This animated gif list captures the storyline and emotions behind Fresh Summit 2014 in Anaheim.

Walking the show floor this past week during United Fresh in Chicago, we caught on to one theme that really blew us away between produce companies and our FMI neighbors: partnerships. When produce companies strategically pair with complementary brands, particularly those with strong consumer brand awareness, it stands out – on the show floor and ultimately on the retail shelf. Many produce companies used this year’s show as an opportunity to unveil and showcase their perfect pairings, and with our combo with the FMI Showcase, we were able to scout out many more pairing potentials with the likes of powerhouse brands like Hershey and Budweiser. Here’s a recap of our favorite produce partnerships that payoff:

The second annual United Fresh Retail Produce Marketing & Merchandising Conference took place on Friday, June 13, 2014 and hosted approximately 150 fresh produce marketers seeking to be inspired by the expert presenters and fellow produce industry panelists in attendance. The day was complete with content aimed to give marketers information and insights into branding, packaging, point-of-sale and even the post-buying/consumer communication process. Below we compiled ten key take-aways that we found helpful and think you should know as you plan for your upcoming marketing activities.