Latest News From Produce Marketing Association

LGMA, PMA respond to E. coli investigation update
LGMA, PMA respond to E. coli investigation update

The California LGMA and the Produce Marketing Association have responded to the Food and Drug Administration's update on a fall 2020 E. coli outbreak linked to leafy greens.

Slow recovery will begin in 2021, PMA Virtual Town Hall panel believes
Slow recovery will begin in 2021, PMA Virtual Town Hall panel believes

The COVID-19 pandemic is yesterday’s news. Unfortunately, it also is the reality today and for many tomorrows, according to panelists at the Dec. 16 Produce Marketing Association’s Virtual Town Hall.

CORRECTED: Is epidemiology ‘unwritten rule’ the key to sources of E. coli?
CORRECTED: Is epidemiology ‘unwritten rule’ the key to sources of E. coli?

COORECTED: As health and regulatory agencies seek an answer to what’s causing three separate E. coli outbreaks, one likely answer is sprouts or leafy greens, according to the demographics of past outbreaks.

Town Hall, seminar focus on leafy green safety, FDA traceability rule
Town Hall, seminar focus on leafy green safety, FDA traceability rule

Produce Marketing Association has announced a pair of virtual meetings to discuss the current state of produce safety in the industry which includes discussion of outbreaks in leafy greens and proposed FDA regulation.

Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource
Trevor Suslow returns to UC-Davis, continues as a PMA resource

Trevor Suslow, who joined the Produce Marketing Association in mid-2018 as vice president of produce safety, is stepping down from full-time duties at the association.

Retail produce sales strong; fresh share of produce dollar slips
Retail produce sales strong; fresh share of produce dollar slips

Fresh produce sales at retail totaled $5.04 billion in the four September weeks, up 10.7% from the same period in 2019.

Hwy Haul's managed shipping maintains customers' longtime carrier relationships
Hwy Haul's managed shipping maintains customers' longtime carrier relationships

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Hwy Haul touted at its PMA Fresh Summit virtual booth a modified service for customers who don’t want to break the longstanding relationships they have with carriers.

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.

What opportunities these leaders found amid 2020’s challenges
What opportunities these leaders found amid 2020’s challenges

Strong leadership revealed itself in produce leaders who made decisions quickly with limited, changing information those first uncertain weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jeff Dunn, CEO of Bolthouse Farms.

Lipman to showcase fresh-cut green beans at Fresh Summit
Lipman to showcase fresh-cut green beans at Fresh Summit

Lipman Family Farms, Immokalee, Fla., is featuring new organic and conventional fresh-cut green beans at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

Stemilt touts packaging options at PMA virtual booth
Stemilt touts packaging options at PMA virtual booth

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt Growers is touting its apple and pear packaging options at the Produce Marketing Association’s virtual Fresh Summit.

COVID-19 hastens investments in training, technology
COVID-19 hastens investments in training, technology

For produce operators, the cost of doing business took on a whole new context after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

PMA chooses Food Fight GA for Impact Award
PMA chooses Food Fight GA for Impact Award

Food Fight GA, established during the COVID-19 pandemic to help Atlanta-area restaurant workers and farmers who supply the restaurants, is being recognized with a Produce Marketing Association Impact Award.

Vidalia onion grower G&R Farms debuts new branding, logo
Vidalia onion grower G&R Farms debuts new branding, logo

Vidalia onion grower-shipper G&R Farms, Glennville, Ga., has a new logo and branding.

The changes coming and still needed for COVID-19 relief
The changes coming and still needed for COVID-19 relief

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited Aug 13 with Richard Owen, vice president of membership and engagement at the Produce Marketing Association.

Packer Insight — Recalls, Fresh Summit and retail perspective
Packer Insight — Recalls, Fresh Summit and retail perspective

Editor-in-chief Tom Karst, news editor Chris Koger and retail editor Ashley Nickle discuss news items of note this week, from a Fresh Summit sneak peek to a recall roundup to columns from industry veterans.

