<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com</id><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/css/rss.css" ?><title>Perishable Pundit</title>
<description>Our job here at PerishablePundit.com is to ease the problem for executives by mining the information super-highway to select what is truly important to know and to provide insight as to its meaning and significance.</description>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php" /><updated>2019-02-25T14:44:24-05:00</updated><author><name>James Prevor</name><email>PerishablePundit@PerishablePundit.com</email></author><copyright>Copyright 2019 Phoenix Media Network</copyright>
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<title><![CDATA[Counting Our Blessings]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/28/2018&amp;pundit=10" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/28/2018&amp;pundit=10</id><updated>2018-12-28T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[For this Pundit, 2018 was a year of extraordinary loss. The Pundit Momma passed away and, although the Pundit Poppa had passed years earlier, they were so close - dating since high school - that in some strange way, it didn't feel like he was gone until both were gone.It is clear that in a real way, life will never be the same. I find myself constantly telling stories to my children, regaling tales I was told or speaking of things I saw my parents do and say, explaining what they believed or the wishes they had quietly whispered. I tell each story and look at their eyes, watch every response, wondering if I can somehow keep my parents alive even after they are gone.That is the idea, right? We live on through our children and how desperately I hope I will be equal to the task - transmitting values, memories, love itself.There is, however, the present to be attended to. When I say life has changed, it is on two sides. First, an important component of emotional support is gone. Shortly after my mother died, I had an article published in The Wall Street Journal. For someone like ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Cornell and Washington State University Team Up On New Research
Interactive Presentation At New York Produce Show Gives Industry Buyers A Chance To Weigh In On What They Prefer&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-12-11T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Cornell's Brad Rickard is veteran of The New York Produce show and conference and our overseas events. He is intellectually curious and always trying to see how research can clarify our understanding of a wide array of issues. We've chronicled professor Rickard's&nbsp; intellectual journey in pieces such as these:Cornell Professor Brad Rickard Returns To London To Unveil New Study: QUANTITY, VALUE AND DIVERSITY - The 10-Year Evolution Of Consumer Purchase Preferences For Packaged ProduceIs Zero Waste The Optimal Standard?Cornell's Brad Rickard To Present&nbsp;New Research At The London Produce Show And ConferenceWhat's in&nbsp; A Word? Sell By, Use By, Best By And Fresh By.. Can A Word Alter Food Waste Significantly? Cornell's Brad Rickard Speaks OutCornell's Brad Rickard Returns To The New York Produce Show And Conference:&nbsp;Will &#39;GMO Free&#39; Be The New Organic?What's In A Name? Professor Brad Rickard Of Cornell Produces New Research That Indicates Shakespeare May Have Been In Error... On Apples At LeastCornell's Brad Rickard To Unveil Generic Produce Promotion Research Done By Cornell And Arizona State University At New York Produce Show And ConferenceThis time he brings with him a colleague from Washington State University and they double team the issue of what the developers of ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Getting Down And Dirty On Food Waste:
UConn Professor John Bovey Unveils New Research At New York Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-12-11T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[John Bovay has been wowing audiences at The New York Produce Show and Conference for the past two years. He always has a way of researching the hot topics of the day - this year it is Food Waste. We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out more:John BovayAssistant Professor andExtension EconomistDept. of Agricultural andResource EconomicsUniversity of ConnecticutQ: At last year's New York Produce Show, you covered&nbsp;&nbsp;GMO and Non-GMO Food Labels: Implications Of The New Federal Law&nbsp;For Growers, Marketers, And Consumers. And two years ago, food safety impacts. Now you take a hard and questioning look at calls and mandates for food waste reduction. You certainly don't shy away from hot topics.Food waste concerns are escalating. Policies to reduce food waste have reached heightened levels on a local, state, national and global scale. It's not clear what impacts this will have on the produce industry. The economics of food waste seem complicated. We're excited to learn more about your research to better understand the issues and implications, as well as what actions executives should take....A: What you say is true.&nbsp; Here are some links for more information on USDA, EPA and United Nation food ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Perishable Pundit, The Wall Street Journal, Romaine Lettuce And The Nature Of Risk]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/11/2018&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2018-12-11T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Pundit had an opportunity to put the Romaine Crisis in perspective and to challenge a flawed understanding of risk by penning an essay for the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal.Many saw it in the physical newspaper, and it is available for those who have subscriptions on the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal&nbsp;website right&nbsp;hereThrough special arrangement with the&nbsp;Wall Street Journal,&nbsp;we've been able to arrange for anyone to read the essay, even without a subscription, &nbsp;here on the Pundit website:Read the complete article&nbsp;here. ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[An Intertwined Tale:
Seald Sweet CEO Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk
Tells Her Story And What She Has Seen... And Expects To See In The World Of Global Trade]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When Mayda Sotomayor-Kirk was appointed CEO of SealdSweet, we introduced her in this way:She started in the produce industry as a receptionist, working her way through college. Then she fell in love... with an industry. And now Mayda Sotomayor has become the CEO of one of the most venerable names in the businessThat was over a decade ago. Now, she is a global icon of the industry.Many can talk about international trade, but few can tie it in with a personal story of redemption like Mayda.We asked Matthew Ogg, Contributing Editor to Pundit sister publication, PRODUCE BUSINESS, to see what Mayda has in store for attendees at the Global Trade Symposium&nbsp;co-located with The New York Produce Show and Conference.Mayda Sotomayor-KirkCEOSeald Sweet/Greenyard USAVero Beach, FLQ: So I understand you are in Arizona, how is everything going for you on your visit to Nogales?A: Nogales is great. We're inaugurating our offices here and the warehouse.Q: So that's a pretty substantial development I suppose?A: I'm very happy. We had a strategic plan to grow our business out of Mexico, and we're restructuring, hiring and growing our operations here. It's exciting - I hadn't been to the new offices until now. I'd seen ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Wonky Fruit, Regionality, Omni-Channel, Sustainable Packaging... All Come To The Fore In Presentation At Global Trade Symposium By Stephan Weist Of REWE Group And Patricia Brunn Of Penny Market]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[There is no question that innovations such as "Wonky Fruit" are excellent for getting publicity; whether anyone actually makes money on these programs is subject to debate. The problem is a disconnect between consumer expectations and the realities of the produce business. The actual produce in the field is a very small part of the produce value chain. By far more money is spent on harvesting, cooling, packing, transportation, distribution, marketing and retailing than is spent in the produce in the field.Consumers are typically aware of this and so expect dramatically different prices between "perfect" and "wonky" produce. So, as a result, most of these efforts are introduced with great fanfare only to disappear quietly.Even successful innovations, like organics, struggle sometimes because industry realities make transitional product a big financial loser - and many aimers to go organic can't take the losses.Now, however, there is innovation from Germany that addresses both of these challenges. Stephen Weist of Rewe in Germany is doing double duty, both presenting at The Global Trade Symposium on Tuesday, along with Patricia Brunn of Rewe's wholly owned subsidiary, Penny Market (in Austria, it is known as Penny Markt), and Stephan will also serve on the ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION AT NEW YORK PRODUCE SHOW
Non-Profit Brighter Bites Takes Scientific Approach To Increase Produce Consumption And Create Long Term Consumers]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The issue of "food deserts" has a bit of chicken-and-the-egg dynamic to it. Certain neighborhoods do not offer great selection when it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables. This puts up a&nbsp;barrier to consumption as what is available is limited in variety, often not the best in quality and tends to be expensive.Of course, we do have a very aggressive retail sector, and the reason there is not a broader assortment available is because there is not sufficient demand. Price is often a factor, but prices are heavily influenced by things like the cost of rent, security, insurance, labor etc., that are not in the control of the produce industry.Brighter Bites is a nonprofit that both delivers fresh produce into the hands of needy children and families while also educating the families on how to utilize the fresh produce and do it all in a fun way that avoids the nannyisms that turn off everyone.&nbsp;And they try and do it in a consistent way that can actually lead to behavioral change.Perhaps most importantly, they have done this in a controlled way that is put under the scrutiny of real peer reviewed research.There is a lot more to do, of ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Third-Generation Wholesaler Tells Why NYPS Bus Tour To Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market Is A 'Must-Do'.]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[It might not seem that a 686,000-square-foot facility located in the fifth largest city in the U.S. is a 'hidden' gem. However, this is an apt adjective to describe the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM), according to John Vena, third generation family owner and operator of John Vena, Inc., one of 22 merchants on the market.Vena certainly knows a thing or two about fresh produce in the City of Brotherly Love and its environs. His grandfather started the namesake company in 1919 in the city's original colonial market on Dock Street, in what is now the Old City in historic downtown. In 1959, the company proudly moved into one unit at the newly opened Food Distribution Center in South Philadelphia.Most recently, when the ribbon was cut on the state-of-the-art PWPM in 2011, the now four-generation-run company moved into four units. It wasn't long until Vena, who has been at the reins since 1976, expanded into eight units, two of which have been customized into ripening and repacking facilities with SQF and organic certification.Located less than a two hour drive south of New York City and five miles north of the Philadelphia International Airport, many people don't realize that the ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[New York Produce Show Veteran Speaker And Cornell Professor, Miguel G&oacute;mez, To Give Insights And Analysis On International Trade At Global Trade Symposium]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Miguel G&oacute;mez has been wowing the produce industry since the very launch of The New York Produce Show and Conference. He has been on stage with us in New York, London and Amsterdam, with topics we chronicled in pieces such as these:Cornell Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals How Omni-Channel Retailing Creates Challenges And Opportunities For The Produce Supply Chain. Exclusive Presentation At The Amsterdam Produce Summit This NovemberVeteran Speaker At The New York Produce Show, Cornell's Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Speaks On The Promise Of Cold-Climate/Controlled Environment AgricultureCornell's Miguel&nbsp;G&oacute;mez&nbsp;Goes Double Duty At New York Produce Show: Gives Micro-Session On Northeast Greenhouse Potential And Teaches Foundational Excellence 'Students' About Global TradeHow New Trade Agreements May Set The Stage For A Produce Industry Boom,&nbsp;But Will The People And The Politicians Let It Happen?&nbsp;Miguel G&oacute;mez Of Cornell To Present The Facts And Moderate The Discussion At&nbsp;The London Produce Show And ConferenceHow To Capitalize On An Age Of Global Trade: Miguel G&oacute;mez Of Cornell University At The Foundational Excellence ProgramUNIVERSITY HEAVYWEIGHT PUTS SCIENCE BEHIND OPTIMIZED GLEANING SCHEDULES: Cornell's Miguel G&oacute;mez Talks About How The Produce Industry Can Put Itself On The Side Of The Angels By Reducing Food Waste While Helping The HungryThe Renaissance Of ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Rock Star Panel At Global Trade Symposium
ProColombia's Juan Camilo Barrera
Highlights A Growing Future
As&nbsp;Opportunities Boom in Colombia]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the highlights of each year's Global Trade Symposium is the panel focusing on the opportunities and challenges of trade with Latin America. Organized by Gustavo Yentzen, who is the General Manager of FreshFruitPortal.com&nbsp;and its Spanish Language sister PortalFruticola.com, and who manages our Latin American operations out of Santiago, Chile, the panel this year consists of five produce industry rock stars:Juan Camilo Barrera, Agribusiness Executive Director, ProColombia USAJerald Down, President, Berry PeopleJorge Echenique, General Manager, Last Land FarmsAndrew Schwartz, Founder, JAL AgroWilliam Weyland, Vice President of Imports, 7 Seas FruitBecause Colombia has been the focus of a lot of attention as a new supply source for avocados, we asked Matthew Ogg, Contributing Editor for pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS, to get a little preview of the kinds of issues Juan Camilo Barrera will be discussing in New York:Juan Camilo BarreraAgribusiness Executive DirectorProColombia USAMiami, FloridaQ: You have had a new government now in Colombia since August with Iv&aacute;n Duque as president. As far as agriculture is concerned, this comes off the back of a series of protocol developments and breakthroughs, including most notably U.S. market access for Colombian avocados. What are your expectations for the new government in power ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[At New York Produce Show Micro-Session, Rutgers Professor Paul Takhistov Makes A Case for Intelligent Packaging&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=7" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=7</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[With the Romaine Crisis just now receding, issues of the role packaging could play in enhancing produce safety is top of mind. Although in a piece we wrote for the Wall Street Journal, we put in perspective how safe produce is, even infinitesimal odds still mean that people get sick. It is also likely that government and media will not do a good job of placing this in perspective, so as an industry we need to find ways to make produce even safer.Professor Paul Takhistov of Rutgers University's Food Science Department, one of this Wednesday&#39;s Educational Micro-session speakers at The New York Produce Show and Conference, will explain the concept of intelligent packaging - along with his Rutgers colleague, Kit Yam.Takhistov will speak about the development of better technology functions to improve the microbial safety and quality of fresh and fresh‐cut produce. He will provide critical information for all levels of the produce industry about the technological changes that can be expected in the next few years. Although he says there is still a long way to go, Tahkistov believes the future will bring a new level of food-product safety and quality.We asked Linda Brockman, Contributing Editor to Pundit ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Perishable Pundit, The Wall Street Journal, Romaine Lettuce And The Nature Of Risk]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=8" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/08/2018&amp;pundit=8</id><updated>2018-12-08T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Pundit had an opportunity to put the Romaine Crisis in perspective and to challenge a flawed understanding of risk by penning an essay for the Wall Street Journal.Many saw it in the physical newspaper, and it is available for those who have subscriptions on the Wall Street Journal website right hereThrough special arrangement with the Wall Street Journal, we've been able to arrange for anyone to read the essay, even without a subscription, &nbsp;here on the Pundit website:Read the complete article here. ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Perishable Pundit, The Wall Street Journal, Romaine Lettuce And The Nature Of Risk]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-12-05T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Pundit had an opportunity to put the Romaine Crisis in perspective and to challenge a flawed understanding of risk by penning an essay for the Wall Street Journal.Many saw it in the physical newspaper, and it is available for those who have subscriptions on the Wall Street Journal website right hereThrough special arrangement with the Wall Street Journal, we've been able to arrange for anyone to read the essay, even without a subscription, &nbsp;here on the Pundit website:&nbsp;Read the complete article here.&nbsp; ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Helping Us SOAR
