The New England Produce Council and the Organic Produce Network have announced the first New England Organic Produce Conference, scheduled for May 1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro MA. Together for the first time, NEPC and OPN will be presenting an educational event that will feature Shannon Allen as the keynote speaker.
Allen is the creator of "grown," a first-of-its-kind, 100 percent, USDA organic certified fast-food restaurant aiming to fill a void in the market with "real food, cooked slow, for fast people."
With a focus on delicious, organic, nutrient-dense fare, the innovative concept marries the quality of farm-to-fork cuisine with the convenience of fast-food dining.
Shannon Allen lives in Miami with her husband, Ray Allen (two-time NBA champion) and their five children.
It was in 2008, shortly after their middle child, Walker, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, that Shannon Allen spent a frustrating evening driving up and down Route 9 searching for real food with the convenience of a drive-thru. That's when she had her "ah ha" moment, and grown was born. With five units in just two years since opening their flagship store in Miami -- including locations inside HardRock Stadium, the Wesleyan University Campus Bookstore and a WALMART Supercenter in Lake Nona — it's overwhelmingly evident that grown has struck a nerve with busy people who are desperate for convenience without compromise. In keeping with grown's mission to change the world one 100 percent USDA organic certified fast food meal at a time, grown will begin awarding franchises in 2019.
"We are very pleased and excited to invite Shannon Allen back home to New England to share her expertise on organics," NEPC President Anthony Sattler said in a Jan. 29 press release. "Also, we are very happy to be working together with the Organic Produce Network on this event."
Matt Seeley, co-founder and chief executive officer of Organic Produce Network, added, "This will be a do-not-miss event. Working collectively with the New England Produce Council Inc. will help increase the knowledge base of all of our members. The program will be first class."
Other highlights of this event include Neilson Report, Organics 101 and a Retailer Roundtable. "Having Nielsen, Tonya Antle, Matt Seeley and Shannon Allen presenting their absolute best as experts in the area of organics in one venue will make this a powerful event," Tom Murray, vice president of produce at Roche Bros., said in the release. The program was developed in a partnership with Massachusetts-based New England Produce Council Inc. and California-based Organic Produce Network.
