Newark, Del. – Produce professionals will connect and discover new industry developments during Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) sixth Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference & Expo, which will be held 17-18 August at the CSIR Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. The event will provide a unique opportunity to engage with local and global retailers and suppliers across the fresh produce and floral supply chain.
“The Fresh Connections: Southern Africa event provides role players from the entire fresh produce supply chain the opportunity to liaise and network,” says Tommie van Zyl, PMA South Africa Country Council chairman and CEO of ZZ2, one of South Africa’s largest farming operations. “Attendance will ensure that you keep abreast with the latest developments, are able to research trade opportunities around the world and meet potential business associates. I would like to invite all members of the industry to attend this great event.”
This year, attendees will participate in educational programming, leadership development, networking and a fast-growing expo to connect and uncover innovative ideas and solutions to challenges affecting the industry.
Education Program Inspires Innovation
The diverse 2016 education program will be led by more than 25 industry experts and panelists. They will explore topics including global fresh produce and retail trends, emerging markets in Africa and Asia, new technologies transforming the global fresh produce industry and creating markets for emerging farmers. Ram Ottapathu, CEO of Choppies Group, a fast growing regional retail chain, demonstrates the caliber of speakers confirmed.
Leadership Development Drives Talent
Center for Growing Talent by PMA’s (CGTbyPMA) mission to attract, develop and retain new industry talent will be on full display in Pretoria:
- In collaboration with the Citrus Academy, leading students from South African universities will be participating in sessions to expand their understanding of and interest in careers in the fresh produce industry.
- Industry members 35 and under will connect and grow their professional networks during CGTbyPMA’s Young Professionals Reception.
- Both men and women in the industry will attend the third Women’s Fresh Perspectives Breakfast to build relationships, cultivate the potential of women in the industry and increase the opportunity to build diverse leadership teams that improve businesses return on investment. Participants will hear from Monhla Hlahla former CEO of Airports Company, South Africa and non-Executive Chairman of ABSA. Attendance at this breakfast does not require participation in the overall conference.
Growing Expo Generates New Business Opportunities
This year 40 exhibitors will showcase their new products and services to industry leaders from around the globe. Participants will connect with grower-shippers, service providers, retailers, importers, exporters and more to create long-lasting business relationships.
“As a native-born South African, I’m thrilled to see how Fresh Connections: Southern Africa has become such an essential annual forum for the continent’s fresh industry,” says PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann. “I take my hat off to our members for building an event that connects businesses to innovation, solutions and first-hand insight from PMA’s global leaders.”
Country Council to Convene
The PMA South Africa Country Council will meet 19 August following the conference, where they’ll work to advance priorities identified through a recent strategic planning process, as well as seat new members for those rotating off the council. The country council comprises 18 industry, government and promotional body volunteer leaders from PMA-member companies across the fresh produce supply chain active in the region who help guide PMA activities in South Africa.
Specifically, these volunteer leaders assist in delivering member value and providing strategic direction for PMA growth in South Africa. In 2015, the country council engaged in strategic planning, which established four strategic priorities to provide local and regional value:
- Member and industry engagement and communications
- Establishing PMA Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference & Expo as the annual fresh produce conference for sub-Saharan Africa
- Continuing to build out and sustain human capital development programs, such as PMA South Africa’s agri-food career fairs
- Serving as a neutral platform for the industry to discuss common issues across all sectors
The strategic planning process also resulted in creating a new staff position to oversee PMA’s growth in the region. Lindie Stroebel was hired as PMA general manager, Southern Africa, in early 2016.
Connect to the right information, tools, and people
This event draws more than 500 attendees who come to network and explore new business opportunities. See who’s attending this year’s event.
Learn more and register for PMA’s 2016 Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference & Expo at pma.com.
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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 www.pma.com.
Source: Produce Marketing Association (PMA)