Announcing the 2018&nbsp;Perishable Pundit Thought-Leader Panel&nbsp;At The New York Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-12-05T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Each year, it is our privilege to unveil a unique group of industry leaders. Some are from the local market, some from across the country and some from around the world.It is truly a gathering of thought- and practice-leaders who are committing of their time to share ideas with the broader industry in the hope of making this industry stronger.It is with great pleasure that we unveil the Perishable Pundit's Thought-Leader Panel for The New York Produce Show and Conference 2018:MEG BUCHSBAUMC&amp;S Wholesale Grocers Inc.Hatfield, MassachusettsMeg Buchsbaum is a classically trained chef who began her career as a food photographer and stylist. Her career in the food industry has taken her from working as a chef in Italy, to a Culinary Chef Instructor in NYC, to a Produce Buyer. She was a Local Forager for Whole Foods Market and a frequent guest on the TV Food Network. Her passion for food was developed early in life by growing up on the family farm in the Berkshires. On summer weekends you can find her tending her vegetable garden where she grows over 22 varieties of tomatoes. She is also is a bee keeper producing delicious wildfl ower honey. Currently she ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Global Trade Symposium Welcomes Maria Wieloch, Who Will Give&nbsp;Insights On Produce Category Management At ICA Sweden]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2018-12-05T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When the Pundit was cutting his eye teeth in the produce business, one of his customers was ICA Gruppen in Sweden, so we have a special connection when we have Maria Wieloch of Ica participate in our events:She has served on panels:2018 London Produce Show's Thought-Leader Breakfast Features All-Star Cast of Industry LuminariesGiven presentations:Lessons from Sweden: Leading food retailer steps up sustainability initiativesAnd she has even accepted important awards on behalf of ICA:London Produce Show: ICA scoops international award for marketing produce to kidsAt the Global Trade Symposium, co-located with The New York Produce Show and Conference on December 11, Maria will be focusing on how special promotions can boost sales of produce and move the needle on consumption.We asked Matthew Ogg, Contributing Editor at Pundit sister publication, PRODUCE BUSINESS, to find out more:Maria WielochSenior Category Manager:Fruit, Vegetables and FlowersICA GruppenSwedenQ: Working with Sweden's largest retail chain and within a business model where store owners can act independently, how would you say your role as category manager differs to your counterparts at other retailers?A: It's quite a big difference to be honest. The main difference is, of course, that the assortment we put forward to the stores is not ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Meet Jelger de Vriend At New York Produce Show's Global Trade Symposium And Learn How To Use Data To Answer The Question: "Are We Exceeding Consumer Expectations Around Quality?"]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2018-12-05T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We were fortunate to have Jelger de Vriend present at our event in Amsterdam a year ago:Amsterdam Produce Show Speaker Jelger de Vriend Will Examine What Is Necessary To Be 'Best in Fresh'It was a very well received presentation. No surprise for someone who was Senior Sourcing Manager at Royal Ahold/Albert Heijn and has, more recently, devoted his efforts to finding ways to create systemic change in a way that is designed to help retailers deliver the kind of quality that will increase sales and boost consumption.Produce has been a business in which knowledge was once passed down informally. One's first boss taught "the tricks of the trade," but these tricks were never evaluated in any formal or scientific way. Jelger is looking to create a set of tools that will lead the industry away from relying on the "gut" and, offer a more scientific alternative.We asked Matt Ogg, Contributing Editor at Pundit sister publication, PRODUCE BUSINESS, to find out more:Jelger de VriendCo-FounderInnovative FreshThe NetherlandsQ: Before we talk about developments at your company, let's talk about what quality really means in fresh produce. How would you define it?A: Maybe the best way to start is with a simple question: ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Preparing For Tomorrow's Consumers: Cool Fresh's Nic Jooste Returns To New York's Global Trade Symposium With Ideas Garnered From His Unique 'Market Match' Challenge&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/05/2018&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2018-12-05T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Predicting the future is very difficult because if we really knew what people would do in the future, we would do it now! Nic Jooste has taken on the difficult task of trying to understand the future and the way the produce industry can conduct itself to take advantage of what the future holds.He has presented in New York, London and Amsterdam, always to wide acclaim. We've profiled these presentations in articles such as these:The Disruption Of Established Markets: How Four Strategies Can Help Transcend Today's DilemmasCan Retailers Show A Little Love For Produce Marketing? Dutch Marketer Nic Jooste Will Share His Thoughts On Swimming Upstream At The Global Trade SymposiumPRODUCE AND GENERATION ZCan We Make Our Pitch Effective In Eight Seconds Or Less?There's a Dutch Saying... Amsterdam Produce&nbsp;Show To Bridge Cultures And Channel InnovationMaking Produce Marketing Everything It's Not: Creative, Innovative, In-your-face, Non-conventional, Digitally Driven, Attitude- And Adventure-oriented... Nic Jooste Of Cool Fresh Guides The Trade On How To Capture Gen Z And, Next, Gen Alpha!Nic is up to disruption again... this time having participated in a unique program that brought together captains of the produce industry with the best and the brightest of university students. This program ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Lessons From My Mother:
How We Live Our Lives And The Influence We Exert On Others When We Are Gone ...
No One Need Be An Orphan]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/20/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/20/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-11-20T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When my father, Michael Prevor, a longtime produce industry executive, passed away, we published my eulogy in a piece you can read&nbsp;here.&nbsp; When my mother, Roslyn Prevor, passed, we made an announcement here.Now that my mother has passed, I wanted to share the eulogy I wrote for her. This time, I also wanted to share the eulogy given by Ken Whitacre, my college fraternity brother and the man with whom I started PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine over 33 years ago.My son, the Jr. Pundit Primo, aka William, also shared some thoughts about his grandmother, and I thought I would share that as well.There are so many people to thank. Despite scaling back my travel substantially to be there for my mother, I was not with her when she died. I made a mad dash back from Amsterdam when my mother had another stroke, but I could not get back in time.In my eulogy, I thanked my wife for being there with her, and my sister-in-law's sister Deborah Sponder was there as well, so I am grateful to them as she did not have to die alone.But it has been a long journey with illness, and many people have served. My ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Passing Of Roslyn Prevor]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/15/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/15/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-11-15T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[My mother, Roslyn Prevor, who served as a produce wife for many years, died of a stroke at the age of 80. The details are as follows:It is with a heavy heart that we pass along Funeral and Shiva arrangements for Roslyn Prevor.Funeral services will be held:Friday, November 16 at 12:00 noon at:The Gardens of Boca Raton4103 N. Military TrailBoca Raton, Florida 33431561-989-9190&nbsp;The family will be sitting Shiva immediately following services till 6 p.m. at:Boca West Country Club - Clubhouse20583 Boca W Dr., Boca Raton, FL 33434561-488-6990If you will be attending the Shiva at Boca West, please sign the list at the Funeral Service that will be going to the Guard Gate or email&nbsp;JPrevor@PhoenixMediaNet.com to add your name.&nbsp;Additional Shiva arrangements:Saturday, November 17, 5:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.Hyatt Place100 E. Palmetto Park Rd.,Boca Raton, FL 33432Sunday November 18, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Boca West Country Club - Clubhouse(Please see instructions above)And in New York:&nbsp;Monday, November 19, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.A private home in Oyster Bay Coveon Long Island in NYFor address and information email JPrevor@PhoenixMediaNet.con&nbsp;As many have asked... In lieu of flowers or Shiva contributions, donations can be made to the following charities:The Lustgarten Foundation&nbsp;&nbsp;https://www.lustgarten.org/donate/orBoca Raton Regional Hospital&nbsp;https://www.brrh.com/Volunteer/Donate-Pay-Membership.aspx&nbsp;&nbsp;Please forward this post to ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Bakker Berendrecht's Maarten Van Hamburg Shares Rare Insights On Procurement For Albert Heijn; Offers Glimpse Of Future Omni-Channel Challenges At Amsterdam Produce Summit]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/11/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/11/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-11-11T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We've been fortunate to have the engagement of the largest food retailer in the Netherlands,&nbsp;Albert Heijn, ever since the launch of our Amsterdam event. In the inaugural year, Said Belhassan, who was then the VP Merchandising &amp; Sourcing Fresh at Albert Heijn, joined our Thought-Leader Panel, and last year, Michiel van Zanten, who was then the Senior Sourcing Manager, Strategic Sourcing Fresh for Albert Heijn, filled the chair. This year, we are excited to have the chair filled by Maarten van Hamburg, the General Manager of Albert Heijn's service provider, Bakker Barendrecht, the strategic partner for getting fresh produce through the supply chain and onto the shelves.We asked Mira Slott, Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor, to find out what kind of insights Maarten might share at the event:Maarten van HamburgGeneral ManagerBakker BarendrechtRidderkerk, The NetherlandsQ: We're honored you'll be participating in our distinguished Thought-Leader Panel. &nbsp;It's great to connect with you before the Summit begins to garner some of your insights for a sneak preview.&nbsp; I know you've been quite busy. We appreciate your committing your time to help the event and the industry.To start, can you tell us about Bakker and your role? There are industry executives who ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Robinson Fresh To Offer Fresh Intelligence And Hands-on Knowledge About Omni-Channel Consumers During Special Tour To Its Amsterdam HQ&nbsp;&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/09/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/09/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-11-09T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[As part of The Amsterdam Produce Summit, we offer two regional tours. One is a tour of Amsterdam retailers with a special focus on those doing interesting Omni-Channel work. The other is a tour of the European headquarters of CH Robinson and Robinson Fresh. Executives of these two companies have done us, and the industry, a special favor in doing an important research report on the nexus of produce and omni-channel.Robinson Fresh is an unusual produce company, one willing to invest in gaining insight that can really help its customers... and elevate the industry. We are most grateful that they will be unveiling the results of their latest Omni-Channel study in Amsterdam. We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to get us a sneak preview of what those on the tour to Robinson Fresh's European Headquarters will learn while in Amsterdam:GARY YORKVice President of Sales and MarketingRobinson FreshEden Prairie, MinnesotaQ: As Omni-Channel is the theme for the entire conference, we're excited to learn you have new research to reveal in Amsterdam to help attendees navigate this phenomenon. Will this be an extension of the consumer research you presented to attendees on last year's Robinson Fresh tour?A: ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Powerful Panel Of Produce And Omni-Channel Experts Assembled For Amsterdam Produce Summit]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/09/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/09/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-11-09T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[As a lead up to The Amsterdam Produce Summit - which this year is themed: Retail Strategies: Seizing Success In The Omni-Channel Future -&nbsp;we've run a series of "sneak preview" articles with our key speakers:WALMART (Rand Waddoups)ONLY IN AMSTERDAM... Walmart's Senior Director Of Omnichannel Rand Waddoups To Talk About Ways To Build E-commerce Synergies With ProduceRETAIL DETAIL (Jorg Snoeck)'Captain of Retail' Jorg Snoeck Speaks at Amsterdam Produce Summit: How to Navigate the Omni-Channel Revolution - New Consumers, New Technology, New Outlets for ShoppingKANTAR WORLDPANEL (Stephane Rogers)10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESSKantar Worldwide To Highlight Fresh Data&nbsp;At Amsterdam Produce SummitKantar Worldpanel Interview Part II - 10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESS &#39;E-Commerce Is A Must-Have, And Fresh Produce Will Be The Next Playing Ground.&#39;CORNELL UNIVERSITY (Miguel G&oacute;mez)Cornell Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals How Omni-Channel Retailing Creates Challenges And Opportunities For The Produce Supply ChainFRESH PRODUCE MARKETING (Lisa Cork)AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW PART I: Branding and Packaging Expert Lisa Cork Takes Deep Dive Into Omni-Channel Retailing And The Prospects For FreshAMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW (PART II)&nbsp;More From Packaging Expert Lisa Cork:&nbsp; Omni-channel Retailing Opens Floodgates Of Produce Marketing Opportunities (And Challenges)&nbsp;MARKON COOPERATIVE (Tim York)Markon's Tim York To Speak In Amsterdam: How To ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[EXCLUSIVE PRESENTATION AT AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT:
