The Team Behind Eating by Example Gear Up for PMA Fresh Summit
NEWARK, DE - This past May, PMA launched one of the organization's newest initiatives, Eating by Example, designed to increase produce consumption by starting within the produce industry itself. With Fresh Summit a little over a month away, we are helping to promote the cause as the team behind the program ramps up for the show.
“We work in an industry that promotes the best stuff on earth. This is a great way for all of us to walk the walk and put our fruits and veggies where our mouths are!” Matt Mandel, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SunFed and one of six passionate professionals leading the charge, tells me.
Cassie Howard, Sunkist Manager of Corporate Category Management and also another member on the Eating by Example task force, echoed similar thoughts on the initiative, “As future leaders in this industry we recognized the disconnect that often occurs as we talk about the great benefits of fresh produce and increasing consumption at company and industry events while eating pastries, cakes or sweets. We felt that as industry members, we had an opportunity to change those habits and set an example for consumers by showing how great and easy it is to consume the healthy products we produce. The Eating by Example program has been created by the industry, for the industry.”
Eating by Example encourages industry members to pledge to do just what it says – eat by example. By signing up, you pledge to incorporate more delicious produce at company and industry events. Visit www.pma.com/eatingbyexample and add your name and company. Also, join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #EatingbyExample. No registration fees or check-ins. Essentially, by signing up you commit to provide more delicious produce at company/industry events.
The team spearheading the program also includes Caitlin Antle Wilson of Tanimura & Antle, Juliette King of King Orchards, Lukasz Gorajek of Valley Produce, Tyler Clear of Deardorff Family Farms and the rest of the PMA Foundation Emerging Leaders Program graduates.
“It is so easy in the produce industry to get away from what we all do every day - we grow, pack, cool, ship, sell, and support Mother Nature's greatest medicine - Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,” Caitlin tells me. “Choosing to incorporate the #EatingByExample initiative in the workplace is a good and healthy reminder to us all of this!”
The Produce Mom, Lori Taylor, will be featuring #EatingByExample and a few other PMA initiatives as part of her annual Twitter party on the PMA show floor on Saturday to help support the initiative. In addition, there will also be healthier than ever food and drink options throughout the entire conference.
“We hope that every member of PMA catches the #EatingByExample bug and get's on board,” Caitlin adds. “There is no reason why this initiative can’t become a part of who we are as an industry permanently. We are working on plans for furthering the continuation of the initiative.”
@pma staff taking the pledge to continue #eatingbyexample what about you? pic.twitter.com/bdacv8iBwc
— Shawn Wootten (@ShawnW_PMA) September 16, 2015Also involved in Eating by Example are three equally passionate fresh produce professionals and proud PMA Foundation Emerging Leaders Program graduates: Elena Hernandez of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Kathleen Elliott of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Kim Saxer of Monsanto Company.
