IN THE TRENCHES: A new year of changes, challenges and wishes
IN THE TRENCHES: A new year of changes, challenges and wishes
As the old saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." Well, get ready for another exciting fun ride on the produce roller coaster, complete with more speed, opportunities and responsibilities than ever before.
Another year has come and gone in the produce business. Did you make it over most of the tough hurdles this past year? No doubt 2008 will bring with it more changes and challenges. Some may be accomplished with ease, while others may be stressful and burdensome. What are your wishes and resolutions for the new year ahead?
Traditional new year resolutions go back to 153 B.C. when the Roman god Janus was placed at the preface of the calendar. Janus was depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. January, named after Janus, is a period of looking back at the previous year and looking forward to the coming year.
So, look back and review 2007, then look ahead to a new year and wish for the best to come your way. It's time once more for new year wish lists and resolutions.
Looking back at the wishes I made in this column over the years, some have come true while others have not. However, I won't give up in my mission to help make the produce industry better and stronger in some way each and every year.
Here are a few of my many wishes the produce "genie-in-the-bottle" has not heard: Lower produce grosses, schedule more labor, budget for training, cut down on the number of vice presidents, give buyers a pay raise, develop more seedless produce, get rid of promotional gimmicks, bring back exciting produce contests and stop faking on organic programs at store level.
Two of my wishes that were heard
Develop "Produce Manager of the Year Awards" (The Produce News, Dec. 17, 2001).
A few years ago, during a friendly conversation with Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, I suggested that produce managers should be recognized and placed in the spotlight at conventions. I always felt that the most important people in our industry are the produce managers. They're the workforce that sells the product on the retail sales floor. Well, Mr. Stenzel came through by instituting the United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards program that pays special recognition to those on the front line in supermarkets. Thanks to Mr. Stenzel and United for making my wish a reality.
Promote "taste" in the produce industry (The Produce News, Dec. 23, 2002).
This is another wish that came true. The Produce Marketing Association and other fine organizations have been emphasizing and promoting the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables over the past couple of years. This is most gratifying.
My produce industry wishes for 2008
Food safety.
We need to get rid of the word "recall" in our industry. Recall this, recall that. It is scaring consumers. Shoppers want product on display they can trust without worrying about a recall.
Organic produce.
Make organics work once and for all. You're either in it or not. Skimpy supermarket display space with limited items is an insult to the program.
Immigration laws.
Get it right. This is an awful political mess just tossed around with no end in sight. We need rules that are fair for agriculture. Something has to be done to satisfy the people, our country and especially our farming industry.
Hire more reps.
Whether you're a supplier or a commodity board, install more representatives and get them out in the trenches selling your product. They can act as "rovers" barnstorming the food chain trails. Reps will more than pay for themselves by whipping up incredible incremental sales. Face-to-face is the best way to do business.
Keep industry jobs.
It's time to give the cut-and-chop practice a rest already. Companies are sacrificing good, qualified people to cover bottom lines. Let these talented employees do their job to help make more money the old fashioned way: by selling lots of product. Without good people, companies will fail.
Finally, I'd like to make some personal wishes. First, I wish I could get my hands on a "cell phone zapper." Have they invented these yet? If I had one, I could zap the phones of people who rudely talk so loud in public.
Second, I'd like to reserve some box seats for the Yankee owners to watch the Red Sox play the Dodgers in the World Series (if the Yankees let me down again in 2008).
My third wish is for a full tank of gas. Why not? That alone would really be a nice valuable dream come true. It's like diamonds in my gas tank.
I leave you with this: The writer Richard Bach said, "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however."
As 2007 heads into the history books, I raise my glass to each and every one of you in the produce industry. May 2008 be a healthy, happy and successful new year ever for you, your family and your company.
(Ron Pelger is the owner of RONPROCON, a consulting firm for the produce industry. He can be reached by phone at 775/853-7056, by e-mail at [email protected], or check his web site at www.power-produce.com.)
Another year has come and gone in the produce business. Did you make it over most of the tough hurdles this past year? No doubt 2008 will bring with it more changes and challenges. Some may be accomplished with ease, while others may be stressful and burdensome. What are your wishes and resolutions for the new year ahead?
Traditional new year resolutions go back to 153 B.C. when the Roman god Janus was placed at the preface of the calendar. Janus was depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. January, named after Janus, is a period of looking back at the previous year and looking forward to the coming year.
So, look back and review 2007, then look ahead to a new year and wish for the best to come your way. It's time once more for new year wish lists and resolutions.
Looking back at the wishes I made in this column over the years, some have come true while others have not. However, I won't give up in my mission to help make the produce industry better and stronger in some way each and every year.
Here are a few of my many wishes the produce "genie-in-the-bottle" has not heard: Lower produce grosses, schedule more labor, budget for training, cut down on the number of vice presidents, give buyers a pay raise, develop more seedless produce, get rid of promotional gimmicks, bring back exciting produce contests and stop faking on organic programs at store level.
Two of my wishes that were heard
Develop "Produce Manager of the Year Awards" (The Produce News, Dec. 17, 2001).
A few years ago, during a friendly conversation with Tom Stenzel, president of the United Fresh Produce Association, I suggested that produce managers should be recognized and placed in the spotlight at conventions. I always felt that the most important people in our industry are the produce managers. They're the workforce that sells the product on the retail sales floor. Well, Mr. Stenzel came through by instituting the United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards program that pays special recognition to those on the front line in supermarkets. Thanks to Mr. Stenzel and United for making my wish a reality.
Promote "taste" in the produce industry (The Produce News, Dec. 23, 2002).
This is another wish that came true. The Produce Marketing Association and other fine organizations have been emphasizing and promoting the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables over the past couple of years. This is most gratifying.
My produce industry wishes for 2008
Food safety.
We need to get rid of the word "recall" in our industry. Recall this, recall that. It is scaring consumers. Shoppers want product on display they can trust without worrying about a recall.
Organic produce.
Make organics work once and for all. You're either in it or not. Skimpy supermarket display space with limited items is an insult to the program.
Immigration laws.
Get it right. This is an awful political mess just tossed around with no end in sight. We need rules that are fair for agriculture. Something has to be done to satisfy the people, our country and especially our farming industry.
Hire more reps.
Whether you're a supplier or a commodity board, install more representatives and get them out in the trenches selling your product. They can act as "rovers" barnstorming the food chain trails. Reps will more than pay for themselves by whipping up incredible incremental sales. Face-to-face is the best way to do business.
Keep industry jobs.
It's time to give the cut-and-chop practice a rest already. Companies are sacrificing good, qualified people to cover bottom lines. Let these talented employees do their job to help make more money the old fashioned way: by selling lots of product. Without good people, companies will fail.
Finally, I'd like to make some personal wishes. First, I wish I could get my hands on a "cell phone zapper." Have they invented these yet? If I had one, I could zap the phones of people who rudely talk so loud in public.
Second, I'd like to reserve some box seats for the Yankee owners to watch the Red Sox play the Dodgers in the World Series (if the Yankees let me down again in 2008).
My third wish is for a full tank of gas. Why not? That alone would really be a nice valuable dream come true. It's like diamonds in my gas tank.
I leave you with this: The writer Richard Bach said, "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however."
As 2007 heads into the history books, I raise my glass to each and every one of you in the produce industry. May 2008 be a healthy, happy and successful new year ever for you, your family and your company.
(Ron Pelger is the owner of RONPROCON, a consulting firm for the produce industry. He can be reached by phone at 775/853-7056, by e-mail at [email protected], or check his web site at www.power-produce.com.)
