Organizers of the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America trade show hope to see you in September at the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center. The exhibit hall will open for business on the 23rd and 24th, and a conference program will start things off on the 22nd.
The annual show, now in its 40th year and which normally devotes three days for visiting stands, was originally slated for March 15-17. It was postponed due to worries and uncertainty surrounding the deadly novel coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China late last year and has by now spread to the entire planet and been attributed to almost 50,000 fatalities.
In the last few months and weeks, the seafood industry and community, along with the rest of the world, have been experiencing extremely tumultuous, emotionally and economically challenging times. At the moment New York City is the epicenter of the viral viciousness in the United States, as the rising death toll has topped 1,500 and more than 10,000 people have been hospitalized with the illness.
“While navigating this unprecedented situation, we know there is a need for business continuity and are committed to providing a platform that will bring back together the industry suppliers and buyers who, due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, were prevented from meeting in March as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Liz Plizga, group vice president of Diversified Communications, which produces the show as well as the Seafood Expo Global exposition in Brussels, which has also been postponed.
The September dates were carefully chosen in consideration of the recent escalating situation in Covid-19 respiratory disease in the United States and globally, the venue availability, as well as feedback from customers and high-volume retail and foodservice buyers from North America.
“It is fair to say that this year’s show will not be like any other years,” said Plizga. “However, our team is dedicated to delivering a high quality event and services that are as similar as possible to what our customers have come to expect over the years.”
The September edition will feature a solutions-driven conference program led by industry experts covering relevant topics of the day. The exhibit, which will be held in Halls B and C, will highlight special programs including the New and Featured Product Showcases where buyers can identify the latest seafood product, equipment and services, innovations and trends.
In the coming weeks, Diversified Communications and its official partners will contact exhibitors, buyers and other seafood professionals to provide further details about the September event. New information will be included at seafoodexpo.com/north-america.