Chinese Entrepreneur And Practice-Leader Loren Zhao Talks About His Company, FruitDay, And Shares Real-World Knowledge On Selling Fruit To Consumers Via E-Commerce While Previewing The Omni-Channel Future]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/30/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/30/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-10-30T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[In preparation for The Amsterdam Produce Summit - whose conference is titled this year: Retail Strategies: Seizing Success in the Omni-Channel Future&nbsp;-&nbsp;we have gathered thought and practice leaders from around the world.You can see some of the incredible content this unique event, merging digital with produce, will offer by reviewing these "sneak preview" pieces we have done with speakers from some of the most "cutting-edge" omni-channel practitioners and observers:WALMART (Rand Waddoups) ONLY IN AMSTERDAM... Walmart's Senior Director Of Omnichannel Rand Waddoups To Talk About Ways To Build E-commerce Synergies With ProduceRETAILDETAIL (Jorg Snoeck)'Captain of Retail' Jorg Snoeck Speaks at Amsterdam Produce Summit: How to Navigate the Omni-Channel Revolution - New Consumers, New Technology, New Outlets for ShoppingKANTAR WORLDPANEL (Stephane Roger)10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESSKantar Worldwide To Highlight Fresh Data&nbsp;At Amsterdam Produce SummitKantar Worldpanel Interview Part II - 10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESS &#39;E-Commerce Is A Must-Have, And Fresh Produce Will Be The Next Playing Ground.&#39;CORNELL UNIVERSITY (Miguel Gomez)Cornell Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals How Omni-Channel Retailing Creates Challenges And Opportunities For The Produce Supply Chain FRESH PRODUCE MARKETING (Lisa Cork)AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW PART I: Branding and Packaging Expert Lisa Cork Takes Deep Dive Into Omni-Channel Retailing And ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[ONLY IN AMSTERDAM... Walmart's Senior Director Of Omnichannel Rand Waddoups To Talk About Ways To Build E-commerce Synergies With Produce
]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/22/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/22/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-10-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of our goals in creating events such as The Amsterdam Produce Summit is to bring together thought- and practice-leaders who are uniquely able to help advance the industry. In the Omni-Channel space, there is no practitioner more important than Walmart, the world's largest buyer of produce. It, alone, with over 11,200 stores in 27 countries, combines the real estate, the technology and logistics necessary to create the kind of seamless experience on a mass scale that allows a retailer to truly serve a customer when, where and how that customer wants to be served.So, we were thrilled when we learned that Rand Waddoups, who holds the title of Senior Director Omnichannel for Walmart, was willing to share his thoughts with us in Amsterdam. We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to get us a "sneak preview" of what Rand intends to discuss in Amsterdam:Rand WaddoupsSenior Director OmnichannelWalmart Inc.Bentonville, ArkansasQ: Is your title at Walmart an indication of how aggressively Walmart is pursuing omnichannel strategies in this disruptive retail environment? It is certainly notable that Walmart created such a position, based on its proven record of pioneering new ways of operating, and unyielding powerplays to gain ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Kantar Worldpanel Interview Part II
10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS
TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESS
&#39;E-Commerce Is A Must-Have,
And Fresh Produce Will Be
The Next Playing Ground.&#39;
]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/22/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/22/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-10-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[In Part I of our interview with St&eacute;phane Roger, he used Kantar's data to lay out the big picture of what is happening with omni-channel today. In Part II, Mira Slott, Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor, explores St&eacute;phane's&nbsp;views on the significance of produce to retailers' omni-channel efforts and the meaning of omni-channel to the produce supply chain:ST&Eacute;PHANE ROGERGlobal Shopper and Retail DirectorKantar WorldpanelBarcelona, SpainQ: In Part I of our interview, you distilled your data into 10 "Ingredients" to Omni-Channel Success in the article we titled, 10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESS - Kantar Worldpanel To Highlight Fresh Data&nbsp;At Amsterdam Produce SummitTo summarize, these 10 ingredients are:The big growth in CPG is over.With E-commerce, discounters and cash-and-carry all growing, it is clear one needs to have a value strategy to succeed.Hypermarkets and supermarkets are on the decline, so the industry needs to build incremental sales in alternative channels.We need to change the way of approaching the market by looking at the growth from other outlets and having an advanced understanding of their makeup.Growth can be driven by activating the right levers in geography and demography.Private label branding is growing, and the possibilities for retailers to sell direct to consumers ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA['CAPTAIN OF RETAIL' JORG SNOECK
SPEAKS AT AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT:
How To Navigate The Omni-Channel Revolution &mdash New Consumers, New Technology, New Outlets For Shopping]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/14/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/14/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-10-14T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The most renowned speaker in the Benelux on retail issues is Jorg Snoeck. When we heard that Jorg, founder of RetailDetail, working with Pauline Neerman, editor at RetailDetail, had published a new book, titled The Future of Shopping, we knew that we had to have Jorg at The Amsterdam Produce summit, which this year is headlined,&nbsp; Retail Strategies: Seizing Success in the Omni-Channel Future.We arranged to write a special introduction to The Future of Shopping, and every attendee at the Amsterdam event will receive a free copy with our introduction, which is available nowhere else in the world.We asked Jorg to expand his focus on retail and the fast-moving consumer goods category and give us a point of reference against which the role and utility of the fresh produce supply chain can be assessed.We know that effectively offering produce involves unique obstacles for omni-channel retailers - ensuring consistency in all channels and dealing with differences in flavor, variety and point-of-origin throughout the year. Yet we also know that produce and its high frequency of purchase and need for continuous replenishment offers unique opportunities on which omni-channel retailers want to capitalize.How do we deal with the Yin and Yang&nbsp;of produce ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Markon's Tim York To Speak In Amsterdam:
How To Profit From Omni-Channel Proficiency...&nbsp;Foodservice, Retail And The Produce Supply Chain]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/11/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/11/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-10-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Tim York is a produce industry superstar - he has been Chairman of the Produce Marketing Association, instrumental in the formation of the Center for Produce Safety in 2007, which he chaired for many years, and he spearheaded a focus on sustainability and built a great company.So it is no surprise that he has often weighed in on important industry issues, and he has even been recognized by the Pundit with a special award. We've chronicled these engagements in pieces such as these:Perishable Thoughts - Building The Future Of Our IndustryTim York Takes Leadership Role In Food Safety CrisisSingle Step Award Winner - Tim York of MarkonPundit's Mailbag - Tim York Speaks Out: PMA Hires Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Scott&nbsp;But Is The Industry Willing To Test And Reject Sub-Par Fruit?Tim York Will Chair Center For Produce SafetyTim York Recognized For Food Safety LeadershipDangers And Broader Implications Of Wal-Mart's Sustainability IndexProduce Takes Greater Role In Sustainability StandardsTim York Points Out Buyer Commitment To Food SafetyA Call For An Industrywide Sustainability And Social Responsibility InitiativeIn the foodservice sector, Tim gets direct feedback from a diverse group of distributors. Just one of them, Maines Paper &amp; Foodservice, for example, services a wide ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[10 DATA-RICH INGREDIENTS TO OMNI-CHANNEL SUCCESS
Kantar Worldpanel To Highlight Fresh Data&nbsp;At Amsterdam Produce Summit]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/05/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/05/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-10-05T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We have been fortunate to have experts from Kantar share their insights into many subjects, and we've profiled these presentations in pieces such as these:Kantar Worldpanel Execs Present Produce Case Studies Demonstrating Power Of Data At Global Trade Symposium Co-Located With The New York Produce Show And ConferenceChris Cowan Of Kantar Worldpanel UK Shares His Data-Strong Insights On The Future Of Produce Retailing At The London Produce Show And ConferenceThese presentations are always data-rich and, we're fortunate that Kantar recently revealed a new study: WINNING OMNI-CHANNEL: Finding Growth in Reinvented Retail.We are especially delighted to have St&eacute;phane Roger, Global Shopper &amp; Retail Director at Kantar Worldpanel, join us in Amsterdam to explain the study findings and to pull out a special deep dive into the data to highlight special insights about the role of fresh foods in this reinvented retail world.We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out more. Today we are running Part I of Mira's conversation with St&eacute;phane, in which he details ten key findings from the research. Part II will lay out more specifics in the data mix that has led St&eacute;phane to these conclusions:ST&Eacute;PHANE ROGERGlobal Shopper and Retail DirectorKantar WorldpanelBarcelona, ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW (PART II)&nbsp;
More From Packaging Expert Lisa Cork:&nbsp; Omni-channel Retailing Opens Floodgates Of Produce Marketing Opportunities (And Challenges)&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/01/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/01/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-10-01T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When we set out to do a "sneak preview" piece on Lisa Cork's upcoming presentation at The Amsterdam Produce Summit, we found her simply bursting with ideas and experiences.So much so that Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott divided the piece in two!Part I focused on Big Picture Issues regarding Omni-Channel retailing and the produce supply chain.You can, and should, read the whole thing here:AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW PART I:Branding and Packaging Expert Lisa Cork Takes Deep Dive Into Omni-Channel Retailing And The Prospects For FreshNow, in Part II of this "sneak preview" piece, Mira and Lisa have a deep-dive discussion into the real issues, practical problems and enormous opportunities that lay ahead:How can retailers use fresh produce to make their omni-channel efforts more successful? How can the supply chain profit in this environment?How does the "long tail" of the Internet work with perishable products? Does perishability make Omni-Channel Retailing a big winner over digital-only solutions when it comes to produce and, more broadly, fresh foods?Here Lisa gives us a keener perspective on what she will be presenting in Amsterdam:Lisa CorkOwnerFresh Produce MarketingAuckland, New ZealandQ: In store, retailers are limited on space to hold inventory versus the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[AMSTERDAM PRODUCE SUMMIT PREVIEW PART I:
Branding and Packaging Expert Lisa Cork Takes Deep Dive Into Omni-Channel Retailing And The Prospects For Fresh]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=09/26/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=09/26/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-09-26T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Produce shippers have many legitimate concerns around digital marketing and omni-channel retailing. Take a look at this image we screen-shot while looking to order Clementines from Publix via Instacart:Note that the text says these are Halos, but the graphic does nothing to indicate or differentiate the brand. In fact, we wonder whether we would even have gotten Halos. We were in the Publix store where the deliveries are pulled from for our location, and they had Seald Sweet's Mandarina&#39;s brand. So, we're not sure who should be more upset - Wonderful, whose Halo brand is being used in vain... Seald Sweet, which is not getting impressions for its own brand... consumers, who will find shopping difficult ... or Publix, which can't even try to realize a premium on anything if the marketing is confused.Of course, Sunkist is going to be unhappy as well. Look at the bottom of the image. Note that Sunkist oranges are marketed at $7.99 for a 4-lb. bag, whereas a generic 3-lb. bag of Navel oranges is marketed at $5.79. But here is the kicker: Both bags of oranges are marketed with the exact same graphic! No famous Sunkist logo or Sunkist colors - and ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Cornell Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals How Omni-Channel Retailing Creates Challenges And Opportunities For The Produce Supply Chain. Exclusive Presentation At The Amsterdam Produce Summit This November ]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=09/16/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=09/16/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-09-16T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When Walmart&nbsp;began to roll out supercenters across America, it had various special needs. It wanted product placed in RPCs&nbsp;and hoped to benefit from the brand equity of well-known consumer brands. It made inconvenient demands, and many produce companies refused to cooperate.Their refusal to cooperate was a mistake. Those who hitched their wagon to Walmart's star grew with the company and, in more than a few cases, made significant fortunes while also becoming stronger companies, better able to serve many customers.The key was that the companies that played ball were willing to look beyond short-term profit maximization and, instead, position their companies for success in a new industry future.This year The Amsterdam Produce Summit is calling for a new generation of visionaries - thought- and practice-leaders both - who are able to look beyond the short term and, instead, position themselves, their organizations and their businesses for success in the brave new world of an omni-channel future.One of the presenters at the Summit, on November 13, will bring the substantial research resources of Cornell University to Amsterdam to get the juices flowing and the minds percolating as to how retailers can use produce to optimize their omni-channel efforts and to ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Professor Daniel Sumner And UC Davis
Study The Impact Of Tariffs On US Producers...
