March 6, 2013

United opens 2013 compensation survey

The United Fresh Foundation, through its Center for Leadership Excellence, has launched its 2013 compensation survey for the fresh produce industry. The data collected will be published in a research report that will assist produce industry employers in understanding critical compensation benchmarks.

Prepared by research firm Industry Insights in partnership with the United Fresh Foundation, this confidential survey measures compensation and benefits for 33 full-time positions within the produce industry. Data will be collected from U.S. and Canadian-based produce companies on a range of positions, including sales and marketing, production and operations, quality control and assurance, finance and accounting and executives.

The compensation survey, which was first released in 2011, has been updated based on input from the United Fresh Market Segment Boards, including the addition of three new positions, regional sales manager, marketing manager, and manager of food safety/quality assurance. Additional enhancements will include job descriptions and an expanded section on employee benefit practices. The report is now open to produce companies operating in the U.S. or Canada.

The results from the survey will be published later this spring in a detailed research report. The report will allow produce companies to directly compare their salaries and benefits for full-time positions across multiple business sectors, as well as by ownership type (family, private, public), type of business, produce sales volume, number of full-time employees and geography. The new data will also show important shifts since the report was first published two years ago.

“Our economy has changed tremendously since we first launched this survey in 2011,” said Victoria Backer, United Fresh senior vice president of member services, foundation. “This year’s compensation tool will help our members understand the current industry landscape, so they can ensure their competiveness in the marketplace. And with healthcare costs a major factor for produce employers, the data from this survey will provide a deeper understanding about current expenditures and benefit practices.”

The survey is now open at www.unitedfreshsurvey.com to any U.S. or Canadian-based produce industry employers including grower-shippers, brokers, wholesaler-distributors, importers, exporters and fresh-cut processors. The survey will remain open until April 5 and the final research report will be available for purchase at United Fresh 2013, the association’s annual convention and expo, May 14-16 in San Diego.

Companies that participate in submitting data for the survey are eligible to receive a fully customized report for their company at a deeply discounted rate of $195. Non-survey participants can order a survey report for $495 for United Fresh members and $695 for non-members. For more information on the survey, contact Victoria Backer at 202-303-3400, ext. 408.





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