Newark, Del. — A unique crop of its own, the produce industry depends on the basic element of talent to thrive. Just like a seed needs water, the industry needs skilled, motivated and engaged employees. So Center for Growing Talent by PMA’s (CGTbyPMA) mission to attract, develop and retain industry talent will be on full display during PMA’s 2016 Foodservice Conference and Expo.
This year, the conference will take place July 29-31 at a new location: Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, in Monterey, California.
“In order for our industry to grow, it’s critical to support its most important asset—its people,” says CGTbyPMA Chairman Elect Leonard Batti, president of Taylor Farms Florida Inc.
Attracting students to industry careers:
CGTbyPMA’s Career Pathways attracts the best and brightest university students to pursue careers in the fresh produce and floral industries. Students from Hartnell College, California State University, Chico and San Jose State University will attend this year’s foodservice conference. The students will be paired with industry mentors and will participate in customized education sessions and activities, to get immersed in the industry and its potential careers.
“My interest in the produce industry sparked during my Introduction to Plant Science class,” says Kaeli McCarther, one of this year’s Career Pathways students. “Through my garden plot for my lab, I felt this wonderful connection to the earth that I have never felt before. It really gave me a greater appreciation for the produce I eat, and I am endlessly curious about how it all is grown.”
CGTbyPMA operates a total of eight Career Pathways programs at various industry events throughout the year, including PMA’s Fresh Summit in October.
Networking:
Saturday evening, July 30: CGTbyPMA’s Women’s Fresh Perspectives Networking Reception will provide an opportunity for women and men in the produce industry to connect. The reception is just one of the many offerings in the Women’s Fresh Perspectives portfolio that delivers strong business connections through passion for the industry and shared lessons learned. The reception will be held at the Hyatt; this event is included in conference registration.
Supporting CGTbyPMA:
- Wednesday, July 27: The industry is invited to participate in CGTbyPMA’s Bocce for Talent Tournament to socialize and compete. This event will be held at the Custom House Plaza. Separate registration is required.
- Thursday, July 28: Industry professionals who enjoy golf and wish to support a good cause in the process can participate in the Joe Nucci Memorial Golf Tournament at Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Course. Players will have the opportunity to compete in a variety of contests and participate in specialty holes. Separate registration is required for this event.
- Saturday morning, July 30: CGTbyPMA will host its 5K Race for Talent, which is a 3.1-mile course that travels along the scenic Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. The race will begin at 6:30 a.m. Separate registration is required; this event typically sells out, plan ahead to register.
All CGTbyPMA activities at PMA’s Foodservice Conference and Expo will include an extra surprise to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Attendees can also show their commitment to talent and celebrate CGTbyPMA’s 10 years of success by taking the 10 for talent challenge.
For more information about CGTbyPMA’s mission and activities, visit www.growingtalentbypma.org.
To register for PMA’s 2016 Foodservice Conference and Expo, visit pma.com/foodservice.
About the Center for Growing Talent by PMA
Center for Growing Talent by PMA (CGTbyPMA) is a charitable organization created by the produce and floral industry to grow the people across our industry. We help attract, develop and retain the talent needed to feed our industry's growth, including educational programming and networking events. We offer a variety of industry-specific solutions across the career continuum, for university students, young professionals and women, emerging leaders, mid-level individuals and senior executives. Created in 2005, CGTbyPMA evolved from the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent to our new name and logo in 2016 to better describe what we do for the industry. For more information, visit GrowingTalentbyPMA.org.
About Produce Marketing Association (PMA)
Produce Marketing Association is the leading trade association representing companies from every segment of the global produce and floral supply chain. PMA helps members grow by providing connections that expand business opportunities and increase sales and consumption. For more information, visit pma.com.
Source: Produce Marketing Association (PMA)