Food & Food Equipment News

Interview with PEAKfresh President Greg Ganzerla

Interview with PEAKfresh President Greg Ganzerla

 

Interview with Blue Book Services Marketing Leader Whitney Spagnola

Interview with Blue Book Services Marketing Leader Whitney Spagnola

Interview with Bob Besix, Sr. VP Sales & Marketing, Country Fresh Mushroom

Interview with Bob Besix, Sr. VP Sales & Marketing, Country Fresh Mushroom

For More information, visit Country Fresh Mushroom.

Interview with Christine Reker, Vice President of Marketing, Sunrise Growers

 

Interview with Christine Reker, Vice President of Marketing, Sunrise Growers

Interview with Don Daintrey, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Little Potato Company

 

Interview with Don Daintrey, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Little Potato Company

Innovative Produce Packaging Designs Recognized For Impact On Consumers

 

Eight companies were named the produce industry’s best packaging innovators Oct. 3 by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), receiving the association’s third annual Impact Award: Excellence in Produce Packaging. The winning companies were announced by PMA Chairman of the Executive Committee David Corsi of Wegmans Food Markets during PMA’s 2009 Fresh Summit International Convention and Exposition in Anaheim, Calif., USA. The award recognizes companies who are leading the way with exceptional produce packaging that demonstrates “out-of-the-box-thinking” and makes an impact on consumers.

 

The 2009 Impact Award winners are:

• environment/sustainability: Earthbound Farm for Earthbound Farm Clamshell Packages: 5-ounce., 11-ounce., 1 lb., & 2 lb.   
  
• food safety/traceability: Yottamark Inc. for MICROBAKER Traceable Labels
  
• functionality/technology: Clear Lam Packaging, Inc. & Taylor Farms, Inc. for Taylor Fresh Bag Plus
  
• marketing design: The Oppenheimer Group & ZESPRI for Kiwi Snack Pack
  
• marketing messaging/content: Stemilt Growers, Inc. for Fresh, Flavorful & Family-Farmed Cherry Display Bin
  
• supply chain efficiencies: IFCO Systems for Reusable Plastic Containers (RPCs)

In presenting the awards to the winners during a Fresh Summit general session breakfast, Corsi spoke about the rich opportunities that packaging innovation offers to promote brand, and to advance key initiatives such as sustainability. 

“We have seen a positive shift since this award program began,” said PMA CEO and President Bryan Silbermann. “We’re receiving increased interest in the award program, and the entries we are receiving reflect an increasing industry commitment to the role packaging can play in maintaining product quality and safety, in communicating with consumers, and in demonstrating another aspect of the produce industry’s commitment to the environment and sustainability.”  

PMA created the awards program in 2007 specifically to recognize and encourage excellence in fresh produce packaging. This year’s contest was announced in June; entries were accepted through Aug. 14. Interested companies could submit more than one entry; in total, PMA received an overwhelming response. PMA received 110 entries this year from which 31 finalists were selected to be reviewed by a panel of expert judges who chose the six category winners.

The panel of judges included a variety of academic, produce and packaging professionals including: Leonard Batti, senior partner of MIXTEC Group; John Bernardo, founder and owner of Sustainable Innovations, LLC; Phil Lempert, founder and owner of The Supermarket Guru®; Jim Prevor, founder and editor-in-chief of Produce Business, Deli Business and Perishable Pundit; Paul Singh, Ph.D., professor at Michigan State University’s School of Packaging; and Dr. Bob Whitaker, PMA’s chief science officer.

For more information about the Impact Award: Excellence in Produce Packaging, visit http://www.pma.com/packagingaward/ and Fresh Summit visit PMA’s Web site at www.pma.com/freshsummit.  

About Produce Marketing Association (PMA)

Founded in 1949, the Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing nearly 3,000 companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. Members rely on PMA year round for the business solutions they need to increase sales and consumption, build strong professional relationships, and expand their business opportunities. For more information, visit www.pma.com. 

For more information, visit Produce Marketing Association or the Fresh Summit website.

Fresh Summit Exhibitors Earn “Best of Show” Honors

 

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) recognized four exhibitors Oct. 5 at PMA’s Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition with “Best of Show” awards for their exhibits’ outstanding salesmanship and presentation excellence. The awards were presented on the last day of Fresh Summit, held Oct. 2-5 in Anaheim, Calif., USA.

Sunsweet Growers, Yuba City, Calif., and Temple-Inland, Austin, Texas, were first and second place winners, respectively, in the Island Booth category.

 

Fruit2Day, Broomfield, Colo., and National Watermelon Promotion Board, Orlando, Fla., placed first and second, respectively, in the In-Line Booth category.

"Knowing how much more important top trade shows such as Fresh Summit become to marketing a business in a down economy, our exhibitors were especially on their toes this year,” said PMA President & CEO Bryan Silbermann. “So this year’s ‘Best of Show’ winners should be particularly proud of their achievement.” 

Booths were judged by a team of industry professionals on the following criteria.

• Booth presentation: Integration of company identity in booth design, design and graphic elements, clearly communicates message to attendee, and adherence to show rules/exhibitor guidelines.
• Product presentation: Product displays and benefit messaging.
• Exhibit personnel: Professional appearance/etiquette, engagement with visitors, and adequate staffing.

Winners were judged by an anonymous team of industry professionals during show hours on Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3.

Silbermann also highlighted the winners’ accomplishment considering Fresh Summit’s status as a nationally-ranked trade show. Fresh Summit was named a Top 100 U.S. trade show last month by Trade Show Executive magazine. In April, Fresh Summit was ranked #100 on Trade Show Week’s Top 200 Trade Shows of 2008. 

First place winners receive a host of prizes, including: recognition on PMA’s Web site, including multiple photos and a press announcement; two seats at a VIP table and recognition including a digital photo of booth during the Monday general session of the 2009 convention; announcement on the exposition show floor; a $250 credit towards their 2009 Fresh Summit bill with PMA's official general service contractor, GES; one complimentary full registration to next year’s Fresh Summit in Orlando, Fla.; and a commemorative plaque. 

Second place winners receive: recognition on PMA’s Web site; two seats at a VIP table during the day’s general session; one complimentary day pass for 2010 Fresh Summit; announcement on the exposition show floor; and a commemorative plaque.

 

About Produce Marketing Association (PMA)

Founded in 1949, Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing nearly 3,000 companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. Members rely on PMA year round for the business solutions they need to increase sales and consumption, build strong professional relationships, and expand their business opportunities. For more information, visit www.pma.com.

For more information, visit Produce Marketing Association.

Interview with SmurfIt-Stone Vice President for the Western Region Dwight Morris

 

Interview with SmurfIt-Stone Vice President for the Western Region Dwight Morris

Produce Show Daily caught up with SmurfIt-Stone Vice President for the Western Region Dwight Morris on the floor of the PMA Fresh Summit Show 2009 in Anaheim, California.

Interview with Blanc Industries President Didier Blanc

 

Interview with Blanc Industries President Didier Blanc

Produce Show Daily caught up with Blanc Industries President Didier Blanc on the floor of the PMA Fresh Summit Show 2009 in Anaheim, California.

Interview with Border Cold Storage President Tyler Morgan

 

Interview with Border Cold Storage President Tyler Morgan

Produce Show Daily caught up with Border Cold Storage President Tyler Morgan on the floor of the PMA Fresh Summit Show 2009 in Anaheim, California.