Mass Market News

Newark, Del. – Produce Marketing Association (PMA) convened its members from across the global produce and floral communities to discuss the pandemic’s impact on their businesses during Wednesday’s Virtual Town Hall. With over 800 members registered from 21 countries, the meeting showcased the way the global food and floral supply chain is focused on working together to address our “new normal.” The virtual town hall featured perspectives from PMA CEO Cathy Burns, Chief Science Officer Dr. Max Teplitski, and Cornerstone Government Affairs’ Principal and Director, Hunt Shipman. Their remarks focused on how the industry can educate consumers on critical topics like the health and wellness benefits of fresh fruit, vegetables and floral; safe handling of fresh produce; and e regulatory updates regarding COVID-19. Members then joined one of a series of virtual roundtables to provide focused discussion around topics directly impacting members and their businesses. Each of these group discussions were led by a PMA expert who was joined by a global industry leader to provide on-the-ground insights around global trade, supply chain, foodservice, retail, floral, and growers/shippers. “Listening to the opening comments from Cathy, Max, and Hunt, and then hearing my colleagues and friends in the floral business openly talk about their challenges they’re facing but also having the platform to learn from one another really underscored to me how this association can forge connections and stronger communities,” said PMA Chair, Joe Don Zetzsche, Director of Blooms Flower Shops for H-E-B. “The town hall modeled our values of community, character, and courage and emphasized the power and value of PMA membership to help guide us through these times.” While PMA will continue to provide resources capturing the conversations from the virtual town hall meeting, some themes discussed were: Global Trade: With members from Mexico, Singapore, the EU, Colombia, Peru, the United States, and China all providing insights, the discussion focused on what is becoming a pattern from country to country as the pandemic progresses. This includes an initial rise in retail from panic buying, making it difficult to anticipate demand, followed by a stabilizing period where the largest […]

Source: www.perishablenews.com