The 2013 Global Trade Symposium at the New York Produce Show and Conference brought hundreds of produce industry leaders and experts together for discussions on crucial trends in international produce trade. The Symposium welcomed a diverse group of speakers to encourage innovative thinking for future business practices.
Dr. Roberta Cook, the Cooperative Extension Marketing Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) at University of California Davis, presented an overview of how supply and demand intersect as well as reviewed key consumer and economic indicators. "More than initiating new trends, the economic downturn intensified previous trends and increased market pressure. This intense pressure has highlighted the need for investment in information technology and innovation."
Dr. Cook related the need for supply chain efficiency to increasing demand. "As an industry, we can increase efficiency and reduce shrink, but we need information technology and we need to share that information. With greater efficiency, we can make produce more affordable and available to more consumers and expand demand."
Andrew Sharp, owner of Sharp Enterprises, presented the dilemma of global food security and why it is an urgent issue. "It's not just an issue of production," he stated. "We waste one-third of edible food. We cannot continue to have cheap food worldwide produced with no impact. The future demands that we look at reducing waste from field to meal, adopting sustainable and healthy diets, in addition to managing resources."
Representatives from Central and South America shared presentations on growth, product diversity, sustainability, as well as opportunities in Peru, Guatemala, Brazil and Uruguay. Discussion included new products, production schemes, and packaging development as well as how the dynamic industries in these countries can be partnered with American companies.
Source: PerishableNews.com
