Latest News From Fresh Summit

Amy Sowder
What’s in a name? Talking 'bout that big October show

I find it telling how resistant people are to calling that big produce industry show in Orlando at the end of October anything other than PMA.

Amelia Freidline
Reflecting on Fresh Summit

My first Fresh Summit experience was in 2008 in Orlando, Fla. I had graduated from college five months before, joined The Packer six weeks before, and spent my 21st birthday working on our annual Fresh Summit preview.

What PMA’s last chairman thinks about 2020, 2021, 2022
What PMA’s last chairman thinks about 2020, 2021, 2022

Dwight Ferguson will be the last Produce Marketing Association chairman — ever.

PMA, United Fresh leaders preview new association
PMA, United Fresh leaders preview new association

In this Q&A with The Packer, United Fresh's Tom Stenzel and the Produce Marketing Association's Cathy Burns preview the new association launching in January.

PMA unable to put on Fresh Summit 2021 due to Hurricane Ida 
PMA unable to put on Fresh Summit 2021 due to Hurricane Ida 

Produce Marketing Association (PMA)  has decided it will be unable to put on Fresh Summit 2021 scheduled for October 28-30 in New Orleans, Louisiana, due to the impacts of Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Nicholas.

Who will be The Packer's 2021 Produce Marketer of the Year?
Who will be The Packer's 2021 Produce Marketer of the Year?

Do you know someone who has done significant work to further the fresh produce industry's marketing efforts? Then nominate them for The Packer's 2021 Produce Marketer of the Year award!

PMA issues update on COVID-19 precautions at Fresh Summit
PMA issues update on COVID-19 precautions at Fresh Summit

Cathy Burns, CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, has issued an update on COVID-19-related precautions as plans continue for an in-person Fresh Summit in New Orleans, set for Oct. 28-30.

Registration for PMA’s Fresh Summit is open
Registration for PMA’s Fresh Summit is open

The Produce Marketing Association has officially opened registration for this year’s Fresh Summit which will be held in-person in New Orleans, La.

Q&A with Cathy Burns: What to expect from this year's Fresh Summit
Q&A with Cathy Burns: What to expect from this year's Fresh Summit

On March 8, Produce Marketing Association CEO Cathy Burns gave The Packer an update about plans for PMA’s Fresh Summit.

PMA's Nancy Tucker looking back, looking forward
PMA's Nancy Tucker looking back, looking forward

The Packer’s Tom Karst recently visited with Nancy Tucker, vice president of the Produce Marketing Association.

Sustainability shows up big at Fresh Summit
Sustainability shows up big at Fresh Summit

It may be stating the obvious, but consumers and produce marketers still care about sustainability.

PMA announces Fresh Summit Best of Show Awards
PMA announces Fresh Summit Best of Show Awards

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) announced the “Best of Show” awards this week, a Fresh Summit tradition of recognition that celebrates innovation and creativity in marketing and product promotion. 

PMA welcomes six board members

The Produce Marketing Association is adding six new members to its board of directors.

Spring Valley Fruits introduces guava clamshell

Spring Valley Fruits, Pharr, Texas, highlighted a new eco-friendly clamshell for guava at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Sev-Rend highlights Bio-Able Solutions

Packaging supplier Sev-Rend, Collinsville, Ill., highlighted its new Bio-Able Solutions line of products at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo.

Seald Sweet touts ‘more than citrus’ theme, debuts Avo’Bites

At its virtual exhibit at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, Vero Beach, Fla.-based Seald Sweet International/Greenyard USA focused on the message the supplier is “more than citrus.”

Prince Edward Island touts its unique potato environment

The Prince Edward Island Potato Board used its virtual booth at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo to highlight the region’s advantages as a potato supplier.

North Bay Produce highlights new branding

Traverse City, Mich.-based North Bay Produce highlighted new branding and updated graphics on its packaging at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Sage Fruit Co. talks packaging, partnership with Apeel Sciences

Sage Fruit Co. focused its virtual booth at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit on the company’s pear program, its new grab-and-go paper bags and the firm’s partnership with Apeel Sciences.

The Oppenheimer Group teases new packaging

The Oppenheimer Group teased new apple packaging at the PMA’s Fresh Summit. The packaging pictured at the virtual booth is a pyramid-shaped paper-based graphic container and holds four Jazz apples. 

Ocean Mist Farms introduces Season & Steam line extension

A Season & Steam product line extension was the headline news at the Ocean Mist Farms digital booth at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit Expo.

Shenandoah Growers focuses on new lines at Fresh Summit

Rockingham, Va.-based Shenandoah Growers Inc. showcase new items and product lines, such as the company’s new dried spice/flavor line and new holiday spices (mulling blend and cinnamon).

Sunset Rocks concert raises more than $200K for Brighter Bites

Mastronardi Produce, the host of the annual Sunset Rocks concert at the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit, turned the virtual event into a force for good this year.

NatureSweet showcases D’Vines

The NatureSweet virtual booth at Fresh Summit showcased D’Vines a cherry-on-the-vine offering that is the newest addition to the company’s lineup.

Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Recapping Fresh Summit 2020
Tip of the Iceberg Podcast — Recapping Fresh Summit 2020

Episode 18 of Tip of the Iceberg Podcast, brought to you by The Packer and PMG, features a discussion between editors Tom Karst, Ashley Nickle and Amy Sowder about the experience of Fresh Summit 2020.

Fresh Summit 2020 — Day 3 Recap
Fresh Summit 2020 — Day 3 Recap

The Packer's editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder recap the final day of the big week of PMA's Fresh Summit, from celebrity appearances to education sessions.

