First Lady Michelle Obama Shares Personal Message with the Produce Industry

During the annual State of the Industry presentation, PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann and PMA president Cathy Burns touched on a number of trends that are driving change in the produce and floral industries–ranging from shifts in consumer buying behavior highlighted by the association’s research practice; advances in approaches to attracting and retaining talent; convergences in the food safety and technology arenas with the potential to ensure even safer fresh produce; and diverse strategies and tactics to drive consumer demand for fresh produce and floral. A highlight of the presentation was a congratulatory video from First Lady Michelle Obama, thanking the industry for its outstanding work in promoting fruits and vegetables – with special acknowledgement for those leaders participating in both the eat brighter! and FNV initiatives. “I want to thank all of you for your outstanding work to promote fruits and vegetables across this country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Together we’re making the healthy choice the easy choice for families. And, we’re showing the power of marketing to promote healthier products, and the results have been beyond anything we could have imagined.”