annual Meeting and Awards 2:00-3:00 Update and Prognosis on Strawberry Virus issues 3:00-3:30 Break in Trade Show area Food Safety Traceback For Smaller Growers A Food Safety Partnership: Communicating with Customers Working with Schools New NCSA Strawberry Curriculum for grades K-5 3:30-4:30 SWD and other Pest Topics Strawberry Varieties - Panel discussion How to Hold a Recipe Contest - Panel 4:35-5:30 Weed Control for Plasticulture Producers 6:00 Dinner on Your Own 8:-00 Hospitality Room at Sheraton Imperial Organic Production Roundtable Friday, December 7 - Educational sessions, trade show PYO Management Roundtable Trade show open until 2:00 PM 7:30-8:30 Registration. Continental Breakfast in exhibit area. Respirator testing by appointment all day. 7:30-8:30 NASGA Nursery Growers Breakfast 8:30-10:00 GENERAL SESSION: Grower Spotlight: Blaine Staples, The Jungle Farm, Innisfail, Alberta Strawberry Research & Production Trends in the U.K. Richard Harndon, Berry Gardens, U.K. 10:00-10:30 Break in Trade Show area 10:30-12 Using Growing Degree Days to Inform Your Decisions Soil Biology for Strawberry Growers 12:00-1:30 Lunch and North American Strawberry Growers Association Annual Meeting 1:30-2:00 Final Trade Show Break 2:00-2:50 Best Fertility Management Biopesticides What are they and how do they work? 3:00-3:50 Fungicide Resistance Issues and Management 4:00-5:00 Buffer Zones First year experiences roundtable Time TBD Day Neutral Production & Fertility Panel Discussion Weed Management for Matted Row Strawberries Planning for the Future of Your Farm and Family Facebook for Beginners Building Social Media Interaction Marketing Topic TBD Nursery Growers Roundtable- Discussions of experiences, expectations and practices, certification and standards, research and extension needs, how to fund research, mechanisms for on-going communication among nurseries, etc.

3 Become a Strawberry Expo Sponsor! Sponsorships are crucial to keeping grower and extension agent registration fees low. Benefits to your company of sponsoring the Expo include: Prominent recognition in the conference program booklet, on signs and announcements during the conference, and in newsletter/website conference publicity by both NCSA and NASGA. Host Sponsors who sign up before printing will be recognized in the registration brochure sent to more than 1,000 potential attendees. A free ad in the program booklet business-card size for Bronze or Silver sponsors; 1/4-page for Gold level, 1/2 page for Platinum or Host level. Sponsors may up-size their ad by paying the additional cost for the larger size. Discount registration for non-exhibiting sponsors of $75/ person. Sponsors will be acknowledged at the following levels. Bronze: Gifts of $200 - $349 Silver: Gifts of $350 - $599 Gold: Gifts of $600 - $1199 Platinum: Gifts of $ $1799 Host Sponsor: Gifts of $1800 or more We offer the option of linking your sponsorship with specific events or aspects of the Expo, such as a break or luncheon, speaker costs, etc. Please contact the NCSA office to discuss these options. EXHIBITOR INFORMATION Trade SHOW Hours: Thursday, December 5, 7:30 am 6:00 pm Friday, December 6, 7:30 am 2:00 pm. Exhibit Area: The trade show is adjacent to the meeting rooms. All breaks will be held in the exhibit area. Exhibitor space is approximately 8' x 10' and includes a covered and skirted 8' x 3' table. The exhibit hall is carpeted. Set up: Wednesday, Dec, 4, 7:00 10:00 pm or Thursday, Dec. 5, 6:30 7:30 am. Parking is free. The hotel has a loading dock, ramp, pallet jacks, and carts to help you; there is no forklift. Large equipment may be parked outside, nearby and easily accessible. Breakdown: The final break for visiting with exhibitors is 1:30-2:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 6; the educational program continues through the afternoon. Please clear out by 3:00 pm. Electricity/Internet: A standard electrical hookup is $30 and can be included on your registration. Wireless internet for the trade show area is also $30. For special hookups or phone lines, contact the hotel directly (Kristin Bass, , kbass@ sheratonrtp.com). Shipping: To send your exhibit ahead to the Sheraton Imperial, please send it to Yourself, SE Strawberry Expo Dec. 3-6, c/o Sheraton Imperial Hotel, 4700 Emperor Blvd., Durham, NC Shipments must arrive no earlier than Dec. 2. Security: Though exhibit areas will be locked to the public at night, no special security is provided. NCSA and NASGA assume no liability for loss or damage to your display or equipment. Exhibitor Fee & BEnefits The exhibitor fee is $500. Besides your display, it includes: Entrance for 1 2 company representatives. Lunch on both Thursday and Friday for 1 2 company representatives. A year s membership in the NC Strawberry Association, including a subscription to its monthly newsletter. For information on membership in the North American Strawberry Growers Association, visit Questions? Contact Debby Wechsler at the NCA office, or info@ncstrawberry.com. Accommodations & Travel Our host hotel is the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, NC (Research Triangle Park). The conference room rate is $89 per night. To receive this special rate, call by November 8 and ask for the block under Strawberry Expo. For a link to online reservations, visit The Sheraton Imperial is conveniently located on Interstate-40 between Durham and Raleigh at Exit 282/Page Rd. (4700 Emperor Blvd.).It is only a few minutes from the Raleigh-Durham Airport (RDU) free airport shuttle service is provided. The hotel has two in-house restaurants, full room amenities, a 3.5 mile walking/jogging trail, lighted tennis courts, and an on-site athletic club (small fee). There is free high-speed internet access in the guest rooms and free wireless internet access in public spaces. Downtown Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham are all less than a half hour away. Special Opportunities A Silent Auction raises funds for the NCSA Scholarship Program and the NASGA Research Foundation. All donors will be fully acknowledged. Donations can be tools, supplies, services, excursions, etc. Bring donations to the Expo or send them in advance. Full-day Tour on Dec. 4. If interested in having an equipment demonstration at one of the stops, contact the NCSA office. Program Advertisements Increase your impact with a program ad; participants often keep programs for year-round reference. All ads offer full color. Ads should be received by November 15. Digital ads are preferred. We can also lay out your ad. Ad sizes and prices: Size Dimensions (wxh) Cost Business-card size 3½ x 2 $45 1/4 page 3½ x 5 $75 1/2 page 7½ x 5 $135 Full page 7½ x 10 $250 Can t Come to the CONFERENCE? Consider our brochure display option ($95), which also includes a year s membership in the NC Strawberry Association. Ship to the hotel (see Shipping above); extras can be returned. Also consider sponsorship, a program ad, and auction donations as ways to show your support and gain exposure for your company.

