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PMA accepting nominations for Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging

Nominations are now being accepted for the annual Produce Marketing Association’s Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging, recognizing companies throughout the supply chain that are maximizing opportunities to sell more fresh produce and floral through innovative packaging.

Of the contributions, 20 will be showcased as finalists at the PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in Atlanta Oct. 23-25. From there, expert judges will use a set of criteria to choose five winning submissions. The opportunity to submit an entry for consideration will end Thursday, July 30.

Each entry will receive a cumulative score based on the following five areas of excellence:

  • Marketing: Stands out with regard to style, form and message. Distinctive materials, compelling graphics and clear messaging are utilized to influence consumer attention and drive sales through product differentiation.
  • Sustainability: Meets the mission to reduce, reuse, and/or recycle along with recommended practices offered by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.
  • Consumer Convenience: Offers convenience attributes that encourage consumer behavior, including easy-to-carry handles, re-sealable closures, cooking technology and portability.
  • Food Safety: Employs innovative food-safety protocols to prevent foodborne illness through innovative use of packaging materials, components or both.
  • Supply Chain Efficiency/Functionality: Creates efficiencies for one or more segments of the supply chain (transportation, handling, storage, merchandising), extends product shelf life or both.

The final submissions will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including Peter Goulet, founder and owner of Pinnacle Sales & Marketing; Ron McCormick, senior director of sustainable agriculture with Walmart; Meg Major, chief content editor with Progressive Grocer; Kip Martin, floral department merchant for Raley’s Family of Fine Stores; and Bob Whitaker, PMA chief science and technology officer.

A list of last year’s finalists and winners is available here, and information about the award and how to submit an application is available here.

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By
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