But Will The Invisible Hand Of The Global Market
Alter Trade Flows And Reduce The Cost?&nbsp;
And Might The Long-Term Impact Surprise?]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=08/19/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=08/19/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-08-19T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Daniel A Sumner&nbsp;is the Frank H. Buck, Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis, and with a graduate student, Tristan M. Hanon, they recently published a paper titled, Economic Impacts of Increased Tariffs that have Reduced Import Access for U.S. Fruit and Tree Nuts Exports to Important Markets.&nbsp;The focus of the paper is an attempt to analyze the costs to US producers of fruit and nuts of tariffs that various countries, most notably China, have imposed in reaction to tariffs imposed by President Trump. The gist of their findings is expressed here:In summary, we find the trade losses for the commodities under consideration to be about $2.64 billion per year using the export value lost as a measure. Alternatively, using the potential impact on price in remaining markets as the measure of loss, the magnitude is about $3.34 billion.Professor Sumner's work is invaluable. He also serves as the director of the University of California, Agricultural Issues Center, and he has performed commendable public service as Assistant Secretary for Economics at the United States Department of Agriculture, a Senior Economist at the President's Council of Economic Advisors and was Deputy ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[IS THE INDUSTRY SERIOUS ABOUT LABOR STANDARDS?
New Charter For Responsible Labor Practices Lacks Rigor,
Won't Raise Standards, Ensure Compliance Or Make Buying Easy...
California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Offers A Stronger Model]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=08/13/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=08/13/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-08-13T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Back in 2014, Richard Marosi of the Los Angeles Times wrote a piece titled, Hardship on Mexico's Farms, a Bounty for U.S. Tables, that shook the industry. We analyzed the article in a piece we titled, DAMAGING LOS ANGELES TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT MEXICAN LABOR,&nbsp;Though Incomplete And Unbalanced, Puts Retailers And Receivers On Notice: In A Transparent World, Retailers In America Are Now Responsible For Their Supply Chains. A Big Question: Will Improved Conditions For Laborers Lead To Less Employment?As a result of this LA Times article and its aftermath, PMA and United decided to form a Joint Committee on Responsible Labor Practices with the goal of congealing a "global approach to responsible labor practices and consistent expectations among trading partners and the public."We assessed this effort and tried to identify a path forward in a piece titled, Does Anyone Oppose Responsible Labor Practices? PMA/United's Joint Initiative Will Have To Navigate A Difficult Path Between Shielding&nbsp;The Industry And Actually Trying To&nbsp;Improve The Lot Of Laborers. In that piece, we specifically pointed to similar efforts that had been introduced in the clothing and textile industries and had urged careful attention to these efforts.For example, we pointed to a program such as ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Kroger Shoots Itself In The Foot By Forcing New 90-Day Payment Policy On Produce Suppliers: Does CEO Rodney McMullen Have The Courage To Demand The Mistake Be Corrected?]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/26/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/26/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-06-26T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Kroger Company recently sent a letter&nbsp;to its vendors. The gist of the letter is that Kroger is adopting standard payment term of 90 days, though there is an option to be paid in 10 days at a discount of, currently, less than 0.72%. Here is the text of the letter:Dear Valued Supplier, I'm writing to inform you that as of August 1, 2018, The Kroger Co. will standardize its payment terms to Net 90 across all aspects of our business effective immediately. We are making this change to (a) smooth our cash conversion cycle, (b) more efficiently manage our working capital in order to re-invest in our business, and (c) harmonize our terms with industry peers. We appreciate our Supplier's support in honoring our new payment terms for both existing and forthcoming business&nbsp;-&nbsp;a key to our growth, competitiveness, and mutual success in today's environment. In the meantime, please ensure that we do recognize it involves a modest extension of the average time Kroger will pay invoices. As such, we are partnering with Citibank, a core relationship bank of Kroger, to provide suppliers the option of receiving full payment on invoices before they are due, at a very small ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[2018 London Produce Show's
Thought-Leader Breakfast
Features All-Star Cast
Of Industry Luminaries]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[It was a half-decade ago when PRODUCE BUSINESS magazine joined hands with the Fresh Produce Consortium, the produce trade association of the United Kingdom, to create a new industry institution: The London Produce Show and Conference.Combining specialized workshops, regional tours, networking opportunities, chef demos, media programs, student programs, etc. - it has become a gathering place for thought- and practice-leaders from around the world. With the UK on the verge of Brexit, it has become a focal point as the global produce production sector thinks about ways to address the 5th&nbsp;largest economy in the world.Of course, UK retailers have long been global standard-setters, and an explosion of growth in the foodservice sector has been transformative, attracting companies such as Sysco to invest in the UK and leading us to set up a dedicated Foodservice Forum co-located with The London Produce Show and Conference. The attendee base includes countless retailers, wholesalers, service producers, importers, exporters, logistics and all the components of a vibrant industry.It has become a place where firms showcase new products, hold meetings for key retail staff and important companies, such as Robinson Fresh, have used the venue to launch new global branding initiatives.Perhaps no part of the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Romaine Crisis Creates Anxiety
For Local Farmers,&nbsp;But False Claims
About Food Safety Hurt The Industry...
UC Researcher Trevor Suslow
Lays Down The Facts&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Very often the produce industry can be its own worst enemy. Because the crop is perishable and few growers are national or global producers, there is a constant desire to differentiate various growing regions. Mostly this just results in marketing of questionable value where some region, typically with inadequate funds, tries to differentiate itself when a smarter course would be a more unified marketing approach.Every so often, though, these efforts move into food safety and dubious science.So, as the industry has struggled with the Romaine Crisis, farmers in other areas have struggled to differentiate themselves to consumers. As a marketing program, this makes perfect sense. One of the horrible failures of the CDC and FDA is they use language that simply does not mean anything to consumers.What is a Yuma? Where is that? What is the growing season there? How can anyone know the lettuce in a salad is not from there?So, it is an important effort to make sure consumers know that the product available at a store or in a restaurant is not a focus of concern. But it is easy for well-meaning farmers, anxious to differentiate their crop, to go beyond marketing into dubious science.So, for ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[European Regulators Aim To Help The Little Guy By Following&nbsp;UK Model
While, Back In The US, Target, Walmart And Amazon Act Out...&nbsp;Only Better
Business Models Can Empower Producers]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[In Europe, there is a proposal afoot to restrict "unfair trade practices" by large retailers in order to protect suppliers. The Financial Times wrote about the issue here:Brussels is proposing a crackdown on powerful food buyers that force predatory terms on small suppliers, in a move to protect producers that has alarmed some large European retailers. Phil Hogan, EU agriculture commissioner, will on Thursday unveil a package of reforms to ban "unfair" contract terms and empower national authorities to police the conduct of big buyers such as supermarkets and food production companies. The proposal would set minimum standards so member states can take action "to protect the more vulnerable [suppliers] in the food chain," said Mr. Hogan in an interview with The Financial Times. "If there are not unfair trading practices happening, then they [buyers] have nothing to fear," he added. Many small-scale food producers, such as dairy farmers or fruit growers, work on tight margins and have little bargaining power when they deal with the large compa&shy;nies that buy their products. This leaves them vulnerable to being squeezed on contract terms they have little choice but to accept. These small suppliers are also hesitant to complain for fear ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Campbell's Learns Lesson About Fresh Produce The Hard Way]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Virtually nobody in the produce industry understood why Campbell Soup Company paid $1.55 billion for a carrot company back in 2012. After all, Campbell's had been in the produce and fresh food space before, owning a mushroom company and Marie's refrigerated salad dressings.Now Campbell CEO Denise Morrison, who orchestrated the acquisition and the move into fresh foods, has abruptly left the company amidst issues with both sales and profitability.If so many people weren't losing so much money, one would be tempted to laugh. The Wall Street Journal headlined the story, Campbell CEO Departs After Bet On Fresh Food Falls Short, but the "money line" for the produce industry is this:Ms. Morrison has said it was hard to push a traditional, century-old company to take risks like the Bolthouse Farms purchase. But that deal didn't pay off as she hoped. Fresh foods have proved hard to source and manage when weather affects produce harvests.Can you imagine? They found out that weather affects produce harvests and that produce can be hard to source and manage after they spent $1.55 billion! ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[PBH's Goal To Double Produce Consumption:&nbsp;Admirable, Possibly Achievable If A Well-studied, Controlled Plan And Long-term Approach Are Initiated]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, President and CEO of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, is a terrific person and inspiring leader. We've been fortunate to have her speak as a panelist at last year's Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum, which is annually co-located with The New York Produce Show and Conference&nbsp;and is dedicated to helping the foodservice industry move toward the USDA goal of half a plate&nbsp;dedicated to fruits and vegetables.Wendy has now indicated that the Foundation may promote a goal of doubling produce consumption.&nbsp; It's big, it's bold, it will inspire cooperation... but we hope she will be even more courageous and, instead of just making a broad statement for doubled consumption throughout the country, begin a well-studied long-term program with the goal of doubling produce consumption in, say, Columbus, Ohio. Why Columbus? Well, it doesn't actually have to be Columbus, but Columbus just happens to have a reputation as Test Market City, USA.And what is needed, desperately, is an industry leader who is willing to take the slow, deliberate steps necessary to find out how to succeed.For many decades, produce industry leadership has recognized that their constituency would like to see produce consumption increased. So, there has been initiative ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Dole Whip Is A Disney Classic...
Put It On A Donut You Have A Sensation!
