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Invitation from the Chair of the USPLTA

Greetings USPLTA Members!

Start making your plans to attend the 2023 USPLTA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA! Book your rooms NOW! Although it is a huge hotel, New Orleans is a popular meeting destination!

Don’t be fooled that this meeting will be all about food, jazz, spirits, and entertainment … We have the bones for a fantastic meeting as well. The convention committee has blended work and the locality of the meeting. Spouses will want to tag along for this meeting; register them to join us for the Welcome Reception, Thursday reception & dinner, and Friday afternoon & evening activities.

Our meeting will be held at the Sheraton on Canal Street, which is on the edge of the French Quarter. The General Session will begin on Wednesday afternoon, September 27. Check out the tentative agenda for specifics on each day’s events, and more will be added throughout the spring and summer as additional speakers confirm. Two of our featured speakers bring something new to our event: Robert Siciliano will address cybersecurity and best practices to protect our personal and business transactions from the dark web, and Jacob Shapiro, a leading expert in global geopolitics, will address the potential impacts on US pulse production and exports. This year, the registration fee includes Friday afternoon and evening activities…some things you just can’t do in most other places in the U.S.!

I’m looking forward to seeing you in New Orleans! If you need any help getting registered or booking rooms, don’t hesitate to contact Kim Monk. She will help you out!

See you in New Orleans!!

Brett Melvin
US Pea & Lentil Trade Association Chairman

I missed you all last year, but was away, welcoming the newest addition to our family tree: my sweet granddaughter, Kaylee!

Kaylee, born September 17, 2021

I’ll be leading the way this year as we continue to make progress for in-person events! Our new norm is likely to include virtual components of our meetings and events, but… we are truly hopeful that you will consider attending the 2022 USPLTA meeting in person! There is no replacing the comradery of sitting side by side, sharing a story, beverage, and experiences together.

We are meeting at Skamania Lodge on the Columbia River. It’s an easy flight to Portland and less than an hour from the airport to Skamania Lodge. The Lodge has undergone a facelift since our last stay in 2011 and has made changes – but their service promises to be world-class. Fishing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday morning, September 28; sturgeon fishing is a go for sure and steelhead is currently a possibility. Our golf tournament will be held on Friday at one of Washington’s best kept secret courses, Elk Ridge, which is about 10 minutes away.

The meeting agenda is under-construction also! Additions will come throughout the summer. The newly hired Director of Research and Sustainability, Will Lytle, will be introduced and speak at the event. VP of Marketing, Jeff Rumney, is bringing a team of European buyers to the event providing an opportunity for one-on-one meetings for attendees beginning on Tuesday afternoon and continuing until Thursday morning. The European buyers will also speak on Wednesday afternoon to their markets and how the Ukraine events are affecting the industry. Domestic Marketing and Policy updates will be included on the agenda, including an update on DCM research. We can’t be near Seattle and Portland without thinking of Transportation issues; they will be covered!

Book your hotel rooms early! We are offering a virtual registration as well. Attendees can join the meeting sessions and participate remotely. We are encouraging companies to consider this option, allowing more of your employees to participate in the committee meetings, keep abreast of industry issues, and be part of the pulse community.

Looking forward to seeing you at Skamania Lodge in September!

Jim Groth
US Pea & Lentil Trade Association Chairman