by Nancy Tucker
Bringing PMA to Your Backyard

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) is well known for its international convention and exposition, Fresh Summit, held each fall. Yet PMA is much more than just a week in October at a convention – PMA offers year-round value that connects, informs and delivers business solutions to enhance members’ prosperity. To inform our readers about PMA's many and varied activities designed specifically for its worldwide members, Fresh Plaza is publishing a series of articles about PMA's activities.

In an increasingly global produce marketplace, PMA’s mission to connect, inform and deliver business solutions to its members worldwide might seem like a challenge at first glance. So how does PMA deliver value, not just year-round but also around the world? By bringing PMA to your backyard, through PMA’s international Fresh Connections events.

Our Fresh Connections events bring PMA to our members – and potential members – around the world, connecting you with fellow industry professionals from all segments of the industry supply chain while keeping you ahead of the curve on important business issues. Fresh Connections can range from receptions and luncheons to workshops to full-blown conferences, all with the same objective: to bring PMA and our resources to our members around the world.  These events offer attendees valuable educational and networking opportunities, and give PMA the opportunity to hear first-hand from members about your interests, issues and needs. They also give nonmembers a chance to discover the year-round value that PMA offers.

Thus far we have 2009 International Fresh Connections events scheduled in Mexico, Chile and Australia, all of which have hosted events in the past.  PMA’s international representatives have witnessed first-hand the value these programs have for the attendees.  “The events provide significant networking opportunities and offer unique local and global industry perspectives and insights” says Alejandro Larreategui, PMA representative in Mexico. “Additionally, sponsors of the event really illustrate their leadership role in the industry.”

John Baker, PMA’s representative in Australia and New Zealand further explains, “These events provide the opportunity for cross-sector networking in an independent environment as well as learning how to gain the most from PMA membership. Our Fresh Connections conference has become the ‘must-attend’ conference in our region.”

Australia and New Zealand’s 2009 Fresh Connections Conference, to be held in Sydney May 24-26, will explore issues relevant to the Australian and New Zealand markets. Topics will include the launch of Future Focus - A Strategic Plan for the Australian Horticulture Industry, retailing trends, exporting to Asia, attracting talent, and a special session on bulletproofing your business by learning keys to success in an economic downturn.  Participants will see new products and network with current or potential customers during the conference’s exposition.  This is one of the only events in Australia bringing Australian and New Zealand supply chains together, and thus serves as an invaluable supply chain networking opportunity.

Our April 28 Fresh Connections Seminar in Santiago, Chile, will bring together leaders of that country’s horticultural export industry to examine survival measures for the international economic crisis and present analysis and solutions. Topics and presenters include looking at the U.S. and global economic crisis, analysis of the retail industry and changing consumer habits and a Chilean overview of the crisis. This year's event is expected to bring together over 300 participants.

Our Mexico Fresh Connections Conference on May 28-29 in Guadalajara will explore the international economic crisis and its repercussions for the global produce industry, with a particular focus on Mexico’s markets.  The event will provide attendees with a critical analysis of the impact on the retail and export sectors, while also providing in-depth insight into emerging consumer and industry trends.  More importantly, the event will go beyond analysis to offer a fresh perspective and ideas for concrete and successful solutions.  

Especially in this current business climate, PMA’s Fresh Connections events provide a valuable link to fellow industry members as well as indispensable opinions and information.  For more information on these and other Fresh Connections events, go to www.pma.com/freshconnections.  If you would like to sponsor a Fresh Connections in your neighborhood, contact PMA’s Shara Stewart. 

Publication date: 3/17/2009

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