PMA reveals plans for the Fresh Summit 2020 virtual experience
PMA reveals plans for the Fresh Summit 2020 virtual experience

The Produce Marketing Association is providing a sneak peek of the virtual Fresh Summit 2020.

United Fresh schedules food safety web seminars
United Fresh schedules food safety web seminars

United Fresh has food safety web seminars scheduled on a variety of topics, starting with a look at the FDA’s recent unveiling of its blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.

Food as medicine will play a role in foodservice recovery
Food as medicine will play a role in foodservice recovery

Recovering from the human and economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic won’t be easy.

How to improve the ‘barren’ foodservice industry as it rebuilds
How to improve the ‘barren’ foodservice industry as it rebuilds

Once the foodservice industry re-emerges from the coronavirus shutdowns, it will be changed forever. How does the industry make sure the change is for the better?

PMA delivers international gathering focused on foodservice
PMA delivers international gathering focused on foodservice

The 2020 Produce Marketing Association Foodservice: Delivered conference brought attendees from more than 40 different countries together for virtual networking and education sessions.

Food Delivery apps deliver, but at what cost?
Food Delivery apps deliver, but at what cost?

The pros and cons of restaurant food delivery apps came under the microscope in a Produce Marketing Association Foodservice: Delivered session. 

What restaurant chain executives see for the future of foodservice
What restaurant chain executives see for the future of foodservice

Deeper connections with supply partners, labor savings through technology and more racial diversity at top levels are takeaways that foodservice executives have gathered since the coronavirus disrupted the industry.

Lipman showcases green beans, other fresh-cut at PMA event
Lipman showcases green beans, other fresh-cut at PMA event

Lipman Family Farms, Immokalee, Fla., is highlighting its Clipped & Clean Green Beans and expanded fresh-cut line at the Produce Marketing Association’s Foodservice: Delivered.

New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us
New Era of Smarter Food Safety is upon us

The Food and Drug Administration's New Era of Smarter Food Safety and corresponding “blueprint” that guides the process are not a quick fix to outbreaks that led regulators to seek new answers.

PMA unveils details on Foodservice: Delivered sessions
PMA unveils details on Foodservice: Delivered sessions

The Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association has released more details on the Foodservice: Delivered virtual event, set for July 20-24.

People and relationships will sustain during a crisis, panelists say
People and relationships will sustain during a crisis, panelists say

Keeping the focus on taking care of workers, customers and suppliers is a key to surviving the COVID-19 crisis, according to Steve Barnard.

PMA’s Fresh Summit will be virtual
PMA’s Fresh Summit will be virtual

The Produce Marketing Association’s 2020 Fresh Summit Convention and Expo will be offered online.

PTI adds, updates tools to support traceability
PTI adds, updates tools to support traceability

The Produce Traceability Initiative has added/upgrade four tools for the industry to support traceability implementation.

COVID-19 effect considered on sustainable packaging in PMA Town Hall
COVID-19 effect considered on sustainable packaging in PMA Town Hall

The COVID-19 crisis may have quieted the conversations on sustainable packaging, but the future of the sector is as strong as ever, according to panelists at a Produce Marketing Association’s Virtual Town Hall.

Center for Growing Talent’s virtual walk/run challenge
Center for Growing Talent’s virtual walk/run challenge

The Produce Marketing Association’s Center for Growing Talent is bringing people in the produce and floral industry together with a Virtual Wellness Walk and Run Challenge.

PMA, United Fresh discuss food boxes with USDA
PMA, United Fresh discuss food boxes with USDA

The PMA and United Fresh Produce say they had a “candid dialogue” with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials about the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and expressed hope that improvements can be made.

FDA adds flexibility to Produce Safety Rule exemptions
FDA adds flexibility to Produce Safety Rule exemptions

The Food and Drug Administration is giving smaller farms flexibility on remaining exempt from the Produce Safety Rule even if they shift sales to new buyers.

