2017 Annual Industry Meeting for USDA Foods Contractors and Suppliers

Date
July 28, 2017

Event Date: Tuesday, October 24 – Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites industry stakeholders to join us for the 2017 Annual USDA Foods Contractors and Suppliers Industry Meeting to discuss commodity purchase programs and USDA Foods.

This meeting offers a great opportunity to share new information about the purchase program and provides opportunities to collaborate with other supplier and contractor stakeholders to improve the program. This year instead of one general meeting, there will be two half-day sessions where everyone will meet within the following groups –

  • Fruit & Vegetable;
  • Livestock,
  • Poultry & Seafood; and
  • Dairy, Grains & Oilseeds, for both days. 

This format will provide more opportunities for our stakeholders to discuss their particular industry’s issues and concerns in a smaller, more focused group. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, starting about 9a.m., here are some additional highlights to look forward to:

  • Industry Group Networking Sessions

  • New Vendor Session

(This session is for new vendors or first time attendee’s to further discuss our program.  Please register at the link below.)

  • Formal Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM) Training

(Classroom style training will be provided on how to submit a bid, requesting reports, etc. Please register at the link below.)

More information regarding these opportunities (including exact times and locations) will be coming in the near future.

Proposed discussion topics include:

  • Business Management Improvement potential pilot projects,
  • proposed new contracting methods,
  • new product development, and
  • changes to the Master Solicitation.

Where:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC-Crystal City
300 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, Virginia  22202

Industry Session Times:  Tuesday, Oct. 24 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 25 – 8 a.m. to 12:30 .pm.

Registration: Register for the meeting at Eventbrite.com.

Hotel Room Reservations:  A block of rooms has been reserved at the rate of $231 (single) and $261 (double) per room under the event name: AMS Annual Industry Meeting – Fall 2017.  This hotel rate will be available only until Oct. 4, 2017, or until the group block is sold out. Please note, beginning Oct. 1, the prevailing per diem rate for Fiscal Year 2018 will apply.

Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Reservations will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To make a reservation, call the DoubleTree Hotel (1-800-222-TREE) and provide the group code AMS, or use the link below:

https://aws.passkey.com/event/49001707/owner/1591/home

To see updates about the meeting go to https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/events.  Please email any questions you have to CPIndustryMeeting@ams.usda.gov.

We highly value your participation and look forward to seeing you at the meeting!