A PMA Experience

My feet hurt. My bags are heavy. I have no idea what day it is. This must be Post-PMA Syndrome.

This year’s show in Atlanta marked my first PMA ever. And what an experience it was. I have never worked a trade show as hard as I worked this one. Hours upon hours on my feet, meeting and greeting produce industry members by the dozens. I shook so many hands that I’m not sure if I’m a politician or a magazine editor. Between meetings, walking the show floor and working the Fresh Cut booth, I can’t remember meeting so many people in one location. It was amazing.

As I sit here in the airport waiting for my flight to arrive, I can’t help but think about my last four days in Atlanta. I remember them well – and I’ll remember them for a long time. But where did they go? There were so many things to see and so many people to meet that the days have all blurred together. Saturday is Monday is Sunday is Tuesday.

The best part of the show – for me – were the many hours I spent visiting with fresh-cut processors and companies. It was a neat experience to actually meet people that I’ve been reading about and writing about. In my business, nothing is more important than meeting people face to face. It’s only then that you can see the excitement in peoples’ eyes as they talk about their newest products. It’s only then that you can really understand why they love doing what they do.

That excitement and positive attitude is infectious. Every time I get a chance to visit with people in the fresh-cut industry, I get more excited about being part of it – though in a somewhat removed way. When I hear about the new packaging and merchandising ideas coming down the pipeline, I get excited about my job and the future of this industry. I think I’ll be running on post-show adrenaline for the next six months. I have story ideas to take me at least that far.

For an industry that some say has hit a plateau, there were an awful lot of new product ideas and exciting new ventures displayed at the show. Some of the most innovative ideas provide consumers with whole-meal solutions using fresh-cut produce. Companies are starting to give customers everything they need for a meal full of wholesome fruits and vegetables, from salads with meat and cheese to apple-crisp kits with spices and topping. Another driving trend at the show was a further emphasis on grab-and-go – from small bags of carrots and apple slices to cup-holder sized containers perfect for taking in the car.

If the industry continues to be this innovative and be at the front of the consumer curve, I see fresh-cut continuing to drive the produce category for a long time to come.

As I reflect, I think I have learned more about fresh-cut in the last four days than I have in the last eight months. I am eager to continue writing about all of the developments in the fresh-cut industry.

I want to thank everyone who took time to talk to me at PMA. I know this is an important show for your businesses, just as it is for mine. And I know that your time there is precious.

I look forward to meeting many more of you as I continue working in this industry. I hope to see you at one of the other trade shows coming up for the fresh-cut produce industry. In the meantime, drop me an e-mail to say hello: [email protected]. Or give me a call at (616) 887-9008, ext. 110.