NEWARK, DE - As the country continues to battle through the challenges of COVID-19, many upcoming industry events we looked forward to have made the difficult decision to postpone for the safety and wellbeing of our industry. The team behind the 2020 Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Foodservice Conference has decided to postpone the event from this year to July 20-24, 2021.

“We’ve been in constant contact with the industry around the world and it is clear that now, more than ever, our members seek opportunities to make meaningful connections, spur innovative solutions, and share key insights that will help our entire industry move forward,” said PMA CEO Cathy Burns. “Just as we have for the past four decades, PMA is committed to bringing the foodservice community together. While we won’t be physically gathering, the spirit of PMA in Monterey will carry on in new ways. We owe it to our members and the industry to do all we can as they revitalize the foodservice industry.”

According to a statement released by PMA, the association has introduced its latest initiative, PMA Foodservice: Delivered, an innovative and immersive digital experience, providing the connections to people and ideas to help the entire foodservice industry around the world continue on the road to revitalization. This initiative is a joint effort between PMA and the Center for Growing Talent.

“Center for Growing Talent continues to meet our members and engage talent wherever they are,” said Center for Growing Talent Executive Director, Doug Bohr. “In the past two months, we launched a new series of events that have reached three times the number of students than in all of last year and provided unique networking and development opportunities for young professionals and women in our industry.”

Bohr continued, “This week, we announced a new virtual Wellness Walk and Run Challenge inviting members to join us in a multi-week event to support their health and wellness and raise funds to support our talent attraction efforts on behalf of the industry. We look forward to sharing our plans for how talent will be a part of the new Foodservice: Delivered event.”

PMA is dedicated to helping its members connect across the global supply chain and deliver on the rapidly changing consumer needs. Recently, the Joy of Fresh campaign was launched as a means to ramp up the consumption of fresh produce for consumers and to provide assets for PMA’s members.

“Consumers’ lives were changed so abruptly, disrupting in their routines including access to their favorite and familiar foodservice establishments,” said Lauren M. Scott, PMA CMO. “It’s inspiring how the produce industry has innovated and adapted to serve their customers in new ways. Everyone in the supply chain has the opportunity to understand the consumer as they have a direct impact on their business decisions, now more than ever before. I can’t wait for us to continue championing getting produce on the plates to deliver the Joy of Fresh.”

As our industry continues to evolve and innovate during these critical times, ANUK will continue to report on the efforts made every day.

Produce Marketing Association