4 c/o NC Strawberry Association 1138 Rock Rest Road Pittsboro, NC EXHIBITOR & SPONSOR REGISTRATION December 3-6, 2013 Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham, North Carolina The North Carolina Strawberry Association and the North American Strawberry Growers Association invite you to be an exhibitor and/or sponsor of this joint conference.

5 Company name Representative(s) attending Products/services Mail address City State/Province Zip/Postal Code Work phone ( ) Toll-free phone ( ) Cell phone ( ) Fax ( ) Website Please note: Information you provide above will be included in the conference program booklet. If contact info for registration correspondence, representatives attending, and/or later sales differ, note the specifics on this form. Set-up Needs q Large equipment to display outdoors q NO table (it is assumed you want a table unless this is checked) q Please send order form for special phone/power/internet hookups q Special requests (location, etc): Donations A silent auction at this year s Expo will raise funds for the NC Strawberry Associaiton Scholarship Fund and the North American Strawberry Growers Research Foundation. Donations of supplies, tools, services, or other items are welcome. Minimum bids will be posted for all items. q Our donation(s): Please designate our donation(s) for the q NCSA Scholarship Fund q NASGA Research Foundation q Please call us about a possible donation. Hotel Reservations Call the Sheraton Imperial Hotel at by November 8 (be sure to mention Strawberry Expo ). Or, reserve online from the link at Exhibitor & Sponsor Registration 2013 Exhibit space $500 (Includes booth, 1 or 2 representatives, lunches, NCSA membership) q Electricity for booth $30 q Wireless internet in exhibit area $30 Additional $75 (if over two representatives; includes Thurs & Friday lunch) Conference Sponsorship q Host Sponsor: $1800 or more q Platinum: $1200 $1799 q Gold: $600 $1200 q Silver: $350 $599 q Bronze: $200 $349 q We would like to sponsor a specific break or event during the conference. Contact us to discuss options. REGISTRATION for NON-EXHIBITING SPONSORS $75 Program Booklet Advertising (Free ads to conference sponsors; see Exhibitor Information.) All ads are full color. Please send ad by November 15. q Business-card size ($45) q 1/4 page ($75) q 1/2 page ($135) q Full page $250) q Contact us about advertising. Brochure/Catalog display ($95) $ For companies that choose not to have a booth. Includes a year s membership in the NC Strawberry Association. Farm Tour (Dec. 4, all day) Bus, lunch, tour, and $70 Tour and dinner $35 Total AMOUNT Payment q Check (to NCSA ) q Visa q Mastercard q Discover Card # Expiration date Name on card SendING REGISTRATION FORMS MAIL to NCSA, 1138 Rock Rest Rd., Pittsboro, NC to info@ncstrawberry.com FAX to (toll-free) See Become a Sponsor for details of sponsorship benefits. Questions? or info@ncstrawberry.com