This conference ends with a bang! One of the educational and networking highlights of Produce Marketing Association's (PMA) 2010 Foodservice Conference & Exposition "Get Cooking!", to be held July 30-Aug. 1, in Monterey, California, USA will happen on the last day, when the trade show gets underway that has been called "the best five hours in foodservice."

This year's sold-out expo will feature over 150 exhibitors, each offering their own products, services and other innovations to help increase produce use in foodservice. To learn more about this year's exhibitors, visit the event's virtual trade show at www.pma.com/foodservice.

"Unlike some extended trade shows that can seem too big to manage, PMA's foodservice conference expo is smaller and more intimate than most national expos, but still has the breadth and depth of products and services to deliver a full plate of value," said Mary Wright-Rana, co-chair of PMA's planning committee for this event and director of marketing for national fresh produce distributor PRO*ACT, headquartered in Monterey.

To help expo visitors locate those exhibitors who are featuring new products, the expo will feature a New Products Showcase, a one-stop preview that will be positioned at the expo entrance. Exhibitors with new products to highlight are being encouraged to sign up for the showcase immediately, as space is limited; special recognition opportunities are being awarded to showcase participants who sign up early.

"The expo is a great opportunity to let our customers know about the broad range of products we market 12 months of the year, we are able to develop new customers across our complete product range," said Chris Henry, director of sales and marketing for Giumarra Agricom International LLC. "The conference and trade show both provide equal opportunities to meet customers as well as other suppliers with whom we might exchange ideas."

PMA will recognize the most outstanding exhibitors at this year's expo with its annual "Best of Show" contest. A team of undercover industry professionals will judge each exhibit on booth and product presentation, as well as professionalism demonstrated by the booth personnel. Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., won first place at the 2009 trade show, earning national attention as well as first choice of booth space at this year's expo.

While the expo itself it sold out, numerous conference sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies looking to increase their companies' visibility in the foodservice community. There are a range of sponsorships to fit any budget ?§C from the event's opening reception to the trade publication displays. Benefits including listing in the conference program and on PMA.com, and your company logo prominently displayed onsite. To learn more, contact PMA's Dot Siegfried by telephone at +1 (302) 738-7100 or via email at dsiegfried@pma.com .

Several conference deadlines are fast approaching. Register early and save ?§C by June 18 if registering by fax or mail, and July 2 if registering online. Note that the deadline to book discounted housing is June 24; the deadline to pre-register is July 16. For more information and to register online, visit www.pma.com/foodservice.