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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ATTRACTING THE TROPICAL PLANT INDUSTRY EXPOSITION, THE FOOD SERVICE CONFERENCE & EXPO, AND THE FRESH SUMMIT TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD WITHIN 60 DAYS

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WHEREAS, the Tropical Plant Industry Exposition (TPIE) is the Florida trade event that offers everything foliage, floral and tropical, in one location. With more than 500 exhibiting companies, TPIE offers wholesale buyers the widest array of resources for foliage and tropical plants in the country. TPIE appeals to all types of commercial foliage, plant & cut flower buyers, including representatives from garden centers, supermarkets, chain retailers, wholesale and retail florists, interior-landscape companies, re-wholesalers, buying cooperatives, brokers, landscape companies, and public gardens; and
WHEREAS, the TPIE is organized by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association and is held every year in January at the Broward Convention Center; and
WHEREAS, the Foodservice Conference & Expo (FSC), introduced by the Produce Marketing Association in 1982, is a three-day learning and networking experience focused on bringing foodservice professionals together to learn about produce industry issues and topics, see the latest products and services, and strengthen business relationships; and
WHEREAS, the FSC is organized by the Produce Marketing Association and is held every year in July at various location around the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Fresh Summit, founded 58 years ago is the leading produce industry event in the Americas and it is held every October at various locations around the United States and will be held in Orlando in 2008; and
WHEREAS, the Fresh Summit is organized by the Produce Marketing Association and is attended annually by more that 15,000 participants from throughout the global fresh produce and floral supply chains. Participants come together as a community to learn, network, and build business relationships; and
WHEREAS, industry events such as the TPIE, the FSC and the Fresh Summit provide a positive economic impact to Miami-Dade County and help promote Miami-Dade County as a center of national and international commerce and agriculture,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the Board of County Commissioners hereby directs the Mayor or his designee to study the feasibility of attracting the Tropical Plant Industry Exposition, The Food Service Conference & Expo, and the Fresh Summit to Miami-Dade County and to report back to the Board within 60 days.