2024 Schedule & Workshops
October 23rd
Early Registration and all day Intensive Session
- Bob’s Red Mill baked oatmeal with maple syrup and berries
- Poached Hood River pears with toasted hazelnuts
- Assorted freshly baked pastries
- Seasonal fresh fruits
- Chilled fruit juices
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Gluten free biscuits
How to Flail, How to Fail, How to Fly
Life and Ledger Lessons from a Retail Unicorn
PLEASE NOTE: There is an additional fee for this event
Join us for an insightful and electric day of conference and conversation with John Mabbott, a veteran of the Provender Alliance. John is currently engaged as a turnaround manager with the Los Alamos Food Co-op, marking his sixth mission in this role.
“I consider these missions,” John says. “I hate seeing grocery stores close, I hate seeing people lose jobs, and I hate it the most when it is clearly avoidable.”
Over the past three years, John’s presentation “Re-Imagining Managing” has captivated audiences nationwide employing his blend of humor, peppery speech, personal anecdotes, and poignant insights, to significantly enhancing leadership in food stores across the country.
Now back in the “turnaround business,” John aims to merge these experiences into a powerful and “good heavy” learning session.
Boxed Lunches
- Mixed Garden Greens (with tofu or chicken)
- Turkey Sandwich (roasted turkey, bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato)
- Veggie Sandwich (provolone, marinated red peppers, mixed greens
All boxes include:
- Potato chips
- Whole fresh fruit
- Assorted beverages
- House made cookies
If you find yourself arriving early to the conference, meet us in the Atrium, along Sponsors Row, for a Meet & Greet with the Board and folks who have attended the Wednesday Intensive. This is an informal opportunity to greet old friends and begin making new conference connections.
Light Hors d’oeuvres, no host bar.
Did you sign up for work trade? Thank you for your special support of the Conference!
You must attend this brief training session to prepare for your assigned tasks. We promise to keep it brief, and fun!
October 24th
Meet at the front desk for an informal group run or walk. Get the day started off with a little fresh air and movement along the river!
- Organic scrambled eggs
- Chorizo Hash with onions and poblano peppers
- Seasoned black beans
- Flour and corn tortillas
- Sour cream and house made salsa
- Queso Fresco
- Seasonal fresh fruit
- Orange juice
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal
- Gluten free biscuits
Paul Stamets, Founder and Chief Scientist of Host Defense and Fungi Perfecti
Continuing the Revolution from the Fungal Underground
The Never-ending Story of Beneficial Mushrooms
Long ago the Provender community were early adopters in supporting Stamets and his colleagues in their research on mushrooms. Given recent scientific results, the importance of our native fungi is more profound than what can be imagined. Stamets’ talk will cover retrospective and current breakthroughs in the usefulness of mushroom mycelium and fruit bodies for supporting the immune system in human health.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Paul Stamets has been a mycologist for 40 years and is the author of seven books. His new book on psilocybin mushrooms is due out in Spring 2025. He is an invention ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was inducted into The Explorer’s Club in 2020. He has received numerous awards, including the National Mycologist Award from the North American Mycological Association, the Gordon and Tina Wasson Award from the Mycological Society of America, and the Disruptor Award from NextMed.
He has named four new species of psilocybin mushrooms, and a new species of mushrooms has recently been named after him: Psilocybe stametsii.
Paul is a dedicated Earthling, Knowledge Keeper, and is a leader in the protection of ecosystems focusing on the roles of mycelium and mushrooms. Paul’s philosophy is that “MycoDiversity is BioSecurity.” He funds research to save rare strains of mushrooms that dwell within the old growth forests. He believes the old growth forests contain a deep reservoir of species essential for pandemic defense. His contributions include supplying several clinical studies showing immune support with mushroom mycelium.
He is a collaborator with numerous scientific organizations and research institutes. His research is considered breakthrough by thought leaders for creating a paradigm shift for helping ecosystems worldwide.
His work has entered the mainstream of popular culture: In the new Star Trek: Discovery series on CBS, the science officer is portrayed by an astromycologist, Lt. Commander Paul Stamets. His work with mycelium has become a central theme of this series. In addition, he is the primary guide to the incredible mushroom documentary Fantastic Fungi, which first appeared in theaters in fall 2019, with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Paul will be appearing in a live virtual interactive presentation
Cultivating Connections: Building a Stronger Domestic Herb Supply Chain
Hardwired for Comfort: Understanding and Overcoming our Brain’s Resistance to Change
Retail Voodoo’s Most Excellent Strategic Brand Audit for Your Natural’s Brand
Soup and Salad Bar
- Mixed Garden Greens
- Grilled and sliced chicken
- Assorted sliced vegetables
- Variety of house prepared toppings
- Choice of dressings (GF and Vegan options)
- House baked garlic and rosemary focaccia
- GF dinner rolls
- Soup du Jour – vegan/GF and meat
- Assorted house made cookies (GF options)
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Iced tea
Your Provender board will take the stage, with updates about their work throughout the year, the state of our Alliance, ways that you can become involved, and to introduce the candidates for the 2025 Board positions. We like to entertain, and occasionally embarrass, ourselves – so don’t miss out on this fun and informative update!
