From Our People To Yours

PMA celebrates the people who make up the vibrant produce industry.

This past December, as PMA staff worked to package year-end business before well-deserved holiday vacations, I asked them to reflect on 2012 and share what they're most thankful for in their work at PMA. Their responses echo what the PMA Foundation for Industry Talent focuses on every day: that a vibrant global produce industry is sustained though its most valuable resource: people.

PMA staff helps members connect with business-building tools and industry resources, members help our staff zero in on industry priorities, and industry members throughout the supply chain segment and around the world help each other through the exchange of best we do practices and new connections.

Comprising retailers, growers, produce buyers, financial experts, communicators, distributors, scientists and dedicated staff, PMA represents the depth of expertise from which the organization draws strength. The result is our working exclusively for your stores, your businesses and the global produce industry. We're creating our future, one decision at a time. Enough of what I think. Here are remarks from PMA staff, in their own words:

"Without both the contributors and the volunteers of the foundation, it simply wouldn't exist. We were imagined by a group of very visionary PMA members, and we've come to fruition because of donors and volunteers."

—Margi Prueitt, executive director, PMA Foundation for Industry Talent

"I'm really thankful for the family atmosphere that the industry has. I'm thankful they're always ready and willing to meet new people, to let you experience new things."

—Cynthia Clifton, coordinator, government relations, public affairs and food safety

"I'm thankful for the energy the members provide me, and I feel we can really re-energize each other."

—Jill LeBrasseur, member outreach specialist

"The one thing I'm really thankful for is when I moved to this industry, I just felt that warm welcome from anybody I met."

—Mylene Pacheco, VP, member value creation

"More than 400 volunteers have committed their time and service to PMA to help us address those industry issues and to bring the best solutions to the global produce industry."

—Becky Roberts, director, volunteer relations

"I'm thankful to our members for giving us the privilege of allowing us to work with them day in and day out to help their business grow, to give us the opportunity to tell us what it is they need for their businesses, and to help us define those solutions together."

—Kelly Koczak McCurdy, VP, marketing

"Members are the lifeblood of our association. We want to thank you for your loyalty, your support and your passion. And we really want to thank you for the ability to help us help you and your businesses grow."

—Anthony Barbieri, VP, business development

Together, we do a wonderful job of providing consumers the most delicious, healthful, flavorful food available. Thank you for your support of PMA this year — and every year — and for allowing us to help advance this bright, vibrant, forward-thinking industry into the future.

Happy New Year!

Bryan Silbermann is president and CEO of the Newark, Del.-based Produce Marketing Association.

Together, we do a wonderful job of providing consumers the most delicious, healthful, flavorful food available.