How Do We Get Such Excitement Over Fresh Fruit And Veg?]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/22/2018&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2018-05-22T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[In the produce industry, we would like to believe that consumers want to eat in a more unprocessed and healthy way. But there is a lot of evidence to the contrary.You can't extrapolate from individual anecdotes and claim it is a study, but here is what happened when Disney brought the Dole Whip Donut (not an official name) to Disneyland:Disney does a pretty good job offering fresh produce options. But we can't say we've ever seen a line like that waiting to get any fresh fruit or vegetable. ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Fresh Del Monte And Mann Packing - A Potent Combination Of Vast Innovation And Experience]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=02/06/2018&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=02/06/2018&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2018-02-06T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[With relentless pressure on margins in all commodity produce driven by the ever-increasing power of large buyers, the necessity of innovation has never been greater. Fresh Del Monte&nbsp;has invested in innovation, whether varietal - its Del Monte Gold Pineapple was the single greatest leverage tool in the produce industry for a while - or structural - methodically building a network of regional processors. Now Fresh Del Monte decided, in one fell swoop, to buy an innovation factory and scale up its product line to be able to face retailers across a broader spectrum. We speak, of course, of the announcement&nbsp;that Fresh Del Monte will purchase Mann Packing.From a business perspective, it is hard to think of a more synergistic acquisition. The storied Del Monte brand had its roots in vegetables, with canned green beans and the like creating billions of multi-generational impressions that have sunk into the collective sub-conscious of the nation and the world. Yet the fresh company had its strength in fruit - pineapples and bananas notably, but also fresh-fruit processing. Now, in one fell swoop, Fresh Del Monte has a division that is a leader in fresh-cut vegetables.No business strategies have been announced, and for the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Present Of A Holiday Song That Begins In A Grocery Store]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/23/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/23/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-12-23T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We were driving home from college for the holidays when a song came on the radio. We had spent a fair amount of time in grocery stores as the family had owned some in New Jersey and Puerto Rico, so maybe that is why it resonated. Though it hit #2 as Adult Contemporary Song in the US and #1 in Canada on the Billboard charts, its lyrics hit a chord with many. The name of the song was 'Same Old Lang Syne' by Dan Fogelberg.The title itself is a pun on the traditional New Year's Eve song that roughly translates into "For Old-times' Sake", and the title somewhat preshadows the song&#39;s resistance of the typically relentlessly upbeat Christmas music.The song has an arresting start that shows the deep connection of the food industry with the lives people actually lead:Met my old lover in the grocery storeThe snow was falling Christmas EveI stole behind her in the frozen foodsAnd I touched her on the sleeveShe didn&#39;t recognize the face at firstBut then her eyes flew open wideShe went to hug me and she spilled her purseAnd we laughed until we criedWe took her groceries to the checkout standThe food was ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Veteran Speaker At The New York Produce Show, Cornell's Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Speaks On The Promise Of Cold-Climate/Controlled Environment Agriculture]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Cornell's Miguel G&oacute;mez is one of our charter speakers at The New York Produce Show and Conference. In New York, and at The London Produce Show and Conference, he has presented important work, which we have profiled in pieces such as these:Cornell's Miguel Gomez Goes Double Duty At New York Produce Show: Gives Micro-Session On Northeast Greenhouse Potential And Teaches Foundational Excellence 'Students' About Global TradeHow To Capitalize On An Age Of Global Trade: Miguel G&oacute;mez Of Cornell University At The Foundational Excellence ProgramUNIVERSITY HEAVYWEIGHT PUTS SCIENCE BEHIND OPTIMIZED GLEANING SCHEDULES: Cornell's Miguel G&oacute;mez Talks About How The Produce Industry Can Put Itself On The Side Of The Angels By Reducing Food Waste While Helping The HungryThe Renaissance Of The Wholesale Sector - Why Those Who Support &#39;Locally Grown&#39; Should Support Investment In Market Intermediaries. Cornell University Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals Research Findings At The London Produce Show And ConferenceA New Hypothesis On Local: To Boost Sales, Sell It Through Supermarkets ... Cornell's Miguel Gomez Previews His Upcoming Talk At The New York Produce Show And ConferenceCornell Professors To Present At The New York Produce Show And Conference: New Ways of Thinking About Local: Can The East Coast Develop ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Foodservice Forum At New York Produce Show Puts Produce First On Restaurant Menus]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We already unveiled the schedule and faculty for the Foundational Excellence program here; the Global Trade Symposium here, the Perishable Pundit's Thought-Leader Panel here, and the Micro-sessions here. We are now pleased to announce this year's iteration of the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum:Punching Up Produce ProfitabilityBottom-line strategies for maneuvering prickly issuesThursday, December 14, 2017New York Hilton   Trianon BallroomPROGRAM SCHEDULE7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Registration8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast8:30 - 8:45 a.m. Welcome Remarks/Introduction8:45 - 9:30 a.m.TALKING PROMOS ANDPRODUCE WITHANDREW FREEMANFoodservice expert and master marketer, Andrew Freeman, founder of San-Francisco-based af&amp;co., will offer his take on produce, food trends and how to attract the consumer's attention.9:30 - 10:30 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;Discussion Panel 1: Challenging The&nbsp; &nbsp; Status Quo of What Children Eat in RestaurantsWhat strategies can restaurateurs use to increase produce consumed among children under the age of 12? Is it even their responsibility to try? What are the benefits if they do and what if they do not? This panel will explore ways to make kids' menu items more profitable and at the same time healthier by menuing fruits and vegetables alongside the mac and cheese. We know trial is one method of expanding a child's palate, but ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum Headliner Andrew Freeman Talks About Impossible Burgers, Instagrammability And Innovation&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Andrew FreemanFounderaf&amp;coSan Francisco, CaliforniaAndrew Freeman is the founder of af&amp;co., the celebrated hospitality and restaurant consulting and marketing firm based in San Francisco. Freeman - who says he was "born with a fork in my mouth" - has been named one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing&nbsp;by the Hospitality Sales &amp; Marketing Association International. Freeman was vice president of public relations and marketing for the relaunch of Windows on the World&nbsp;after the 1992 Trade Center bombing, and he opened the cabaret at the Russian Tea Room.He spent 10 years as vice president of public relations and strategic partnerships for Kimpton Hotels &amp; Restaurants, during which time he helped launch more than 40 hotels and restaurants. Freeman will headline the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum&nbsp;Dec. 14 at the New York Hilton, offering his take on produce, food trends and attracting the consumers' attention. On the eve of the release of af&amp;co.'s influential 2018 Hospitality Trends Report, Freeman shared some highlights and perspective with Joyce Reingold, contributing writer for Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS.Q: What trends do you see resonating in the foodservice industry during 2018?A: Overall, because of the nature of the world right now, the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[John Vena Makes The Case For Travelling From New York City To The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We've visited the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market each year as an official tour of The New York Produce Show and Conference. We reviewed these tours in pieces such as these:Tour To New Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market Offers A Glimpse Into The Future Of Produce Wholesaling In AmericaThe Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market: Young Faces Building A Modern Market -- A Tour At The New York Produce ShowSeeing The Future Of Wholesale Markets: The Philadelphia Story -- A Regional Tour Of The New York Produce Show And ConferenceAs we prepared to head back down to Philadelphia, we asked Jodean Robbins Duarte, contributing writer for sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS, to find out more:John VenaPresidentJohn Vena Inc.&nbsp;Philadelphia WholesaleProduce Market (PWPM)Q: Each year, the New York Produce Show and Conference has a bus tour to the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM). Can you tell us a bit more about what this is for folks who may not be familiar with wholesale markets and their role in the supply chain?A: Terminal markets have always played an important role in the distribution of fresh produce, in particular, along the East Coast in cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and even Baltimore. As those cities were ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Sonic Drive-in Chef Scott Uehlein Gives Peek Into Process of Putting More Produce On The QSR Plate At New York Produce Show's Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the great dilemmas in foodservice is not how to utilize more fresh produce but how to do so in a scalable way. Chef Scott Uehlein's career has been a journey from a specialized spa to a large scale QSR operation.When we heard he was willing to participate in the Ideation Fresh Foodservice Forum, we asked&nbsp;Carol Bareuther, contributing writer for Pundit Sister Publication PRODUCE BUSINESS,&nbsp;to find out more about his journey:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chef Scott UehleinVice President of Product Innovation and DevelopmentSonic Drive-inOklahoma City, OklahomaQ: How did you decide that being a chef was your professional calling? I understand one of your early memorable food experiences as a kid was at a QSR.A: I was always a foodie-type kid. When I was really little, my parents gave me a choice for my birthday. It was either to go to the little Carnival-type amusement park in town -- Bridgewater, NJ, where I grew up - or to the new KFC that just opened. I chose the KFC because it was something new to our area.Then, as I got older, I enjoyed cooking for family and friends, moved on to a job in the restaurant business and soon-after attended and graduated from the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[EPC President And Longtime New York Regional Retailer Vic Savanello Talks About Treasure Hunt Opportunities on NYPS Bus Tours]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/13/2017&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2017-12-13T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The last day of The New York Produce Show and Conference offers a panoply of tours. We asked Carol Bereuther, contributing writer for Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS, to speak with Vic Savanello, Senior Director of Produce and Floral at Allegiance Retail Services, and President of the Eastern Produce Council, to get a heads up on the opportunities available.Visiting a supermarket might seem like a boring chore. Instead, it offers a golden opportunity as part of the New York Produce Show's annually anticipated industry bus tours on Thursday, December 14. In fact, according to Vic, a 35-year retail industry veteran in this region, what these tours offer is a treasure-hunt chance to see produce retailing first-hand in one of the most populated, most prosperous and most ethnically diverse metropolitan markets in the world.What's more, two of the tours also feature a look at how produce arrives to market via two very different types of terminal markets. We spoke with Vic to get the scoop on what attendees can expect, what the treasures are and where to find them.Vic SavanelloSenior Director of Produce and FloralAllegiance Retail ServicesIselin, New JerseyPresidentEastern Produce CouncilQ: With your retail hat on as Senior Director of ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Innovation Is The Hallmark Of New York And The New York Produce Show]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The City of New York ranks Number One of all American cities in the global Innovation Cities index. So it's a great place to host an event focused on innovation, and that is really the hallmark of The New York Produce Show and Conference. It is useful to think of the three P's when thinking of innovation.Sometimes innovation is about product and, at The New York Produce Show and Conference, we will recognize the winners of the PRODUCE BUSINESS Innovation Award and, then, the Joe Nucci Award for Product Innovation&nbsp;will be given to one of those winners for its innovation in product development in the service of increasing consumption. And, of course, the Trade Show and New Product Showcase are both chock full of interesting and innovative products, all in search of a home at retail and foodservice and, ultimately, with consumers.Sometimes innovation is about people, and from the University Interchange Program, to the Foundational Excellence&nbsp;program done in conjunction with Cornell University, to the Culinary Student Program, on to Educational Micro Sessions, industry tours and, of course, the Perishable Pundit's Thought-Leader Breakfast, practically the whole of the event is focused on helping people open their minds to be innovative ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Build Careers, Companies And The Industry By Setting The Foundation At The New York Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[As The New York Produce Show and Conference has grown over the years, we have added a series of specialized programs to better serve the industry.On Monday, December 11, 2017, we begin a week-long series of events and programs with our Foundational Excellence&nbsp; program. This unique program, done in conjunction with Cornell University, serves a specific need. It is an incredible program for people with less than five years' experience in the produce industry.Participants may be younger people, just starting in their careers, or they may be more senior executives making a move into produce -- say an expert on marketing or food safety now moving to apply these skills in the produce field. In any case, the program is designed to jump-start the careers of those who attend while also giving a hyper boost to the contributions these attendees can make to their companies and to the industry.Ed McLaughlin, Robert G. Tobin Professor of Marketing and Director of the Food Industry Management Program at Cornell, did an excellent job explaining the program when we first launched it:Preview of Foundational Excellence Program: Cornell's Ed McLaughlin Leads Blockbuster Academic Cast To Elevate Knowledge Base of New Produce industry ProfessionalsFor 2017, ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Global Trade Symposium At New York Produce Show Gathers Thought- and Practice-Leaders From Near And Far]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the important functions of The New York Produce Show and Conference is to bring to the region important and interesting people from around the world - produce industry professionals who might not normally come to this area or people who will talk about mind-opening global subjects.This is partly done through the Global Trade Symposium, America's only dedicated international trade program for the produce industry. You can peruse the past programs&nbsp;or look at some of the videos&nbsp;from last year, and you will see that this intimate gathering has provided a level of programming simply unparalleled.This year is no exception.We are pleased to unveil the Global Trade Symposium Program for 2017:Produce Import &amp; Export:The Disruption of Established MarketsTuesday, December 12, 2017New York Hilton, New YorkGrand Ballroom West (Third Floor)7:00 a.m. - 8:00 pm&nbsp; &nbsp; Registration8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.