Conk’d: Medicinal Mushroom Conks of the PNW and Beyond
Seaweed in Culinary – A seaweed 101 lesson and cooking workshop
Reimagining Ownership: Business Succession that Puts Purpose First
You are not going to want to miss this! Join us for a Provender-style tabletop show and networking event. Alliance member manufacturers, distributors, and sales professional show and tell the story of their business and products to conference attendees.
This is an opportunity for retailers to learn more about the people behind the products they buy and sell and for everyone in the natural products community to network in a fun and informative atmosphere. This is an unconventional sales event. We have fun! Meet Your Makers is the chance to develop warm and personal connections between buyers and sellers that doesn’t happen at giant trade shows.
Register as an exhibitor online HERE.
⭐ NEW in 2024: Networking and spending time with our Provender community is really the best and we want more of it! We will be serving our evening food and drinks in the same space as the tabletop show, so you have more time to grab a beverage and a bite, and chat with your new connections.
- Stuffed Mushrooms (Vegan/GF)
- Braised pork sliders
- Tandoori Chicken Skewers (GF)
- Tomato Basil Bruschetta (vegetarian)
- Antipasti Skewers (GF)
- Smoked Salmon display
- Cheese and fruit platter
- Crudité assorted veggies with house ranch
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- No-host bar
October 25th
Meet at the front desk for an informal group run or walk. Get the day started off with a little fresh air and movement along the river!
- Pork apple sausage
- Vegan sausage
- Organic scrambled eggs
- Roasted red breakfast potatoes
- Biscuits with butter and Hood River preserves
- Seasonal fresh fruits
- Chilled fruit juices
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal with fixin’s
- GF biscuits
Balancing Change: A Change Management conversation with Dee Fretwell and the Next Generation
Join Dee Fretwell in a survey of the current world of change management, the balancing act leadership juggles day to day, and hear how our panel of Next Generation leaders is working to create lasting positive impact and change in the world.
Dee’s expertise ranges across executive coaching, strategic planning, organization design and transformation, and leadership development. Her industry experience encompasses SAAS, sales and marketing, professional services, manufacturing, publishing, financial services, and nonprofit development, grant writing and board governance.
In addition to her tenure at Southern Oregon University as Past Chair, Senior Faculty School of Business, Dee has worked at EcoTeas Fair Trade / Organic Teas as Vice-President of Operations, serving in a business development and manufacturing role for this privately held firm. She has also worked extensively with many nonprofits within the United States.
Dee received an M.B.A. degree from SOU as well as a Certificate in Business Analytics from Harvard Business School. A natural educator, Dee is also TESOL certified. Dee has completed certification work through the University of South Florida in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as in Global Retail and Supply Trends. She is the founder of the Global Innovation Scholars Program and is a Board of Advisor and/or Director on multiple national nonprofit boards. She also received the graduate award, The Guanajuato Award, for her commitment to community and service.
Dee will be leading our Friday Keynote panel conversation with help from some of our next generation leaders.
Regenerative: What it is, How and Where it’s showing up, and Why you should Care
Post Keynote Conversation with Dee Fretwell + Next Gen Youth panel
Soup and Salad Bar
- Mixed Garden Greens
- Grilled and sliced chicken
- Assorted sliced vegetables
- Variety of house prepared toppings
- Choice of dressings (GF and Vegan options)
- House baked garlic and rosemary focaccia
- Gluten free biscuits
- Soup du Jour – vegan/GF and meat
- Assorted house made cookies (GF options)
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Iced tea
Holiday Merchandising Playbook: Driving Sales in Your Produce Department
The Organic Shopping Basket: The regulations behind the organic claims
Brand Storytelling to Capture the Sustainable Consumer: A Seafood Case Study
Building Bridges creating a culture of Acknowledgement, Appreciation and Accountability
AI in Small Natural Businesses
Produce Roundtable: Sharing Challenges, Solutions & Successes
Please plan to join us for this critical conversation about how we continue to make the Alliance the strongest force for good in the natural products industry.
Best of Hood River Dinner
- Pan roasted salmon filet
- Braised beef short ribs
- Stuffed Piquillo peppers (vegan)
- Garlic-rosemary roasted baby potatoes
- Local seasonal vegetables
- Organic mixed greens
- House baked garlic and rosemary focaccia
- Gluten free biscuits
- Coffee, decaf coffee, assorted teas
- Seasonal fruit cobbler
You love Provender, Provender loves you! Don’t miss the 2024 awards celebration where we recognize and razz outstanding contributors to Provender and our trade.
What did you win?! Our annual silent auction ends and you get to come swoop up your new Provender treasures. We appreciate your support of the Alliance through donated auction items and purchases.
A Provender favorite!! Bring a logo item from your business to add to the wall of beautiful designs. Buy some raffle tickets, and watch your closet fill with rad new merchandise from some of your favorite organizations. Proceeds go to the 2024 work trade fund.
You, or your proxy, must be present to win the raffle.
Is it even a Provender conference without our besties, Karaoke From Hell ?
If you’ve never experienced the thrill of being the star of the stage, get ready to have the time of your life! Karaoke, but with the best live band in your corner. Not a great singer? Forget the lyrics? Don’t stress, they’ve always got your back so you can rock out, front and center stage!
October 26th
Meet on the patio by the river for fond farewells until next year.
The new Provender board meets. You are most welcome to attend!