LA MIRADA, CA Following a Member Needs Assessment Survey last year, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council has re-vamped its website and unveiled the new FPFC.org.
The website was outdated and we knew that, says FPFC President Carissa Mace. But we didnt just want to make it look better, we wanted to add functionality and we wanted that functionality to serve our members needs.
In its first phase of development, the new website allows members to search the entire FPFC member roster. A searchable roster was the one thing that our members wanted most, Mace says.
In addition, the Councils calendar of events now includes more detailed information and links to event particulars, such as maps to venues, links to hotels and information about guests and speakers. For those who miss luncheons or Expos, speaker and sponsor presentations and handouts will be available for download following each event. Site visitors can even see photos from Council events.
While e-commerce is scheduled for the sites next phase, users can now register for events using downloadable pdfs. Mace expects e-commerce being active by fall of 2010.
Were also very excited about being able to put our magazine online, she says. The Councils bi-monthly publication, FRESH Digest is also available as a pdf.
Mace anticipates even more content and functionality as the Councils Board of Directors works on new strategies based on the results of the Member Needs Assessment.
We learned a lot from that survey, she says, and weve now laid the groundwork for a very powerful tool for delivering the services that our membership needs and wants.
The FPFC Board has had several strategic planning sessions and will be developing new member deliverables over the next year, many of which may involve the website.
While no final decisions have yet been made, options under consideration include member forums, research data, webinars and job listings.
A Website Task Force, chaired by Jin Ju Wilder of Coast Produce, gave feedback on the new sites development and will continue its work in the future as the site progresses.
Basically, Mace says, we want everyone in the industry to visit the site and look around. I think everyone will be very happy with whats there and, of course, theres still so much more to come.
Source: FCPC
