ATLANTA -- Outgoing chairman of the Produce Marketing Association Warren Hutchins recounted what he said was the trade group's progress over the past year in the areas of "training, technology and transition" during the opening session of the PMA annual convention here last week.
Hutchins, who is a marketing executive with the Ground Round restaurant chain, said "A lot has happened in the last year, all of it aimed at keeping our members competitive, enhancing marketing opportunities and expanding our options for learning and information."
He pointed to the trade association's introductions of a new warehouse training program, a Fresh Produce Reference Manual and a new computer-based training program aimed at produce clerks. "This program is the first in what will be an expanding array of comptuer-based training products," he said.
The transition he spoke of was an allusion to the retirement of Bob Carey from the PMA presidency and succession to the post by Bryan Silbermann. "And although it is a time of change, it is also a time of continuity," Hutchins said. "We continue to follow our strategic plan, refining it and updating it as we accomplish goals."
Hutchins said food safety remains a priority at PMA, and called the passage of the Food Quality and Protection Act this year a victory for PMA and other organizations that have pushed for reform of pesticide laws.
"We continue to work on foodborne illness by informing members about Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points programs, microbiological contaminants, and updates on food safety issues as they arise," Hutchins added. "The cyclospora outbreak this summer pointed out again how devastating foodborne illness, particularly inaccurate information about a foodborne illness, can be."
This fall the Newark, Del.-based association, in concert with the International Fresh-cut Produce Association, Arlington, Va., will release "an updated version of Handling Guidelines for Fresh-cut Produce," Hutchins told attendees.
The outgoing PMA leader told the audience that PMA's board had just approved a donation of $20,000 to Promoflor, the floral promotion organization that is running a national campaign to encourage floral purchases. The donation will be matched by funds from the Colombian Flower Council, he said.
Hutchins addressed another floral issue, the fate of the Floral Marketing Association's annual conference, which after 1997 will no longer be held in conjunction with the Super Floral Show trade event.
"We are currently surveying our FMA members about the best direction for our convention," he said. "Based on their input, we will design an event for 1998 that will meet all members' needs.
