“We have been exhibiting at the New York Produce Show since its beginning,” Kurt Zuhlke, Jr., president and chief executive officer Kurt Zuhlke & Associates, headquartered in Bangor, PA, told The Produce News. “The quality of the attendees at this show is a lot more of the decision makers, especially for smaller companies whose decision makers can’t attend the national shows.”

The show is being held at Pier 94, Dec. 10-12. Kurt Zuhlke & Associates will be exhibiting at Booth No. 609.

“We have exhibited at the New York Produce Show every year since its inception,” said Louis Hymel, director of purchasing and marketing for Spice World Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL. “We will be at Booth No. 468, with a sales and executive staff to meet and greet customers and prospective customers alike.”

He added that the show is great, and many of Spice World’s customers attend, but on the heels of the PMA Fresh Summit, and with the holiday season right after, it keeps produce professionals hustling during this period of time.

Steven Dandrea, vice president of Dandrea Produce Inc., headquartered in Vineland, NJ, told The Produce News that the New York Produce Show definitely helps to drive business for the company.

“We have been exhibiting since its inception, and we’re looking forward to a great fourth event,” said Dandrea. “We’ll be at Booth No. 271 with our executive group and sales team, including family members.”

“Duda Farm Fresh Foods has exhibited at the New York Produce Show and Conference since its inception and we will be there again this year,” said Nichole Towell, marketing director for the Oviedo, FL-based company. “We are really looking forward to this show. Each year it proves to be an even bigger success in terms of the foot traffic and types of people visiting. And each year we look forward to meeting with our existing customers in the Northeast and meeting new faces to formulate long lasting relationships.”

Bruce Klein, director of marketing for Maurice A. Auerbach in Secaucus, NJ, told The Produce News that the company is a veteran of the New York Produce Show, adding that the first three shows in New York City were great experiences, and that the show was enhanced greatly when it moved from the Hilton Hotel to Pier 94 at 55th Street and the West Side Highway.

The company will be exhibiting at Booth No. 330 at the NYPS.

“We have exhibited at the New York Produce Show every year since its inception,” Ronnie Cohen, vice president of sales for Vision Import Group LLC, in River Edge, NJ, told The Produce News. “We are active members of the Eastern Produce Council, and we attend a lot of meetings. And, this is our region, and so many of our customers and prospective customers attend this show.”

Cohen said that he believes that regional shows have taken on a life of their own — one that offers much more one-on-one intimacy between customers and suppliers.