Record-breaking Year for PMA Fresh SummitRecord-breaking Year for PMA Fresh Summit

The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) exposition floor opened on Saturday, October 18 with a record number of 1,090 exhibitors occupying 265,300 net square feet, according to organization officials. The show floor officially opened with the help of Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Enrique Martinez, California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross and United States Department of Agriculture Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos joining the PMA Board and Fresh Summit Chairwoman Lisa Davis at the annual ribbon cutting ceremony. “It’s so invigorating to watch this year’s expo unfold,” says Julie Lucido, chair of the PMA Exhibitor Advisory Committee. “The work put into every detail is fascinating, and we’re grateful to the 1,090 exhibitors who continue to impress each and every year. It took more than 41,000 square yards of carpet, 300 workers, 750 freight and refrigerated trailers, 5,500 gallons of propane and more than 600,000 pounds of produce to make this expo happen.” Groups show resounding support for PMA Foundation initiatives The PMA Foundation for Industry Talent honored winners of its annual PMA Foundation 5K Race for Talent held at Fresh Summit on Saturday, Oct. 18. Medals were awarded to the top three overall male and female finishers, as well as to the top two male and female finishers in each age group. The top overall female finishers were:

The top overall male finishers were:

Team awards were also given to:

More than 1,000 runners registered for this year’s sold-out event, which raised $112,000 from sponsorships in support of PMA Foundation’s mission to attract, develop and retain talent for the global produce and floral industry, say organization officials. An awards ceremony followed the race to recognize the winners. “The excitement that builds around this race each year is remarkable,” says Dick Spezzano, president of Spezzano Consulting and PMA Foundation for Industry Talent Board of Directors chair. “If we ever need a reminder of how passionate and dedicated our industry is, look no further than the 5K Race for Talent. They know what it takes to secure talent in the industry, and they lend their time, at 7:00am no less, to make it happen.” Sponsors of the 2014 5K Race for Talent can be found on PMA Foundation’s website. The PMA Foundation Women’s Fresh Perspectives Leadership Breakfast, now in its ninth year, was held on Friday morning. Four hundred attendees from across the fresh produce and floral supply chain joined guest speaker Claire Shipman, ABC News contributor and New York Times best-selling co-author of The Confidence Code and Womenomics to network and exchange ideas and share her career insights, say organization officials. Passion Growers’ Sam Ferrara earns industry honors Passion Growers’ vice president of sales and marketing Sam Ferrara was named the 2014 PMA Floral Marketer of the Year on Saturday evening at the annual floral reception. The award, now in its 34th year, recognizes an outstanding floral professional who has served the mass-market floral industry with dedication and distinction. “Sam’s leadership and innovative thinking has guided the creation of new merchandising, products and technology that have made a difference where it matters most: in a retail environment selling more flowers to consumers.” Joe Don Zetzsche, director of floral for H-E-B BLOOMS Floral Shops and 2013 winner said during the award presentation. “He believes we can always do more, never settles for status quo and always pushes to get ahead.  It’s as if success is in his DNA.” Welcoming Reception hosts more than 2,000 people, food trucks, breweries The  welcoming reception hosted a record number of attendees on Friday evening at the Grand Plaza, say organization officials. 14 food trucks, including Tasting Spoon, a Food Network Chopped! winner, offered eccentric, global flavors. Attendees also enjoyed a pair of breweries: Noble Aleworks and Bottle Logic, gold medal winner at this year’s Great American Beer Festival.