PMA Leaders Visit Hunts Point, Launch Bird Flu Plan and other Disaster Strategies
NEWARK, Del. -- Leaders of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) here met with officials at New York's Hunts Point Market last week to learn more about the challenges facing the industry.
In attendance from PMA were Janet Erickson, chairman of the board; Peter Goulet, chairman-elect; Dave Corsi, chairman of the retail division; Bud Floyd, executive committee member; and Bryan Silbermann, PMA president. The group met with Hunts Point Market co-president Matt D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Brothers, and other members of the market's board.
Discussions focused on issues ranging from market modernization to transportation challenges facing the industry. As co-chair of PMA's transportation task force, Floyd briefed the group on recent research conducted in conjunction with Progressive Grocer on the subject of produce transportation practices and outlined the task force's plan to publish best practices later this year.
"Meeting with the leadership of Hunts Point Market gives PMA a great opportunity to learn more about this vital market and the pivotal role it plays in New York, especially for the many thousands of restaurants and independent food stores that make this city's food scene so unique," said Erickson.
The New York visit was the most recent of a series of visits by PMA leaders to wholesale markets in the United States and Australia. In late June, Silbermann visited New England Produce Market in Chelsea, Mass. In early June, Erickson and Steve Junqueiro, PMA chairman of the executive committee, were in Sydney, Australia to present their respective viewpoints during a sold-out PMA seminar examining trends in the retail and foodservice sectors. While there they also toured the Sydney Wholesale Market and visited with some of the dozens of PMA members in Australia.
In other news, PMA, in partnership with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), will outline critical steps to prepare for Bird Flu and other potential disasters during an informative two-part Webinar series.
The first part of the Webinar, appropriately named, "Avian Bird Flu, Pandemic Influenza and How it Could Affect Your Company" will be held on July 25, 2006, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, with the second part of the series, "Business Continuity Planning and Pandemic Solutions," held one week later on August 1, 2006, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET.
PMA and CPMA are presenting this specially priced, two-part Webinar series to address a subject that is becoming a top priority for all industry professionals -- how to best prepare for potential disasters.
"Whether it's Bird Flu, hurricanes, or any other unnatural or natural disaster -- business continuity planning is a critical element for business plans in any industry," said PMA president Bryan Silbermann.
During the first Webinar, Dr. Arthur Liang, MD, MPH, associate director of food safety for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer insights and explore strategies to counter the impact of Bird Flu on the fresh produce industry. The department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada will provide an overview of the Canadian perspective and outline the impact of a Bird Flu Pandemic on businesses. This comprehensive Webinar will give attendees the facts straight from credible health authorities and will include discussions of the Bird Flu pandemic's impact on companies, employees, consumer shopping and dining habits. Participants will also learn how emergency preparations will positively affect the operations of their company.
The second Webinar will examine tools needed to develop a business continuity plan. The plan will aid companies in the event of Bird Flu or other crisis scenarios by keeping business operational breaks at a minimum. It also will discuss ways the government's role and actions, at all levels, may affect the produce industry and the role effective communication plays in this crisis situation.
For more information, visit http://www.pma.com/events.
In attendance from PMA were Janet Erickson, chairman of the board; Peter Goulet, chairman-elect; Dave Corsi, chairman of the retail division; Bud Floyd, executive committee member; and Bryan Silbermann, PMA president. The group met with Hunts Point Market co-president Matt D'Arrigo of D'Arrigo Brothers, and other members of the market's board.
Discussions focused on issues ranging from market modernization to transportation challenges facing the industry. As co-chair of PMA's transportation task force, Floyd briefed the group on recent research conducted in conjunction with Progressive Grocer on the subject of produce transportation practices and outlined the task force's plan to publish best practices later this year.
"Meeting with the leadership of Hunts Point Market gives PMA a great opportunity to learn more about this vital market and the pivotal role it plays in New York, especially for the many thousands of restaurants and independent food stores that make this city's food scene so unique," said Erickson.
The New York visit was the most recent of a series of visits by PMA leaders to wholesale markets in the United States and Australia. In late June, Silbermann visited New England Produce Market in Chelsea, Mass. In early June, Erickson and Steve Junqueiro, PMA chairman of the executive committee, were in Sydney, Australia to present their respective viewpoints during a sold-out PMA seminar examining trends in the retail and foodservice sectors. While there they also toured the Sydney Wholesale Market and visited with some of the dozens of PMA members in Australia.
In other news, PMA, in partnership with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA), will outline critical steps to prepare for Bird Flu and other potential disasters during an informative two-part Webinar series.
The first part of the Webinar, appropriately named, "Avian Bird Flu, Pandemic Influenza and How it Could Affect Your Company" will be held on July 25, 2006, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET, with the second part of the series, "Business Continuity Planning and Pandemic Solutions," held one week later on August 1, 2006, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET.
PMA and CPMA are presenting this specially priced, two-part Webinar series to address a subject that is becoming a top priority for all industry professionals -- how to best prepare for potential disasters.
"Whether it's Bird Flu, hurricanes, or any other unnatural or natural disaster -- business continuity planning is a critical element for business plans in any industry," said PMA president Bryan Silbermann.
During the first Webinar, Dr. Arthur Liang, MD, MPH, associate director of food safety for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will offer insights and explore strategies to counter the impact of Bird Flu on the fresh produce industry. The department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada will provide an overview of the Canadian perspective and outline the impact of a Bird Flu Pandemic on businesses. This comprehensive Webinar will give attendees the facts straight from credible health authorities and will include discussions of the Bird Flu pandemic's impact on companies, employees, consumer shopping and dining habits. Participants will also learn how emergency preparations will positively affect the operations of their company.
The second Webinar will examine tools needed to develop a business continuity plan. The plan will aid companies in the event of Bird Flu or other crisis scenarios by keeping business operational breaks at a minimum. It also will discuss ways the government's role and actions, at all levels, may affect the produce industry and the role effective communication plays in this crisis situation.
For more information, visit http://www.pma.com/events.