SUNSET and Brighter Bites Get Ready to Rock Produce Marketing Association's Fresh Summit
KINGSVILLE, ON - Are you ready to rock? When I think of a Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit party, I cannot help but think of greenhouse trailblazer SUNSET® and, this year, the Brighter Bites® team. The two leading-edge operations are partnering in a groundbreaking virtual event to help raise funds to support the Brighter Bites mission of delivering fresh produce to those families who need it most and spread the love in the fresh produce universe.
“With the produce world going virtual for this year’s PMA Fresh Summit, we didn’t want to compromise on the opportunity to get the industry together to have some fun and keep the SUNSET Rocks tradition going,” Paul Mastronardi, President and CEO of Mastronardi Produce stated. “With Brighter Bites, we saw an opportunity to look at the event through a different lens this year and give to the families that have been hit hard by the pandemic.”
Slated for the 2020 show, this first-ever virtual SUNSET Rocks event will take place during the PMA Fresh Summit and will still feature a surprise, big-name recording artist as it has for the past decade. Curious about the musical track record of this amazing event? Previous acts have included Steven Page, Tone Loc, Flo Rida (my first SUNSET PMA party), One Republic, Kid Rock, Poison, Bryan Adams, Pitbull, Duran Duran, and Maroon 5.
As always, the SUNSET team knows that making connections is the lifeblood of our industry and has worked on fun ways to make the virtual experience feel immersive and still have that sense of connection that has been so valued in the past. The 2020 event will be calling on sponsors and spectators to raise funds for the Brighter Bites cause. It will also feature the front-line workers within the produce industry that have been critical in maintaining a strong supply of fresh produce throughout the ongoing pandemic, according to a press release.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with SUNSET on the SUNSET Rocks event. This will go so far in helping so many people in need,” Rich Dachman, CEO of Brighter Bites expressed. “The ability for the industry to come together and make a difference in the lives of people who need our help is truly what I love the most about the produce world. And to do it in such a fun and creative way is something we can all look forward to.”
Cathy Burns, PMA’s CEO, also reflected on the support of PMA in attracting a large audience for the event as we look to October.
“This year has presented a multitude of unique challenges and opportunities, and I continue to be inspired by our industry’s response,” said Burns. “With the Fresh Summit virtual forum focused on content, community, and connections, I am thrilled that the popular SUNSET Rocks event will not only provide an incredible opportunity to come together and connect, but that it will also serve as a platform to support our strategic partner Brighter Bites and its critical work to get fresh fruits and vegetables to children and families in at-risk communities. Thanks to the leadership of Paul Mastronardi and his team, all registered Fresh Summit guests will have a wonderful way to catch up and help further our vision to grow a healthier world.”
With SUNSET building an intriguing schedule and the expanded invitation list, you can imagine that there are some exciting surprises in store and, I am sure, an unforgettable experience awaits us all. A huge congrats to SUNSET and Brighter Bites on the event yet to come, and thank you for encouraging the industry and beyond to impact the lives of the people most important to the industry—the families that enjoy fresh produce every day.
