WASHINGTON – Beginning in 2012 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, the American Meat Institute (A.M.I.), the Food Marketing Institute (F.M.I.) and the United Fresh Produce Association (U.F.P.A.) will co-locate their premier trade shows – the F.M.I. Exhibit and Education Event, the A.M.I. International Meat Poultry and Seafood Convention and Exposition, and United Fresh.

The A.M.I. Expo will be held April 30-May 3, 2012, while the F.M.I. Exhibit and Education Event and United Fresh will be held May 1-3, 2012. All three shows will offer their own exhibit halls, as well as unique education programming for their own attendees. The partners will explore potential joint programming and networking events.

Although this marks a reunion between the F.M.I. Show and United Fresh, it is the first co-location of either group with the A.M.I. Expo. This co-location creates an event that connects the meat processing, fruit and vegetable and retail industries to create synergy for all exhibitors and attendees.

“Now, in addition to state-of-the art technology and cutting-edge education, A.M.I. packer processors have a third compelling reason to attend the A.M.I. Convention and Exposition — thousands of their retail customers in one place,” said Patrick Boyle, A.M.I. president and c.e.o. “Attendees will benefit from a wide array of joint educational programming. Exhibitors at all three shows will take advantage of the expanded marketing opportunity and additional traffic on the show floor.”