On Thursday evening, Oct. 15, the Produce Marketing Association held a Closing Reception for its 2020 virtual Fresh Summit, but in fact that reception did mark the end of this year’s show.

It wouldn’t be a PMA without SUNSET dropping a bomb to the industry. For weeks, the company has been hinting at the news of a flavorful new product launch and promising to reveal the next sweet one at this year’s PMA. The news is finally out! Introducing Lolli Bombs, a sweet-like-candy yellow tomato-on-the-vine and the fourth addition to the infamous Bombs™ lineup of on-the-vine snacking tomatoes.

2020 has been a year full of challenges, but also one full of new opportunities and growth, as emphasized during the Center for Growing Talent’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives general session, held virtually on Thursday, Oct. 15 as part of PMA Fresh Summit.

The virtual session kicked off with the announcement of the 2020 CGT Frieda Rapoport Caplan Women’s Catalyst Award, which went to Kristen Reid, executive vice president of MIXTEC Group.

Three speakers in an international session of the PMA Fresh Summit on Oct. 13 presented a truly global view of the produce industry in this remarkable year.

Produce Marketing Association Vice President Nancy Tucker announced her retirement at the Fresh Summit 2020 Global Community Reception. Tucker, who has had a storied career in produce, has been a fixture of PMA’s global work since the early 1990s.  Industry veterans were on hand to celebrate her impact and wish her well during the Global Community Reception on Oct. 13.  Tucker will officially step away from her role Dec. 31, 2020.

While produce sales at retail surged during the first month after coronavirus-influenced shelter-in-place orders first appeared, sales did level off, though they continue to remain above the norm.