OB’s Sherise Jones spent two days walking the PMA show floor in Anaheim, where she visited several onion booths. Sherise reported the “general consensus was that PMA was a great place for another year of networking and meeting with customers.”
She added, “It was also noted by participants and attendees that Anaheim once again pulled off a near-flawless execution of the expo, and most onion booth exhibitors agreed that the SoCal location is one of their favorites for the quality of expo services and the quality of buyers in attendance.”
According to PMA, “Fresh Summit 2019 was a transformative year. We had a record-breaking, nearly 24,000 attendees, and a star-studded education lineup.”
“To some,” Sherise said, “Magic Johnson was the highlight of the educational events complimenting the expo.” But, she added, PMA’s wrap-up notes, posted at pma.org, show that attendees were given opportunity to leave the event with a number of takeaways, most of which pertain to sustainability. “The takeaways are good food for thought when onion shippers implement their own marketing strategies,” she said.
Here are some pertinent nuggets from the event:
1. “Nearly two-thirds of global consumers prefer to buy goods and services from companies that stand for a shared purpose, Accenture found. Sixty-five percent said their purchasing decisions are influenced by the words, values and actions of a company’s leaders. Sixty-two percent said they are attracted to organizations committed to improving the environment.”
2. “As business leaders and policymakers grapple with important issues such as climate change and plastics, consumers worldwide are demanding more corporate social responsibility and sustainable practices.”
3. “And, “According to PMA member and consumer focus groups, we found that how and where we, as business leaders, talk about sustainability doesn’t necessarily line up with what consumers are interested in.”
4. “Consumers are focused on packaging, waste, and energy, while growers and suppliers often talk about water and soil health. In fact, the biggest issues that resonate with consumers are zero waste and energy efficiency.”
For those passionate about sustainability and sharing that message with buyers, PMA suggests you stay tuned as they will soon launch a toolbox to assist members in recognizing sustainable business practices and communicating their stories. Moreover, complimenting the sustainability theme was a focus on the everchanging consumer demographics that are reshaping buying habits and reflect lifestyles that demand convenience and quality.
Everyone agrees that for the past several years, PMA has been a platform for showcasing science and technology that builds consumer trust in food safety.
For more about PMA’s initiatives and focus points go to: https://www.pma.com/content/articles/2019/10/top-5-takeaways-of-the-state-of-the-fresh-produce-and-floral-industry
