PMA and United Fresh members vote to approve merger of organizations
May 13 , 2021
Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) members have voted in favor of a historic merger of the two major U.S. produce associations.
The Boards of Directors of the two entities each held a member vote to seek approval to create a single new organization and both associations reported full confidence in the initiative that was first announced in March.
The member vote was the final step in approval to dissolve each organization at the end of the year in order to launch the new association Jan 1, 2022.
Newark, De. – Produce Marketing Association BB #:153708 has announced the hiring of Iván Correa who will serve as the country representative in Chile.
Correa will serve as a resource and in-country support for PMA members and the industry providing relevant PMA resources and information and sharing Chilean insights and successes to the global audience. Correa’s primary role will focus on being an expert and point of contact for industry members in Chile, and facilitating critical business connections in the produce and floral industries.
“We are excited to welcome Iván as PMA’s new representative in Chile and part of our Global PMA team,” said PMA’s Vice President of Global Engagement, Anouk Sijmonsma.
PMA welcomes representative in Chile
Produce Marketing Association has hired Iván Correa as the country representative in Chile. Correa will serve as a resource and in-country support for PMA members and the industry providing relevant PMA resources and information and sharing Chilean insights and successes to the global audience. Correa’s primary role will focus on being an expert and point of contact for industry members in Chile, and facilitating critical business connections in the produce and floral industries.
“We are excited to welcome Iván as PMA’s new representative in Chile and part of our global PMA team,” said Anouk Sijmonsma, PMA’s vice-president of global engagement. “The produce industry is an increasingly global marketplace and PMA’s aim is to keep members connected with research, resources and revenue-boosting networking opportunities to grow globally. Chile is a key produce production and export market and has emerged as an important stakeholder
Date distribution expands to the East Coast and Europe
Joolies, known for fresh organic California Medjool dates, has expanded distribution to the U.S. East Coast and into Europe, including the UK. In the U.S., Joolies can now be found in the mid-Atlantic in Shoprite, Safeway and Acme stores as well as Lowe’s Markets in the Carolinas. With this expanded distribution, Joolies dates are now available in more than 2,000 locations.
The brand, based in Coachella and known for its mint-colored packaging, is on a mission to change the organic date-ing game to bring new consumers into the category. Currently, household penetration of dates is roughly only six percent in the U.S. and is primarily driven by older generations and those with ethnic backgrounds, since dates are popular in the Middle East.
Where Have all the Pallets Gone? Shortage Has Growers in a Pickle
It’s becoming clear that growers across the country are feeling the effects of supply shortages.
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Last week, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), which represents the production, packaging, and retail segments of the fresh produce, and floral industries, emailed the following alert to its members:
“There is currently a shortage of all types of pallets available for rent or sale in the U.S. This is not unique to just the produce and floral industry.
Ed Treacy, PMA’s Vice President of Supply Chain and Sustainability, has spoken to executives from CHEP USA and PECO Pallet, and they both have reported their companies are facing challenges in supplying pallets to their customers.