&nbsp; Continental Breakfast8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;General Session / Welcome Remarks&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Jim Prevor, President and CEO&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Produce Business &amp; PerishablePundit.com9:15 a.m. - 10 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;GRAPE SUCCESS: How to Utilize&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Thought-Leader Panel At New York Produce Show Will Open Minds Before The Trade Show Opens]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Each part of The New York Produce Show and Conference is carefully designed to achieve specific goals.There is a reason The Opening Cocktail Reception comes the evening before the trade show... so that old relationships can be renewed and deepened, new relationships can be established and, over a drink and hors d'oeuvres, the connections and trust built that are essential to conducting business in the produce arena.There is also a reason we kick off the show day with the Perishable Pundit's Thought-Leader Breakfast. It is no use going into a day of seeing new vendors, vendors one may have stopped working with, new products, old products that one stopped carrying, new people who one doesn't know - and confronting all this with a closed mind. So, the intent of the Thought-Leader Breakfast is to begin the day, much as some meditate to clear the mind, with a thought-provoking discussion that will open the mind. That will make one interested in and open-to new ideas, revisiting old ways, engaging with new people.Every year we are assisted in this endeavor by a group of extraordinary people -- people with something to teach, certainly, but also people not afraid to engage in ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Learn While You Earn During The New York Produce Show's Educational Micro Sessions]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[With all the excitement during the trade show hours at The New York Produce Show and Conference -- with activities ranging from vendors meeting buyers, students being mentored, chefs doing demos, consumer media immersion, the culinary-student education programs and much more - it is sometimes difficult for people to pull themselves away to catch a workshop.But it is well worth the time commitment. We have been fortunate to have worked with many of the speakers for years, and they just never fail to exceed every expectation:Cornell's Ed McLaughlin just did a similar standing-room-only presentation at our Amsterdam event, which we wrote up:Cornell's Ed McLaughlin - Leading Authority On Global Retailing - To Keynote Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference: 'DISRUPTION AT RETAIL' ... What Whole Foods, Amazon, Lidl, Aldi And Wal-Mart Mean For The Produce IndustryTom Reardon from Michigan State University, who does a kind of global research nobody else does, has keynoted our Global Trade Symposium, and we wrote that up as well:Global Trade Symposium Keynote Speaker, Professor Tom Reardon, Will Discuss The Rapid Transformation, And Increasing Opportunities, Of Produce Markets In Emerging CountriesBen Campbell from the University of Georgia is a bright young academic, and we have profiled ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Important Research On Food Waste Unveiled At New York Produce Show:&nbsp;Cornell's Brad Rickard Dives Into The Question Of Whether Zero Food Waste Is Good For Overall Health (Or The Produce Industry)]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Certain individuals are so consistently engaged in interesting work that you just know you want them. That is the way it is with Brad Rickard... when we heard he had an interesting research project to discuss we signed him up immediately and asked Pundit investigator and special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out more:Bradley RickardAssociate Professor ofApplied Economics and Management atCornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkQ: Seasoned New York and London Produce Show attendees are quite familiar with your riveting and meticulously layered, science-based seminars, which always stimulate debate and thought-provoking ideas:Cornell Professor Brad RickardReturns To London To Unveil New Study:QUANTITY, VALUE AND DIVERSITY -The 10-Year Evolution Of Consumer Purchase Preferences For Packaged ProduceCan Labeling Impact Food Waste?Is Zero Waste The Optimal Standard?Cornell's Brad Rickard To Present&nbsp;New Research At The London Produce Show And ConferenceWhat's in A Word? Sell By, Use By, Best By And Fresh By... Can A Word Alter Food Waste Significantly? Cornell's Brad Rickard Speaks OutCornell's Brad Rickard Returns To The New York Produce Show And Conference:&nbsp;Will &#39;GMO Free&#39; Be The New Organic?What's In A Name? Professor Brad Rickard Of Cornell Produces New Research That Indicates Shakespeare May Have Been In Error... On Apples At LeastCornell's Brad ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Spouses And Companions, Don't Miss Out!]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=7" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/10/2017&amp;pundit=7</id><updated>2017-12-10T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The bright lights and big city can be a little daunting, especially when you're in the Big Apple. But if you're coming to Manhattan to attend The New York Produce Show and Conference for business, you can bring your spouse or partner and don't have to worry that they will feel alone.Show attendees can make sure their spouse or partners connect and enjoy an experience like no other by registering them for the conference's Spouse/Companion program. While attendees are busy working, the spouses and partners will savor all of the glitz and glamour New York has to offer, from the beauty of Broadway and Fifth Avenue to the holiday lights at Rockefeller Center. Registrants also take in all of the events at the Show and Conference - such as the Opening Cocktail Reception.The program has been a big hit in years' past, allowing spouses and companions to meet, forge friendships and even network while safely enjoying the city. This year, the lineup planned for Wednesday is spectacular.Registrants in the program will be treated to a day of pampering, sightseeing and shopping. It begins with exclusive use of the Presidential suite at the Hilton Hotel and features a "get-to-know-everyone" continental ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[A Quarter Century of Progress
In A Unique Conversation With The Pundit, Learn How Nitin Agrawal -- The &#39;George Washington&#39; Of The Indian Grape Industry -- And Euro Fruits Have Built An Industry And Changed The World...
Learn The Ethical Basis Of Leadership All At The Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We received a simple document, titled Euro Fruits Impact Report 2017&nbsp;that reminded us that it was the 25th anniversary of Nitin&nbsp;Agrawal's founding of Euro Fruits and thus of the Indian grape export industry.We knew instantly what had to be done and we soon were granted a great honor, as Nitin&nbsp;Agrawal has agreed to come to come to The Amsterdam Produce show and Conference and engage in an exclusive conversation with yours truly, to discuss the incredible story of the development of this industry from nothing to an industry that now regularly exports 187 million metric tons in a year.Of course, we will go beyond that and try and identify lessons learned in these years that can be guiding stars for us all&nbsp;as we look to build our lives and our businesses in the years ahead.To Americans Nitin is mostly unknown, yet he is the George Washington of the Indian Grape Industry and the story of his success is rich with potential for us all. This Pundit cannot remember when he was last as excited to be part of a public discussion.We asked Samina Virani, Contributing Editor at Pundit sister publication ProducebusinessUK.com, to get some of the back story on ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Reaching Across The BeNeLux:
A First-Hand Look At Brussels Wholesale Markets &nbsp;And An Interview With Powerhouse Group A. De Witte
Stijn Vermoere, Marketing Manager, To Share Insight On Wholesale Panel At The Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[All of our events are located in iconic cities that are fonts of innovation - New York, London and Amsterdam. And we gather together the best and brightest thought- and practice-leaders from across the globe.This is a contribution, of course, not just to the city where the event is held, but to the country and region in which the event is held. With time, we have found that these events transform the produce ecosystem of the regions. Trade members come to the show, and stay to engage with buyers and sellers in the region. It is a very different experience than meeting a customer or vendor somewhere else.Here you don't go to a restaurant, you go to a customer or vendor's favorite restaurant. You meet their family. Weekends are spent at their country house, and there is a visit to their facilities. We offer some wonderful tours to help this process. And you can look here to see this year's tours in Amsterdam.But we thought we would start exploring the broader ecosystem surrounding The Amsterdam event. In the US, this task takes us to cities such as Philadelphia where we offer tours, and we thought we would ask Pundit ]]></summary>
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<title><![CDATA[Amsterdam Produce Show Speaker Jelger de Vriend Will Examine What Is Necessary To Be 'Best in Fresh']]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Some call it luck -- though we've found it is almost always related to talent -- to have built a resume with a Who's Who of top names. Jelger de Vriend has, among other places, worked at Chiquita, Ahold, Total Produce and his own consultancy.When we first headed out to the Netherlands to start talking to people in the produce trade, Jelger's name came up over and over. It seemed to us he was among the most well-connected people in produce. So, we were thrilled when we had the opportunity to have him present here at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference.A deep background often enables one to see opportunities that others will miss, and Jelger seems to have found a unique way of helping retailers present a higher quality fresh offering. Producers and marketers, who often talk a great deal about increasing consumption, rarely do very much to enhance the consumer experience. In fact, how much does anyone - retailers, producers, industry associations, etc. -- actually know about the consumer experience of freshness at retail ? Not much, which means they can't act to make things better.&nbsp;We asked Samina Virani, Contributing Editor at Pundit sister publication ProduceBusinessUK.com, to ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA['A Man Believes What He Wants To Believe'
Dutch Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Swimmer - And Cancer Survivor - Maarten van der Wiejden Will Talk About Diet Variation, Vegetables And A Vision Of Belief At The Amsterdam Produce Show]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[When the Pundit Poppa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we wrote a piece titled, Never Tell Me the Odds: One Man, One Disease, One Battle.After a brave fight, he was to die, and we wrote about his passing here.So, we are always personally engaged in the story of cancer survivors. And when they are young people, who go on to have families, we remember Dad, who underwent an experimental immunotherapy and, he told us that he knew it might not work for him, but he hoped that the therapy might develop with time and pave the way for others to live, to work, to find love, to get married, have children and grandchildren - all the things he had been fortunate enough to experience.So, when we had the opportunity to have Maarten van der Wiejden, winner of the Gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, speak to our industry about his battle with cancer and how he lives his life today, we leapt to have him be part of our event.We asked Samina Virani, Contributing Editor to Pundit sister publication ProduceBusinessUk.com, to find out more:Maarten van der WeijdenOlympic Gold MedalistCancer SurvivorQ: Olympic gold medalist, cancer survivor, a fighter ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA['Believe In Your Strength And Focus On Your Goals'
Dutch Paralympic Hand Cyclist Tim De Vries Teaches Us To Find That 'One Spark Of Positivity' At The Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Working in the world of fresh fruits and vegetables is a blessing because it gives us all the opportunity to live on the side of the angels, working to move a product that is not merely enjoyable but genuinely beneficial for individuals and the world at large.At our events, we always like to have athletes present, partly because the story of healthy living involves both food and fitness, partly because sport is a story of achievement - as Jim McKay on ABC's Wide World of Sports&nbsp;reminded us "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" - and so inspiring for us all.And when an individual has had some bad luck, yet has not allowed himself or herself to accept this misfortune as a justification for failing to achieve, we all get the benefit of realizing that our problems are often petty and that, we too, can rise above our difficulties and achieve the things we value in our lives.Self-pity can be a very destructive emotion, so we found a very inspiring person to meet with attendees and sign autographs while inspiring us to be all we can be. We asked Samina Virani, contributing editor to Pundit sister publication ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Never Give Up:
With No Lower Left Leg, Mother Of Three Saskia van den Ouden Keeps Winning Medals And Providing Inspiration At The Amsterdam Produce Show]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2017&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2017-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Have you ever had an employee, a co-worker or a family member identify some difficulty and then say something like "I can't go on living like this"? Perhaps you even have said this yourself.And it is easy to feel that way. That it is why it is so precious to find opportunities to challenge this way of experiencing life. And the best way is to listen to the stories of people who have confronted unimaginably more difficult situations. In his famous speech accepting the Nobel Prize for literature, William Faulkner wrote immortal words:I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance.&nbsp;Success in business and in life is not achieved via spreadsheet alone. It is those who reach down deep, who live a life of compassion, sacrifice and endurance who come to know the true face of success.The world is filled with MBA-in-a-box programs, and they have their place, but in putting together events, we aspire to more... to summon the greatness of spirit within each individual, and to do ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The Berry Category:
Global Trade, Genetics, Branding And More: Roberta Cook Unveils Results Of In-Depth Data Dive&nbsp;At The Amsterdam Produce Show]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[What do you do when you have a superstar who both brings in the box office and wins critical acclaim each film that gets made? You sign her up for the sequel of course!So, when we had the chance to get Roberta Cook to do an in-depth research project on fresh berries and reveal a European Perspective in Amsterdam and an American twist at The Global Trade Symposium in New York, we committed quickly.Roberta has given incisive data-rich presentations that not only wowed the attendees but turned out to be deeply useful. We chronicled these presentations in pieces such as these:Superstar Roberta Cook Guides London Produce Show Attendees On NAFTA, The Impact Of Trade And The Perils That Lie AheadWill Amazon Outgrow Tesco And Carrefour? Dr. Roberta Cook Will Present Comprehensive Data And Analyze Worldwide Retail And Produce Trends All At The London Produce Show And Conference&nbsp;The Intersection Of Technology And Trade: At Global Trade Symposium Roberta Cook Of UC Davis Talks About Mexico's Broadening Role In A Diversified Global MarketDr. Roberta Cook Will Talk About Increasing Produce Consumption At Global Trade Symposium&nbsp;Riding The Roller Coaster: Roberta Cook Of UC Davis Explains How Economic Fluctuations Create Marketing Opportunities.We asked ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Retail Leadership And PMA:
What Is The Future For Buy-Side Involvement?