Fresh Summit Expo reaches for extraordinary

Instead of pining for the “good old days” before the COVID-19 pandemic, Cathy Burns invited the industry to a “new extraordinary” in her State of the Industry address at the PMA Fresh Summit.

Zespri touts packaging, SunGold kiwifruit

For Zespri International, the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit has been a great forum to push out merchandising information about the proprietary Zespri SunGold pack, Sarah Deaton said.

PMA names Retail Merchant Innovation Award winners
PMA names Retail Merchant Innovation Award winners

The Produce Marketing Association recognized four retail leaders Oct. 14 at Fresh Summit with its new Retail Merchant Innovation Award.

USA Pears offers virtual tools focused on flavor

Pear Bureau Northwest is offering virtual visitors several digital tools at its Fresh Summit exhibit, and the message centers on flavor.

How to better leverage benefits of fresh produce, floral in marketing
How to better leverage benefits of fresh produce, floral in marketing

Successfully marketing the health and wellness benefits of vegetables, fruits and flowers begins with understanding the specific consumer pain points those products can ease.

PMA to expand content offerings with more research, training courses
PMA to expand content offerings with more research, training courses

The Produce Marketing Association plans to increase its value for members in the coming years by significantly expanding its content offerings, incoming chairman Dwight Ferguson said Oct. 15 at PMA’s Fresh Summit.

Nancy Tucker
PMA’s Nancy Tucker announces retirement

Leaving a decades-long legacy of expanding the global footprint of the Produce Marketing Association, Nancy Tucker is retiring at the end of the year.

FirstFruits wants consumers to Crave the Crunch with Opals

FirstFruits Marketing, Yakima, Wash., is starting the Opal apple season with a consumer campaign, Crave the Crunch.

DeltaTrak promotes ocean container data logger at Fresh Summit
DeltaTrak promotes ocean container data logger at Fresh Summit

DeltaTrak Inc. is promoting a data logger designed for ocean containers at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Wonderful Pistachios The Next Big Thing campaign features commercials starring Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (pictured) and Olympic weightlifter Kendrick Farris.
Wonderful Pistachios begins massive plant-based marketing push

A $20 million advertising campaign will help consumers think of Wonderful Pistachios when they are looking for a plant protein.

Dole debuts Just Add Chicken salad kits
Dole debuts Just Add Chicken salad kits

Charlotte, N.C.-based Dole Food Co. has introduced a new line of salad kits that include leafy greens, dressings and toppings along with an original sauté sauce and seasoned finishing sauces for chicken.

Jeff Cady receives Produce Retailer of the Year Award at Fresh Summit
Jeff Cady receives Produce Retailer of the Year Award at Fresh Summit

PMG recognized Jeff Cady, director of produce and floral for Tops Friendly Markets, as the 2020 Produce Retailer of the Year with a virtual presentation Oct. 14 at the Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit.

Bolthouse leans into plant-based movement with carrot dogs, other ‘carrot swaps’
Bolthouse leans into plant-based movement with carrot dogs, other ‘carrot swaps’

Innovation is a priority for Bakersfield, Calif.-based Bolthouse Farms, and the latest result of the company’s research and development is a new lineup of “carrot swaps.”

Fresh Summit 2020 — Day One Recap
Fresh Summit 2020 — Day One Recap

Editor-in-chief Tom Karst, retail editor Ashley Nickle and Northeast editor Amy Sowder discuss the first day of Fresh Summit 2020, from the platform itself to education sessions and the State of the Industry address.

Global leaders share challenges at Fresh Summit
Global leaders share challenges at Fresh Summit

The fresh produce world has shared the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those experiences and lessons learned were shared at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

PMA CEO Cathy Burns
Create extraordinary produce future, Burns says

Instead of pining for the “good old days” before the COVID-19 , Cathy Burns invited the industry to a “new extraordinary” in her state of the industry address at the PMA Fresh Summit Oct. 13.

Ark Foods launches Clean Label Salads
Ark Foods launches Clean Label Salads

Ark Foods, Brooklyn, N.Y., is showcasing a new line, Clean Label Salads, at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Terphane offers packaging options at Fresh Summit booth

Bloomfield, N.Y.-based Terphane, a polyester films manufacturing company, is showcasing three solutions for produce companies at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Fresh Summit session details what consumers want now
Fresh Summit session details what consumers want now

Produce suppliers and retailers can boost consumption by communicating about how different fruits and vegetables can mitigate the challenges consumers currently face, a Fresh Summit panel of industry members agreed.

Alvaro Luque named The Packer’s 2020 Produce Marketer of the Year
Alvaro Luque named The Packer’s 2020 Produce Marketer of the Year

Alvaro Luque, president and CEO of Avocados from Mexico, is The Packer’s 2020 Produce Marketer of the Year.

Lolli Bombs drop at Fresh Summit
Lolli Bombs drop at Fresh Summit

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce has a new SKU in its on-the-vine snacking tomato lineup: Lolli Bombs.

New Product Review — Tots cherry tomatoes from Intergrow
New Product Review — Tots cherry tomatoes from Intergrow

Curious about Tots from Intergrow? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.

New Product Review — Vegetable meal kits, new chopped salads from Taylor Farms
New Product Review — Vegetable meal kits, new chopped salads from Taylor Farms

Curious about the new vegetable meal kits and new chopped salads from Taylor Farms? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series.

New Product Review — New salads from Bonduelle
New Product Review — New salads from Bonduelle

Curious about the new salads coming from Bonduelle? In case you haven't yet scored a sample, Amelia and Ashley gave them a try at home as part of their New Product Review series for Fresh Summit.