PMA Fresh Connections A-NZ 2015

Conference day! Delegates arrive at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre for the first day of PMA Fresh Connection A-NZ.

Some coffee and networking before the first session.

John Said Chairman of the PMA Australia- New Zealand opens the conference.

Chris Riddell, Futurist and Digital Strategist talks about digital technology, social media and the need for fresh produce companies to keep up with consumers.

Jeff Dunn, President Packaged Fresh at Campbell Soup Co. stresses the importance of branding and making fresh produce attractive to consumers.

The attendance was great, beating last year's record numbers. It was expected that between 12-14,000 people would attend the event over three days.

Steve Tsakoumakis - Kapiris Bros, Kerry Day and Geoffrey Story.

Dan'l Mackey Almy, President and CEO of DMA Solutions stresses the importance of marketing in fresh produce.

Justin Frank, Director of Strategy and Marketing at CHEP AU.

David Hughes, Imperial College London talks about the fall of Tesco, rise of ALDI and online shopping.

Michael Lamond, Good Fruit and Veg Magazine, Fairfax Media with Bede Miller, Cravo, AU.

Michael Simonetta - Perfection Fresh, Mario Saad - Woolworths and Matt Palise - Rich Red Fruits.

Paul Gazzola - Gazzola Farms, Diane Staatz and Anthony Staatz - Fresh Select.

Brian Crust - Fresh Select, Chris Burge - Green Acres and Clinton Crust Fresh Select.

Jan van Kessel and Leon Hooghart - BG Doors with the MC of the event Toby Travanner popping up in-between.

Rachel Sanders and John Glesson - Driscolls, Darren Tullio, Mark Conroy and Patrick Inkster from Fiesta Fruit.

Adam Witison - Fruitlink and Ray Daniels from Berry Yummy.

Jeanine Sciacca - Associate Director in Commercial Development - Nielson Marketing Services.

Luke Oldridge - Senior Manager Marketing Services at Nielson Marketing Services

Wayne Prowse, Principle and Senior Analyst - Fresh Intelligence Consulting.

Colin Fain, Agronomics USA.

Cathy Burns, President of the PMA and Michael Worthington, PMA A-NZ.

Cathy and Michael announce a new marketing campaign to promote fruit and vegetables to kids.

The campaign strapline is Pick Right, Feel Bright and will be promoted with help from top Aussie kids entertainers The Wiggles.

Wednesday was trade show day, there was a constant stream of visitors throughout the day.

Bill Brown, Nick Payne - BUNZL Food Processor Supplies with processing and packaging innovations on display.

An array of fresh vegetables on display. It made for a great splash of colour.

Ken Orr, Executive Officer, Vegetables Victoria with Duncan Lamont, South Pacific Seeds.

Stavroula Drakos and Michael Valelohea at the Lynch Group Stand. The Lynch Group also supplied some gorgeous purple orchid centrepieces for the Women's Fresh Perspectives brunch. Attendees were also offered bunches of flowers to take home.

Amy Braddon, Selwyn Snell (Chair), Angus Street, Astrid Hughes at HIA – Horticulture Innovation Australia. HIA delivered its vision for the next year, and sponsored lunch on day 1.

Wayne Prowse – Fresh Intelligence.

A crate of fresh butternut pumpkins on display at CHEP AU.

CHEP's RDC reusable banana crate. This was just one innovative case study offered up by Justin Frank of CHEP.

Brett Woolley, Paul Anderson, Adam Pfeiffer from CHEP Australia. CHEP also found a solution to ship an oversupply of avocados from New Zealand to the US in a hurry.

Sam Robson (CEO), Katie DeVilliers, Nicole Lenske, Sarah Huntley, Brenda Walker (GM, Corporate Marketing), Andrew Francey (GM Communications), Duncan Lamont at One Harvest. We loved the bright colours and fresh look at the One Harvest stand. The team were all smiles for us. Fantastic job!

Fresh beetroot on display from One Harvest, and the cryo packed version. The cryo packed ones were also provided as samples at the Women's Fresh Perspectives brunch.

Gerd Uitdewilligen, Danielle White (Hannay Douglas)at Paksense.

Michael Davidson, Greg Warren - Food Bank. The team at Food Bank. This organisation continues to do amazing things and is unfortunately more needed than ever before in the community it serves.

David Worsley, Gavin Bell, David Carter, Phil Blair, Chris Kerton - Orora.

Phil Lyons - FALCON UAV Stand. Phil also gave a presentation during the day, and happily shared the details of the Ag Eagle. He talked about what drones will soon be capable of and how they help growers anticipate diseases and measure plant health - including measuring moisture content in what they photograph!

Phillip Alexander, Fabien Bachagerouni - MAF Oceania Stand.

Jimmy Caldarero, Charles Carrubba - The Techno-Pak Stand.

Ross Cannavo (Severn River Produce), Clinton McGrath (DAF).

Mitch Pursehouse, Tony Sayle, Andrew Moon, Rohan Ovens - J- Tech Systems.

Leigh Cummins, Jow Brancatisano, Phil Cummins, Greg Atkins, Steve Page - Catalytic Generators.

Brendan Hayes, Nicole Cutri, Gaethan Cutri, Dion Samtamaria - Coles.

Chris de Krom - Proud Solutions.

