PMA connects students to careers in produce industry
PMA connects students to careers in produce industry
NEWARK, DE -- Twenty-four food and agricultural marketing students and their faculty advisors representing six colleges learned the depth and breadth of produce industry career options at Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, held Nov. 4-8 in Atlanta.
The students were chosen to participate in The Pack Family/ PMA Career Pathways Fund, a program designed to develop leaders in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
Students made discoveries during Fresh Summit that enriched their classroom knowledge by meeting with seasoned professionals, participating in the educational program, and attending special meetings with industry advisors.
Speaking of the students' experience at Fresh Summit, PMA board member and industry advisor Lisa McNeece of Grimmway Farms said in a Dec 15 statement, "It gives students a true insight into our industry and the opportunities that are available to them." Several of last year's Fresh Summit student attendees said that as a direct result of their Fresh Summit experience, they have taken positions in sales and marketing, management and purchasing by organizations including Daymon Worldwide, Heartland Fields, Caito Foods, Kroger and Cargill Inc.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Katie Brazil said she learned a lot about the produce industry during her time in Atlanta. "I learned that there are many, many opportunities in so many different areas of the produce industry. It seems that there is something for everyone. I loved seeing how excited everyone was to meet the future generation of the produce industry."
Last year's attendee Kristen Catalani concurred. Using the contacts made at Fresh Summit a year ago, she gained employment with Mission Produce in less than a week. Now working as a roving manager for the company, she said that "PMA was the best thing that happened to me last year."
Participating colleges in The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund were Cornell University, the University of California at Davis, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, California Polytechnic State University and St. Joseph's University.
Dr. Roberta Cook, marketing economist for the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics at the University of California at Davis, noted that The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund Program is beneficial to students who are learning about the industry and "being exposed to the diversity of career paths and the many opportunities in the industry, even if they start from a low level position, is what I see as my students' most valuable take away."
Dr. Cook added that the UC-Davis students all expressed an interest in following up with the contacts they made and were anxious to pursue internships to gain some of the hands-on experience emphasized by their industry advisors.
The students were chosen to participate in The Pack Family/ PMA Career Pathways Fund, a program designed to develop leaders in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
Students made discoveries during Fresh Summit that enriched their classroom knowledge by meeting with seasoned professionals, participating in the educational program, and attending special meetings with industry advisors.
Speaking of the students' experience at Fresh Summit, PMA board member and industry advisor Lisa McNeece of Grimmway Farms said in a Dec 15 statement, "It gives students a true insight into our industry and the opportunities that are available to them." Several of last year's Fresh Summit student attendees said that as a direct result of their Fresh Summit experience, they have taken positions in sales and marketing, management and purchasing by organizations including Daymon Worldwide, Heartland Fields, Caito Foods, Kroger and Cargill Inc.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student Katie Brazil said she learned a lot about the produce industry during her time in Atlanta. "I learned that there are many, many opportunities in so many different areas of the produce industry. It seems that there is something for everyone. I loved seeing how excited everyone was to meet the future generation of the produce industry."
Last year's attendee Kristen Catalani concurred. Using the contacts made at Fresh Summit a year ago, she gained employment with Mission Produce in less than a week. Now working as a roving manager for the company, she said that "PMA was the best thing that happened to me last year."
Participating colleges in The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund were Cornell University, the University of California at Davis, Michigan State University, Texas A&M, California Polytechnic State University and St. Joseph's University.
Dr. Roberta Cook, marketing economist for the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics at the University of California at Davis, noted that The Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways Fund Program is beneficial to students who are learning about the industry and "being exposed to the diversity of career paths and the many opportunities in the industry, even if they start from a low level position, is what I see as my students' most valuable take away."
Dr. Cook added that the UC-Davis students all expressed an interest in following up with the contacts they made and were anxious to pursue internships to gain some of the hands-on experience emphasized by their industry advisors.