Rotating Careers And Anti-Trust Concerns]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Coming off another highly successful PMA convention in New Orleans and with the association sure to succeed this year under the joint stewardship of Cathy Burns as CEO and Jin Ju Wilder of LA and SF Specialty as Chairman of the Board, it is worth considering what the future for this incredible industry resource is likely to be.PMA is unique in a way unlikely to survive industry changes. It was built back from near bankruptcy on the strength of a simple insight: Create an association where the buyers felt at home and the vendors would follow. Thus developed a vertically integrated association unlike any produce association in the world.In most of the world, there are grower/shipper/marketer groups and there are retail groups; even when there is nominal retail membership in the vendor group, those buyers don't drive the agenda.PMA was different. It entered its period of flourishing at a time when regional, often family-owned, chains dominated the landscape, and produce directors or VPs, typically deeply committed both personally and professionally to the industry, dominated the board and drove the agenda of the association and, thus, the industry.Names like Harold Alston of Stop &amp; Shop, Tony Misasi of Grand Union, ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[As SFI Rotterdam Celebrates Its 40th&nbsp;Year, Owners Dirk And Jan Marc Schulz Talk Frankly About Changes In The Industry, Some Better Than Others]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[As the global produce trade pivots its attention to the Dutch industry and The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference, the world looks at the products, the infrastructure and, of course, the people who buy and sell vast quantities of fruit and vegetables.SFI Rotterdam, owned by the Schulz family, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a celebration at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference. The Pundit remembers, as a teenager, going into the Hunts Point office with the Pundit Poppa and offering - via Telex! - Florida grapefruit each week to importers all over Europe. Among the firms on that list was SFI Rotterdam. They even occasionally bought a load.The industry has changed, and whoever has survived those changes must have a story to tell and lessons worth learning. We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to see what 40 years of business could teach the broader produce industry:As SFI Rotterdam, an independent family-owned business, celebrates its 40th anniversary, what lessons could be drawn that would be of interest to our broader industry readership and the notably astute senior level Amsterdam Produce Show attendees? Dirk Schulz, company founder, who handed the reigns over to his ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[At The Amsterdam Produce Show, St. Joe's Professor John Stanton Discusses The Great Trinity Fueling Modern Retailing: Millennials, Convenience And Technology&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We have been honored to have John Stanton address our events previously with talks such as these:Promotional Optimization Used To Ramp Up Produce Sales... At The Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference,&nbsp;Professor John Stanton Will Reveal Techniques&nbsp;From Grocery That Can Boost Produce SalesBranding And In-Store Marketing: Perfect Together... St. Joseph's&nbsp;Superstar Professor John Stanton&nbsp;To Present At London Produce Show And Conference&nbsp;Bringing Produce To New Markets: Opportunities And Obstacles In The New Retail Environment...St. Joseph Food Marketing Guru John Stanton Gives Featured Presentation At The New York Produce Show And ConferenceWHAT IS IN A LABEL? Does Promoting No-GMOs Impact Perception Of The Rest Of The Department? Would A Positive Message Smell As Sweet? St. Joe's John Stanton To&nbsp;Address The London Produce Show And ConferenceResearch To Be Unveiled At The New York Produce Show And Conference Shows 'Local' Preference Versus OrganicSo, when Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS&nbsp;is running a cover story with a title The Great Retail Explosion of 2017&nbsp;and Professor Stanton wanted to present on the convulsions going on in the retailing of produce, it was really no-brainer.We asked John Aiello, Contributing Editor at PRODUCE BUSINESS, to find out more:Dr. John StantonProfessor and ChairmanFood Marketing DepartmentSaint Joseph's UniversityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaQ: How long have ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Dan Kass, Former Managing Director/International Sales At Wonderful Citrus, Sheds Light On The Current State Of Global Citrus Trading At Amsterdam Produce Show&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[There is often a "sweet spot" when it comes to listening to an industry speaker. Oftentimes, those who are gainfully employed are restricted in what they can talk about. Those who have been retired too long may have dated perceptions about the business.Sometimes, though, you get someone who has been actively engaged and really knows the score and just recently went freelance. So, they are freer to talk and still up-to-date. Dan Kass has attended The London Produce Show and Conference and The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference, so he knows well our high-level audience and, having just embarked on a freelance approach, he comes straight from industry battles.As soon as we heard he was available, we snapped him up. We asked John Aiello, Contributing Editor at Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS, to find out more:Dan KassInternational ConsultantFormer Managing Director, International SalesWonderful CitrusNewhall, CaliforniaQ: We are delighted to have you as a speaker at the Amsterdam Produce Show and to learn from your insights. Can you provide a brief outline of your background and how you started in the industry?A: Yes, I was born in Hartford, Connecticut. My family moved to Chicago when I was very young, and I ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Lessons On Marketing From Oprah: You Too Can Sell Five Pounds Of Blueberries For $70&nbsp;]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/07/2017&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2017-11-07T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[So, Oprah Winfrey has long issued a Holiday Favorite Things list. This year there is a produce item, albeit frozen, on the list:Josh Pond BlueberriesMy new definition of everyday luxury: a five-pound box of organic wild blueberries frozen within 24 hours of harvest from Josh Pond Farm in Maine. Add them to yogurt, pancakes, or salads, or turn them into sorbet, because (1) wild blueberries are sky-high in antioxidants and (2) they're zero Weight Watchers points! - OprahWe find it interesting in several aspects:First, it is an example of how luxury can be redefined. The produce industry is often way too focused on reducing price rather than increasing perception of value.&nbsp; Of course, this is a different market than the Mom at Walmart scrambling to feed the kids. It is a market, nonetheless, and other venues, such as Harry &amp; David (roughly $10 a pound of pears for 4 lbs plus $10.99 shipping to Florida), are in the market.Pricing is actually very interesting in this category. If you buy through the Amazon link that Oprah promotes, the cost is $70, plus $4.99 shipping:But if you buy directly on the Josh Pond website, the price is $50, plus $35.00 shipping!Second, ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Were Fresh Summit's Abbreviated Show Hours A Success?
The Answer Depends On Who You Ask...
Disproportionate Impact On Small Players,&nbsp;And No Choice But for Exhibitors To Step Up Their Game]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-10-31T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[There is nothing else in the world like the annual PMA convention, which the association markets under the name "Fresh Summit." There are larger events - Fruit Logistica in Berlin has more booths, covers more floor space and attracts almost four times the attendance. But Fresh Summit - having evolved from a small annual meeting of the association to one rich in non-trade show networking and educational programming&nbsp;-&nbsp;has a family feel that, on a national level, or even an international level in terms of interaction with the US, no other event of its scale can approach.As such an important industry institution, it is worthwhile analyzing the role the event plays in the industry and, specifically, whether the change to a two-day trade show was beneficial. As we have gotten involved in producing events ourselves, from small executive share group meeting to The New York, London and Amsterdam Produce Shows and Conferences, we have acquired some particular expertise in assessing these things.In addition to the change in schedule, people attending may have noticed that their badges this year included an RFID chip. It is not an inexpensive initiative, but RFID tracking can provide valuable information. It will be interesting to ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[At Upcoming Amsterdam Produce Show, Power Of Produce Researcher Anne-Marie Roerink Shows Ways To &#39;Get Produce Right&#39; To Win In The New Disruptive Retail Environment]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-10-31T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[If there is one mega-trend that has transformed produce retailing more than any other, it has to be the move to data from intuition and experience.As an industry, we really have no other choice. There was a time, not all that long ago, when produce retailing was a distinct enterprise, and the people involved in produce were passionate about the field or, even if they weren't passionate, they perceived their future as tied up in produce where they acquired great product knowledge and personal connections. If for some reason they left their job, if they couldn't find a comparable position in produce retailing elsewhere, they were far more likely to work on the supply side than to go into some other area of retailing.This is no longer the case. Young workers at Wal-Mart or Amazon are often rotated through produce or perishables to gain experience in the way companies rotate people through international operations. Their next job is likely to be selling clothing or toys, and their knowledge and incentive to gain knowledge about produce is slight.So, to run produce or their category, without the benefit of 20 years of apprenticing under experts and without the personal experience to ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[CH Robinson/Robinson Fresh Offers Insights On Consumers And Global Produce Distribution While Providing Amsterdam Produce Show Visitors An Exclusive Insider Tour]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/31/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-10-31T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The opportunities for learning at global produce events are often serendipitous. Last year at the launch of The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference, we had the good fortune to offer a tour that included the Robinson Fresh European headquarters in Amsterdam.The tour was terrific. Gary York, Vice President Sales and Marketing, gave an excellent presentation, and the building itself - so very international, so progressive, so global - taught many lessons, but when the conversation evolved into an incredible discourse between Jim Lemke, President at Robinson Fresh, Bruce Peterson of Peterson Insights -who built Wal-Mart's produce program in no small part with Jim Lemke and Robinson Fresh - and yours truly, it was a discourse that had never happened before, would never quite happen again, and, according to one important attendee of the tour, was like gaining an MBA in produce in a half hour.That conversation ranged from a discussion on Wonky Vegetables to the integration of logistics and product, to the role of branding in produce. The value to attendees who were on that tour was immeasurable.We detailed the tour last year in this piece:In Search Of The Best Talent... Robinson Fresh Opens New European Headquarters In Amsterdam... ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[As Lidl Breaks All Records,
Critics Lack Historical Knowledge:
The Private Ownership Difference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-10-17T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Fake news is an important problem and one amplified by social media. When people see articles that reconfirm their own biases and then these people send the article out under their name to their social media connections, often nobody has done the due diligence necessary to ascertain if the story is accurate.But truly fake stories&nbsp;-&nbsp;things that just never happened - eventually get uncovered if they gain traction. A more dangerous issue is that few publications have the resources to hire reporters who are truly expert in the fields they are assigned.We get quoted a lot in the consumer press. And 20 years ago, we often got called by ag reporters or retail reporters who were full time dedicated to the task for decades. Nowadays, it usually is the real estate reporter, whose editor assigns this story because there is a food safety crisis. So, someone with zero experience and knowledge somehow has five hours to not only understand the story but then figure out how to make others understand it as well.We spend countless hours helping. Indeed it was partly out of this experience that we launched programs for "consumer influencers" at the New York, London and Amsterdam Produce ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Michiel van Zanten On&nbsp;Produce Procurement:
