PMA connects with Mexican members during in-country visit
PMA connects with Mexican members during in-country visit
NEWARK, DE -- Members of the Mexican produce industry conversed first- hand on important issues and Produce Marketing Association's increasing activities in Mexico during a September visit to that country by Nancy Tucker, PMA's vice president of global business development, and PMA Mexico representative Alejandro Larreategui.
The pair discussed food safety, traceability, technology, the Foundation for Industry Talent, research and other PMA activities with members and prospects during PMA Fresh Connections member meetings held in the wholesale markets (centro de abastos) of Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara.
"Our Fresh Connection meetings in Mexico are the latest effort by PMA to better serve our members there, and around the world," Ms. Tucker said in an Oct. 1 press release. "We continuously look at how we can provide even greater value for and interaction with our members. Just last year we established the Mexico Country Council to guide those efforts in Mexico and create a forum for member involvement. There is so much mutually beneficial information coming out of these types of meetings."
Mr. Larreategui is also enthusiastic about the opportunities the Mexican industry and PMA have in working together.
"The chance to meet and share information leads to such a valuable interchange among members of our industry," he said in the release. "Additionally, we are finding a high level of interest in Mexico about PMA's Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition" at the end of October. "The wealth of programming Fresh Summit offers for international attendees, including educational workshops and a special international reception, is seen as a way for many Mexican businesses to involve themselves even more and glean valuable information for the future of their business."
During the trip, Ms. Tucker also spoke at the annual conference of the Asociaci?n Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida A.C., which represents industry leaders involved in the Mexican greenhouse and shadehouse industry. Ms. Tucker discussed the impact of key industry trends such as the growth of organics, interest in local products, sustainability, convenience, consolidation and the impact of current economic forces. Her presentation also took a look at how industry is responding to each of these factors.
"Our Fresh Connections meetings, combined with the chance to speak with colleagues at other Mexican associations, help us better tailor information and programs which fit the needs of the Mexican industry," said Ms. Tucker. "Alejandro also plays a key role in our development of products and services for Mexico, and we're excited to have him as a liaison with our members and prospects in Mexico."
Ms. Tucker's and Mr. Larreategui's September meetings followed other recent PMA staff visits to the country. Staff met with PMA's Mexico Country Council in Guadalajara in July to help PMA design and tailor training and education products and services to meet the Mexican industry's unique needs.
A Fresh Connections reception followed the council's meeting that was attended by 125 area industry members interested in building their business relationships. PMA Chief Scientific Officer Bob Whitaker traveled May 21 to Mexicali, Mexico, to meet with approximately 70 area PMA members and non-members to discuss the importance of enhancing their food safety efforts to the level of a food-safety culture.
The pair discussed food safety, traceability, technology, the Foundation for Industry Talent, research and other PMA activities with members and prospects during PMA Fresh Connections member meetings held in the wholesale markets (centro de abastos) of Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara.
"Our Fresh Connection meetings in Mexico are the latest effort by PMA to better serve our members there, and around the world," Ms. Tucker said in an Oct. 1 press release. "We continuously look at how we can provide even greater value for and interaction with our members. Just last year we established the Mexico Country Council to guide those efforts in Mexico and create a forum for member involvement. There is so much mutually beneficial information coming out of these types of meetings."
Mr. Larreategui is also enthusiastic about the opportunities the Mexican industry and PMA have in working together.
"The chance to meet and share information leads to such a valuable interchange among members of our industry," he said in the release. "Additionally, we are finding a high level of interest in Mexico about PMA's Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition" at the end of October. "The wealth of programming Fresh Summit offers for international attendees, including educational workshops and a special international reception, is seen as a way for many Mexican businesses to involve themselves even more and glean valuable information for the future of their business."
During the trip, Ms. Tucker also spoke at the annual conference of the Asociaci?n Mexicana de Horticultura Protegida A.C., which represents industry leaders involved in the Mexican greenhouse and shadehouse industry. Ms. Tucker discussed the impact of key industry trends such as the growth of organics, interest in local products, sustainability, convenience, consolidation and the impact of current economic forces. Her presentation also took a look at how industry is responding to each of these factors.
"Our Fresh Connections meetings, combined with the chance to speak with colleagues at other Mexican associations, help us better tailor information and programs which fit the needs of the Mexican industry," said Ms. Tucker. "Alejandro also plays a key role in our development of products and services for Mexico, and we're excited to have him as a liaison with our members and prospects in Mexico."
Ms. Tucker's and Mr. Larreategui's September meetings followed other recent PMA staff visits to the country. Staff met with PMA's Mexico Country Council in Guadalajara in July to help PMA design and tailor training and education products and services to meet the Mexican industry's unique needs.
A Fresh Connections reception followed the council's meeting that was attended by 125 area industry members interested in building their business relationships. PMA Chief Scientific Officer Bob Whitaker traveled May 21 to Mexicali, Mexico, to meet with approximately 70 area PMA members and non-members to discuss the importance of enhancing their food safety efforts to the level of a food-safety culture.