Rod Hall, Consultant, Greenburn Horticulture. Rod has created a niche for himself following his career in the industry. He now consults to small and medium sized growers.

Harry Kapiris, Steve Tsakoumakis, John Kapiris, Peter Wilson, Trevor Wilson all from Kapiris Brothers, with Paul Ahern - Aherns Fruit Market.

The Schur Star Systems stand, this machine has a 3-5 minute changeover time, creative packaging shapes.

Vince Brullo, Joe Tullio, Ray Erwin from Australia Fruits.

Carlos Trimboli, 'Farmer Chris', Joan Macdougal at Your Local Greengrocer Stand. Farmer Chris in the middle would have been at the trade show in real life, but we were told he is rather shy.

Fresh produce on display in the hall.

Fresh citrus and produce on display from AMV.

Capsicums and carrots in a colourful display by Mildura Fresh.

Tomatoes on colourful display.

Damon Watling, Juan Guzman from Bard Valley Natural Delights.

The Valley Fresh/Freshmax Stand.

Attendees listening to a presentation by Phil Lyons of FALCON UAV.

Onions and apples on display.

Jan De Haan, Sander Van Der Knijlff, Mark Dobson - Dobmac Agricultural Machinery.

Oliver Flint (GM, Tomatoes), Trevor Jordan (GM, Mushrooms), Elliott Jones (GM Citrus/Grapes), Darren Tullio (Sales Manager, Driscolls), Damien Deckert (Sales and Marketing Manager, Mushrooms)- The Costa Stand.

Growing mushrooms at the Costa stand. Mushrooms are becoming known for their health giving properties.

Richard Owen, PMA.

Clare Hamilton-Bate, Angela Steain, Kate Astridge - Fresh Produce Safety Centre. Food safety has been a big issue this past year and will continue to be a high agenda item as more and more food moves across the globe.

Packaged salads and salad mixes on display from Tripod farmers.

Fresh Berry Co. presented a great display of berries.

A central display of leafy greens.

Yong Li Zhang, Xue Li, Jun Liang, Kevin - Beijing Jing-Jin Port Logistics.

Dale Chircop - Biodynamic Marketing Co. who supply organic wholesale products to different retailers and delivery services.

Brett Ash, Grant Kurian and Ben Aldridge - The Compac Stand.

At the Harris Refrigerated Logistics Stand - Dale Robertson, Ed Fragapane, Jennette Ritchie.

Danielle Silcock, Mark Baker - The California Stone Fruit Stand.

The Perfection Fresh Stand - Michael Simonetta, Helen Waterworth and John Simonetta.

Anwar Douadi at the Biopack Postharvest Soutions Stand. Anwar shows some Tesa packaging which helps to keep food fresh and in tact.

Dorothy the Dinosaur made an appearance at 1pm for the launch of the 'Pick right. Feel Bright!' campaign. She was there to say hello to the 27 children, from two different schools, who got to see the launch presentation.

The lucky children who got to come for the launch being entertained. They were the first to hear a brand new Wiggles song.

The kids wait excitedly for the launch to begin.

Grant Thomas (Barkers), Matthew McInerney (ZPG Mildura), Phil Stilo (ZPG Mildura).

Jo Minton-Connell (Premier Fruit), Adam Harber (PMA-A-NZ).

The Plant & Food Research Stand - Yvonne McDermid and Gavin Ross. Plant & Food Research was the topic of one of the sessions on Tuesday, and there are some new and interesting developments in terms of storage and technology to improve yield and quality for growers and consumers.

Andrew Philip (Philip Agri), Andrew Meurant (Luxor Agri), Anthony Ford (Korda Mentha)

Gianni Lustella (Thomas Foods), Rudy van der Biezen (Visy), Jamie Roberts (Thomas Foods)

Jenny Mercer (WA Farm Direct), Bruce Bergmans (Fresh Express WA), Travis Innes (Fresh Express), Glen Egan (Fresh Express) catching up with Jenny Mercer from WA Farm Direct.

Lee Duffy (EE Muir & Sons), Richard Hall (BASF).

Michael DeAgostino (Ten Farms), Tony Dorria (Hydro Produce), Peter Cull (Ten Farms).

Christian Henderson (Freshlogic), Tom Bicknell (Freshlogic).

Ralf Inglese at the Visy stand.

Rosstan Mazey and Andrew Keaney - Turners & Growers.

Saul Windiate (ProFresh Systems), Colin Fain (Agronometrics Chile)

Damien Odgers (Bayer), Ben White (Bayer), Michael Mifsud (Paulmar)

Paul Vyver (Jenkins Freshpac Systems), Scott Templeton (Proseal)

Gavin Wylie (Montague), Hamish Montague (Montague), Rick (Butler Market Gardens), George Arapoglou (Butler Market Gardens), Bethany Hughes (Montague)

Ulrik Sthaalros (Schur Star Systems)

Sharon Kimmins (AHEA), Michelle Christoe (AHEA). The AHEA also hosted a panel discussion on Thursday where audience members were able to ask questions and talk about the issues they wanted to see more attention on.

Peter Covino (Covino Farms), Trevor McManus (MAF Oceania).

Keith Maggs (Environmental Technologies Australia). Keith was happy to talk about Blue Zone, and the development of the technology, which has been used by the US military. He is hoping to get the Australian Navy on board too.