Liability protection sought in coronavirus assistance package
Liability protection sought in coronavirus assistance package

Liability protection for employers and business owners is being sought by Senate Republicans in the next coronavirus assistance bill.

USDA plans second round of Farmers to Families box contracts
USDA plans second round of Farmers to Families box contracts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is planning another round of contracts for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, according to an administrator of the program who touted its successes in a PMA Virtual Town Hall.

A positive COVID-19 test, successful box programs and Hero Pins
A positive COVID-19 test, successful box programs and Hero Pins

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect companies and individuals in the fresh produce industry.

PMA, United Fresh and CFFA offer to help USDA on produce boxes
PMA, United Fresh and CFFA offer to help USDA on produce boxes

The United Fresh Produce Association and Produce Marketing Association has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to include them in any revisions or evaluations of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Center for Growing Talent hosts virtual fitness-fundraising challenge
Center for Growing Talent hosts virtual fitness-fundraising challenge

The Produce Marketing Association’s Center for Growing Talent is inviting the industry to participate in a Virtual Wellness Walk/Run Challenge to promote health and support the center’s programs.

PMA’s Cathy Burns reflects on next moves for industry
PMA’s Cathy Burns reflects on next moves for industry

Staying connected to members is always a goal for industry associations, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to do so with typical events.

PMA delivers with digital foodservice conference
PMA delivers with digital foodservice conference

The Produce Marketing Association has cancelled its annual foodservice show in its traditional format, moving to PMA Foodservice: Delivered, a digital event.

PMA, PHA provide produce boxes to families during pandemic
PMA, PHA provide produce boxes to families during pandemic

The Produce Marketing Association and Partnership for a Healthier America introduced the COVID-19 Fresh Food Fund to distribute fresh produce to people in need during the pandemic.

PMA sets speakers for April 15 Virtual Town Hall 
PMA sets speakers for April 15 Virtual Town Hall 

A panel of retail and foodservice experts will share their perspectives on the COVID-19 crisis at the Produce Marketing Association’s April 15 Virtual Town Hall.

PMA members can access iTradeNetwork platform during crisis
PMA members can access iTradeNetwork platform during crisis

Produce Marketing Association members have free access to an iTradeNetwork platform that connects buyers and suppliers, as the COVID-19 crisis strains normal supply chains.

Talking promotions, in-store traffic flow, outlook amid COVID-19
Talking promotions, in-store traffic flow, outlook amid COVID-19

With the weeks-long crush of panic buying fading, grocery retailers are figuring out what to do next, in produce and across their stores.

PMA campaign addresses consumer COVID-19 concerns
PMA campaign addresses consumer COVID-19 concerns

The Produce Marketing Association, citing misinformation about produce and the industry in the COVID-19 crisis, is launching a campaign to connect directly with consumers to assure them produce is available and safe.

PMA schedules more COVID-19 virtual meetings for members
PMA schedules more COVID-19 virtual meetings for members

The Produce Marketing Association will host an April 1 Virtual Town Hall for members to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic.

Richard Owen talks trade and COVID-19 relief
Richard Owen talks trade and COVID-19 relief

The Packer’s Tom Karst visited on March 26 with Richard Owen, vice president of global membership and engagement for the Produce Marketing Association.

PMA to host virtual town hall event on COVID-19
PMA to host virtual town hall event on COVID-19

The Produce Marketing Association will hold a “virtual” town hall meeting on March 25 discussing the industry’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Goodbye, generic UPCs, as produce shifts to specific codes
Goodbye, generic UPCs, as produce shifts to specific codes

Starting in 2020, new generic Universal Product Codes will not be issued for produce in the U.S. and Canada, with company-specific codes taking their place.

Compac touts the ability of UltraView
Compac touts the ability of UltraView

ANAHEIM, Calif — Southern California was a perfect venue for Compac, part of TOMRA Food, to show its wares.