NEWARK, DE - Back in 2018, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) doubled down on sustainabillity, announcing it would be focusing its work to support the industry to grow a healthier world. Now, PMA has announced that Ed Treacy will head up the association’s sustainability work in 2019. Treacy is currently PMA’s Vice President, Supply Chain and Sustainability.

For the last nine years, Treacy has served as PMA’s expert in developing supply chain practices to lead the produce and floral industries forward by monitoring and forecasting supply chain trends and efficiencies and designing and maintaining related products, services, and educational events for PMA members. He also serves as Staff Lead and Technical Consultant to the industry-wide Produce Traceability Initiative and leads all data standardization initiatives for PMA, as noted in a press release.

“We ultimately see sustainability as the responsibility for the entire supply chain,” said Bob Whitaker Ph.D., Chief Science and Technology Officer. “There’s no one who has a better grasp on all of the intricacies and opportunities within the floral and produce supply chains than Ed. He is a relentless advocate for our industry in a variety of important places, and I am thrilled that he will be leading PMA’s efforts as we become a resource for our industry around sustainability.”

As part of its renewed focus on sustainability, PMA’s new Sustainability Committee, which Treacy will lead, will work with industry members to redefine sustainability to help people understand trends, information, resources, and best business practices; inspire the industry to optimize processes and resources available to drive economic, social, and environmental benefits; and encourage all to adopt sustainable business models, strategies, methods, and information across the supply chain—all of which will help bolster produce’s place as a prime example for innovation.

PMA’s new Sustainability Committee is chaired by Limoneira’s Vice President of Global Marketing John Chamberlain. According to a press release, Chamberlain has more than 25 years of marketing, brand development, and communications experience with global multinationals (14 with Limoneira, as well as has extensive skills in storytelling.

“John is not a sustainability guy, so to speak,” said Treacy. “His role is in marketing. It was so important that he was involved because his talent and instinct for telling the industry’s story through marketing is exactly what we need. There is already so much happening as it relates to sustainability in our industry. It’s our goal to uncover these stories and share them, within our industry and beyond it. We are first and foremost, stewards of the land and know better than anyone how to sustain it. It’s my goal to make sure that the world knows about the great work we do in our industry, and in doing so, inspire more great work.”

Congratulations to Ed Treacy on this new role! AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the latest happening in the produce industry.

PMA