PMA to host Fresh Connections: Australia conference Aug. 14-15 in Sydney

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will travel ‘down under’ to host its third annual Fresh Connections: Australia conference Aug. 14-15 in Sydney. The conference will address the global market and consumer trends affecting the Australian and New Zealand fruit and vegetable industries. It is expected to attract PMA members and non-members from all sectors of the supply chain, including suppliers and retail and foodservice buyers. In 2007, Fresh Connections: Australia was highly rated by attendees, whose numbers reached 200 thereby exceeding attendance of the inaugural conference by 20 percent.

“Year after year the event’s attendance increases, affirming that members of Australia and New Zealand’s produce industry want this personalized attention from PMA,” said Michael Simonetta, CEO of Perfection Fresh Australia Pty Ltd. This year Simonetta will emcee the conference, opening Aug. 14 at the Sheraton Four Points, at which PMA President Bryan Silbermann will kick off the conference as the first keynote speaker. Silbermann will discuss the biggest global and regional trends facing the produce industry from his unique vantage point as president of an international produce association with members worldwide.

The conference’s educational program on Aug. 15 will feature presentations on regional consumer trends by Kris Walker, director of product leadership for AC Nielsen; and on cross promotion and packaging innovations by Dan’l Mackey-Almy, president and managing partner of DMA Solutions. PMA’s Lorna Christie, senior vice president of industry products and services, will explore the difference between marketing versus selling and how a shift in mindset could lead to increased consumer confidence and profits. A highlight of the event will be the conference’s closing dinner featuring keynote speaker Michael Luscombe, chief executive officer of Woolworths, Australia’s largest retailer.

“I am looking forward with great anticipation to hearing from our Australian and New Zealand members firsthand about what’s on their minds, and how PMA can best work on their behalf,” stated Silbermann. “Fresh Connections events also give our members a chance to network with each other and give nonmembers a chance to learn more about how PMA can work for their businesses. In this case, PMA’s third annual Fresh Connections conference in the region really does provide a unique opportunity for our members across the supply chain to develop a greater sense of a community with shared interests.”

Fresh Connections events reflect PMA’s ongoing outreach to members in their own backyards. At these events, PMA members and prospective members from the entire supply chain are able to experience the benefits of PMA membership and its community and receive expert information relevant to their region. In addition to Australia, other PMA Fresh Connections conferences held in 2008 include: Nogales, Ariz. May 20; Guadalajara, Mexico May 29; Santiago, Chile June 10; and Coral Springs, Fla. July 17.

For more information or to register, visit www.cievents.com.au/events/freshconnections_australia_registration. Attendees have until Aug. 1, to pre-register; onsite registration will also be available. For conference event questions, contact Lynda Fisher at PMA's United States office at lfisher@pma.com or via phone at +1 (302) 738-7100. For registration questions, contact Kristy Forster at kristy.forster@cievents.com.au or via phone at +61 2 9923 8673. Sponsorships for this event are still available; contact Sharnah Coulthart at sharnahc@batlowapples.com.au or via phone at +61 2 8746 0267 for details.

Publication date: 6/13/2008

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