PMA, United Fresh merger talks unsuccessful

Talks between United Fresh Produce Association and the Produce Marketing Association about merging into one organization have ended without an agreement.

Mike O'Brien, co-chair of the joint task force leading the merger discussions, has issued a statement indicating his “profound disappointment” that the effort was unsuccessful.

“Despite our best efforts, we were unable to agree on an acceptable joint association model that would meet both member and industry needs,” O'Brien said. “Once again, let me state for the record that this was a decision made by PMA's volunteer leaders on behalf of our members.”

An update issued by the United Fresh board also confirms that merger discussions ended today without a final agreement. The statement read, in part:

“We are disappointed that in the end, PMA's current leadership did not agree with what we believe was a very fair, member-oriented plan that could have blended the goals and priorities of both associations. Without that commitment from our friends at PMA, your United Board could simply not abandon the principles that have guided our association for more than a century.”

Here is the entire statement from O'Brien of PMA:

“Over the past 18 months, I have been privileged to serve PMA and the produce industry as the chair of the Produce Marketing Association task force exploring the opportunities to merge with the United Fresh Produce Association. I accepted that responsibility because of my personal belief that we are stronger together than working alone.

“I have served the produce industry as a volunteer leader for over 12  years, chairing both PMA and the Produce for Better Health Foundation. PMA’s strength has always been its ability to unite our industry, and move forward together toward our common goal of increasing consumption. I know we can move past the recent events to continue to work together to ensure a future where our fresh fruits and vegetables are always at the center of the plate.”

Following is the statement sent to members from the United Fresh board in its entirety:

Dear United Fresh Member,

Our goal has always been about enhancing member value, and driving increased sales and profitability for our industry. Going forward, we believe that United Fresh is the association that can best help you achieve those goals through our unique member leadership of some 350 volunteers, the commitment of our dedicated staff, and the array of programs for our industry in key strategic areas:

• Unmatched advocacy for the produce industry, influencing public policy to secure the most cost-effective legislative and regulatory business climate for our members.
• Helping members build profitability through business solutions, leadership development, education and training, food safety services, and similar programs.
• Growing produce consumption for public and industry health.
• Enhancing business connections and networking among the global produce community, bringing buyers, sellers and all supply chain stakeholders together to enhance and grow our industry.

As members of the Board, we have to admit that we are proud of the association’s growth, achievements, authority in the nation’s capital and respected reputation across the global produce industry. But none of this is possible without you. We can be proud of the growth we’ve achieved by working together.

• More than 100 new member companies have joined United so far in 2012.
• We’ve just completed our 2012 fiscal year with higher revenues than ever, with increases in membership, convention income, attendance at our Washington Public Policy Conference, and other member education and training programs.
• Members and friends have invested more than $500,000 this year in United’s non-profit foundation to donate more than 100 salad bars to Texas schools, with hundreds more donated to schools around the country. Together, we are investing in the next generation of produce consumers.
• And, just last week, United’s advocacy efforts helped drive some $4 billion in direct value to the specialty crop industry in the Farm Bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee, with similar gains in the Senate version of the bill passed earlier.

Looking ahead, our work continues to help grow this great industry. We invite you to join with United Fresh and our industry colleagues by attending the Washington Public Policy Conference this fall to help finish our work on the Farm Bill and to advance our priorities on food safety, labor, nutrition and more. Please visit UnitedFresh.org today to reserve your place at this year’s WPPC.

Michael Wootton
Sunkist Growers, Inc.