It was the summer of 1986 when several IFT leaders from Southern California and Northern California met at Chapman University to share a vision at the interface of academe-food industry education. Those leaders were Robert “Bob” Pearl from UC Davis, Walter Clark, Fred Caporaso and Lou Rockland from Chapman University, Wayne Bidlack from the University of Southern California, and Milo Nielsen and Roger Clemens from Carnation. Their vision was to increase education and collaboration directed to the future of the industry and enhancement of student career opportunities at this interface. The initial conference in 1987 was a 2-1/2-day program at Chapman University that engaged an audience of more than 300 individuals, obtained considerable industry sponsorship of breakout sessions, advanced student poster session competition, and attracted the IFT president. Over the course of 35 years (as of 2022), the Southern California Section of IFT continues this conference under the excellent, diverse and visionary leadership of the local section and continues to engage extraordinary domestic and international scientists and promising students from academe and industry.