As this Thursday comes to a close, with it comes the end of the American Seed Trade Association’s 2021 (ASTA) CSS & Seed Expo. But, though it might be another year until the next CSS & Seed Expo, ASTA CEO Andy LaVigne says that this year has been a roaring success.
“It’s been almost two years, and it’s great to get this group back together,” LaVigne says. “It’s been a challenge. We decided, ‘No, the show is going to continue.’ We’ve got over 1,700 members from the seed industry together with us.”
And although COVID is still a concern, members have been following the local mandates for success. In addition, LaVigne says members from South America and Europe were able to join.
“We’re glad to see our companies from South America and Europe coming here — it’s a great interaction to be able and sit across the table to have a conversation instead of across a screen,” he says.
The big news coming out of the CSS & Seed Expo, though, is that after 37 years, ASTA is moving the location of its biggest yearly conference.
“We’re going to be moving this show from Chicago after next year,” LaVigne says. “In 2023, we’ll be moving to Orlando. It’s a tradition that for many years we’ve been in Chicago, but we also realized that it’s time for a change. We’re looking forward to it.”
Make sure to visit Seed World’s Facebook page to hear LaVigne talk more about some of his favorite parts of this year’s CSS & Seed Expo.