Insights From Albert Heijn/Ahold Delhaize Prelude To Amsterdam Produce Show&#39;s Thought-Leader Panel]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-10-17T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We recently announced the Thought-Leader Panel at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference. It is an important part of the event because the goal is not served simply by people visiting a trade show.The key is for attendees to become more valuable colleagues, more valuable business connections and more valuable people - and to do that, one has to learn and open one's eyes and ears to new ideas and new ways of thinking. Indeed, visiting a trade show itself becomes a different experience if one first begins forging relationships at an opening reception and then opens ones' mind as a result of robust discussion of industry issues.In fact, here is an underappreciated secret: If people only go to events where they do a lot of business, they are usually too busy dealing with that business to become smarter and more valuable contributors to their organizations. To be successful in the future, people need to invest in learning more now.We are fortunate to have such wonderful people (and companies that support them) who are willing to share their knowledge, experience and insight to make the whole industry better. The whole panel is extraordinary, and in advance of the event, ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Unique In Approach, FMI Research Answers Questions For Retailers And Producers With New Disclosures At Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-10-17T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We don't look at geography when selecting speakers for our events; in our quest for the best content, we will travel to the ends of the earth for the most insightful. And the Food Marketing Institute happens to do some of the most intriguing research relevant to fresh produce on the face of the globe.What makes this research compelling? Most research is done by surveying consumers, which tell us what answers people want to give to questions when asked - not what they actually do. Some research is drawn off shopper spending data, which tells us what consumers actually do - but not why they do it. FMI, almost uniquely, does research that combines both.We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to get a sneak preview of what revelations the FMI research provides for attendees at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference.Rick SteinVice President, Fresh FoodsFood Marketing InstituteArlington, VAQ: We're excited you'll be presenting FMI's newest research findings at our Amsterdam Produce Show &amp; Conference in November. This "sneak preview" Q&amp;A pivots off a parallel Q&amp;A we did back in 2015, where you unveiled the baseline results of FMI's unique, ongoing consumer-centric study, "The Power of ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Whole Foods Can't Scale, And Amazon Can't Upscale... The Challenge Of Being Unique And High Volume]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-10-17T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We've written several pieces related to Amazon's takeover of Whole Foods including these:Amazon/Whole Foods Uses Tricks Of The Trade And Easy Media Manipulation To Dampen 'Whole Paycheck' ReputationIs Amazon.com&#39;s Deep Dive Into Grocery And The Whole Foods Brand Worth $13.7 Billion? Any Significant Investment In Bricks And MortarWould Torpedo Amazon.com&#39;s Coveted PE RatioNow the word is out that there are changes underway in the manner in which Whole Foods procures and merchandises product. The Wall Street Journal ran a piece titled, Amazon Puts Whole Foods on fast track to Conventional Supermarket, and subtitled it, "Specialty grocer will no longer allow 'brand advocates' in stores, a potential blow to local sellers."Here is the key point:Whole Foods will change the way companies can sell and market their products in its stores beginning next year, one of the biggest moves yet in its push to operate more like a traditional market.Under the changes planned for April, Whole Foods' 470 locations will no longer allow brand representatives to promote their products or check to make sure they are stocked and displayed correctly.Whole Foods also is centralizing much of its decision-making regarding the assortment of products across the chain. Instead of allowing brands to ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[A Tale Of Two Continents:
Simultaneous Representation In Both New Orleans And Madrid
SAFE TRAVELS TO ALL!]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/17/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-10-17T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[For those doing the Convention Circuit, the Perishable Pundit and sister operations are exhibiting simultaneously on two continents this week.The Pundit and the team from North and South America will personally be at the PMA's Fresh Summit event in New Orleans, so please stop by Booth #3000 to say hello.The European team and a representative from our Latin American operation, all in the big run-up to The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference, are exhibiting at Fruit Attraction in Madrid at Hall 10, Stand A03B.We hope to see you wherever you are going this week, and we wish everyone productive events and safe travels! To those unable to travel &nbsp;&nbsp;stay tuned - you can catch many key insights of these events in the pages of PRODUCE BUSINESS and in English, Spanish and Chinese at ProduceBusinessUK.com,&nbsp;FreshFruitportal.com, PortalFruticola.com, ChinaFruitPortal.com and the web pages of ProduceBusiness.com and FloralBusiness.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Global Industry To Converge And Engage
At Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference&nbsp;As Stellar Thought-Leader Breakfast Panel Unveiled]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/08/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/08/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-10-08T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the purposes behind the creation of The New York Produce Show and Conference, The London Produce Show and Conference and, most recently, The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference is to use these iconic cities as gathering points for the best and brightest in the global produce industry. We have always exercised great discernment on who should attend by curating high-level thought and practice leaders from around the globe to give participants a chance to get exposed to the most important ideas and to keep things on an intimate scale. Our goal is to give everyone a chance to engage in topics that are affecting the industry and to discuss issues and topics of concern.It is one reason we don't sell "exhibit only" passes, because the value is only fully realized if people participate and, well, participate fully. By attending our Opening Cocktail Receptions - where conditions are perfect for deepening existing relationships and establishing new ones - and by attending the Perishable Pundit's Thought-Leader Breakfast Panel - where there is great discussion of contemporary challenges and high-level trends - one's mind is opened to new ideas and ways of doing better.It is also why we offer free ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Cornell's Ed McLaughlin - Leading Authority On Global Retailing - To Keynote Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference:
'DISRUPTION AT RETAIL' ... What Whole Foods, Amazon, Lidl, Aldi And Wal-Mart Mean For The Produce Industry]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=10/03/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=10/03/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-10-03T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Some decisions in life are very difficult and some are really easy. Selecting a keynote speaker for The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference was a really easy call. In a year when Lidl began its American invasion and Amazon bought Whole Foods, retail is the nexus of concern in the industry - and Cornell's Ed McLaughlin is recognized as the world's single most prominent expert on the evolution of retail as it connects to the food industry.Though his roots are American, his involvement in Europe is substantial. He has been a visiting professor of retailing at IESEG&nbsp;in France since 2009 and an Adjunct Professor of retailing at Nijenrode University, the Netherlands School of Business, since 1989. He has worked deeply with Albert Heijn since 1989 and founded the Ahold Retail Academy, which he has directed since 1998. Indeed, his chair at Cornell is named after Robert G. Tobin, who was the Chief Executive Officer and President of Ahold USA.There is simply no one on earth who so seamlessly combines an understanding of global retailing, the produce industry and who thinks so profoundly about the future.We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott, to get a sneak preview ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Amazon/Whole Foods Uses Tricks Of The Trade And Easy Media Manipulation To Dampen 'Whole Paycheck' Reputation]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=09/08/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=09/08/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-09-08T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We recently wrote about the Amazon and Whole Foods merger with a piece titled, Is Amazon.com&#39;s Deep Dive Into Grocery And The Whole Foods Brand Worth $13.7 Billion? Any Significant Investment In Bricks And Mortar Would Torpedo Amazon.com&#39;s Coveted PE Ratio.Now Amazon has completed its acquisition of Whole Foods, and, showing itself to be an expert at manipulating the media, the company made an announcement that meant almost nothing but got the headlines it wanted:From Bloomberg: No More Whole Paychecks, Amazon PromisesFrom The Washington Post: The days of "Whole Paycheck" are over.From AdvertisingAge: Amazon Has a Plan to Shed Whole Foods&#39; &#39;Whole Paycheck&#39; ImageFrom Reuters: Amazon to cut Whole Foods prices, escalating grocery turf warYet the Amazon/Whole Foods release&nbsp;was both highly specific and oddly irrelevant. They did promise price cuts on a litany of items:Starting Monday, Whole Foods Market will offer lower prices on a selection of best-selling staples across its stores, with much more to come. Customers will enjoy lower prices on products like Whole Trade bananas, organic avocados, organic large brown eggs, organic responsibly-farmed salmon and tilapia, organic baby kale and baby lettuce, animal-welfare-rated 85% lean ground beef, creamy and crunchy almond butter, organic Gala and Fuji ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Is Amazon.com&#39;s Deep Dive Into Grocery
And The Whole Foods Brand Worth $13.7 Billion?
Any Significant Investment In Bricks And MortarWould Torpedo Amazon.com&#39;s Coveted PE Ratio]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/19/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/19/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-06-19T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The market capitalization of Amazon.com is about $466 billion; that is billion, with a B. So the proposed $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods, including debt, for which&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;would not generally be liable, is a bit of roulette for&nbsp;Amazon.com, but not Russian roulette.The thousands of articles that claim to explicate&nbsp;Amazon.com's strategy need to be viewed in this light: This is like you learning that your neighbor with a million dollar stock portfolio took a&nbsp;flier&nbsp;and purchased a bit over $29,000 in a stock.But that is not to say there is no meaningful risk to&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;in looking to make this acquisition. The price/earnings ratio on&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;stock is about 185. By comparison, the PE ratio is around 15 for Wal-Mart. It is this massive multiple that makes&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;such a powerful company.What justifies this high multiple for&nbsp;Amazon.com? Two things: First, an expectation of rapid growth; second, an expectation that the company will achieve very high returns on investment due to an asset-light business model. As long as Whole Foods remains what it is, a rounding error in the scheme of Amazon.com, the Whole Foods division will be lost, and the profits it generates will be valued at the rate&nbsp;Amazon.com&nbsp;profits are valued.If, however, Whole Foods was to dramatically ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Making Produce Marketing Everything It's Not: Creative, Innovative, In-your-face, Non-conventional, Digitally Driven, Attitude- And Adventure-oriented...
Nic Jooste Of Cool Fresh Guides The Trade On How To Capture Gen Z And, Next, Gen Alpha!]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Nic Jooste is a marketing magician. He doesn't have the resources at his disposal to buy massive television campaigns, yet he has managed to create marketing campaigns that have won Cool Fresh, the company he represents, a cult following in certain quarters.He doesn't do this just by gut, he does research to inform his campaigns. Particularly focused on the young adults in society, his research points to a need to market produce in a way different than it has been marketed before. We asked Mira Slott to find out what he has in store for attendees at The London Produce Show and Conference:Nic JoostePartner and Director of Marketing,Corporate CommunicationsCool Fresh InternationalRidderkerk, The NetherlandsQ: You've wowed attendees with your dynamic, thought-provoking talks, memorably to help launch our seminal Amsterdam Produce Show last November and to enhance our long-running, iconic New York Produce Show and the concurrent Global Trade Symposium:PRODUCE AND GENERATION ZCan We Make Our Pitch Effective In Eight Seconds Or Less?There's a Dutch Saying...Amsterdam Produce&nbsp;Show To Bridge Cultures And Channel InnovationDutch Marketer Nic Jooste Will Share His Thoughts On Swimming Upstream At The Global Trade Symposium]Now in London, you'll be participating in a targeted all-day seminar program on the ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Cornell Professor Brad Rickard
Returns To London To Unveil New Study:
QUANTITY, VALUE AND DIVERSITY -
The 10-Year Evolution Of Consumer Purchase Preferences For Packaged Produce]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Cornell&#39;s Brad Rickard is among the brightest young scholars in the world of food and agriculture writing, researching and teaching today, so when we heard he was doing his sabbatical in France, it was an easy decision to try to woo him to The London Produce Show and Conference. After all his research and intellect have bedazzled audiences on both sides of the pond with presentations we memorialized in pieces such as these:Can Labeling Impact Food Waste?Is Zero Waste The Optimal Standard?Cornell's Brad Rickard To Present&nbsp;New Research At The London Produce Show And ConferenceWhat's in&nbsp; A Word? Sell By, Use By, Best By And Fresh By.. Can A Word Alter Food Waste Significantly? Cornell's Brad Rickard Speaks OutCornell's Brad Rickard Returns To The New York Produce Show And Conference:&nbsp;Will &#39;GMO Free&#39; Be The New Organic?What's In A Name? Professor Brad Rickard Of Cornell Produces New Research That Indicates Shakespeare May Have Been In Error... On Apples At LeastCornell's Brad Rickard To Unveil Generic Produce Promotion Research Done By Cornell And Arizona State University At New York Produce Show And ConferenceTo find out what he has in store for us in London we asked Jodean Robbins, Contributing Editor at Pundit ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Clive Black, Esteemed Stock Analyst, Gives London Produce Show And Conference Attendees Insight Into How Online Shopping, Consumer Price-consciousness And Brexit Will Impact The Industry]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Clive Black's romance with food started in the 1980s when he studied corporate strategy in the Northern Ireland food industry for his Ph.D. at The Queen's University of Belfast. Black, grew up in Coleraine, Northern Island, where the smell of the countryside remains a poignant memory, and since 2003 has been head of research at London, UK-based Shore Capital Group Limited, likes to tell it this way: "this was a time when the scene was filled with agriculturalists who couldn't spell food, in a time when the consumer was coming to the fore of the farming industry's mind."Consider that the 1980s was the decade that Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or 'mad cow disease' started its epidemic rise and former British MP Edwina Currie resigned over a misspoken warning over salmonella in British eggs. Both topics made national and international media headlines.Pundit readers may have first read of Black last year. This is when the researcher, who is one of the UK's top consumer analysts and rated No. 1 for retail in the 2014 Thomson Extel survey, was quoted in the June 2016 print issue of Produce Business UK Guide, The UK Grocery Retail Market, distributed at last year's London ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Chris Cowan Of Kantar Worldpanel UK Shares His Data-Strong Insights On The Future Of Produce Retailing At The London Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Chris Cowan admits he doesn't have a green thumb. However, he does enjoy dining on farm fresh produce and mining data to translate consumer purchase behavior into a competitive advantage for his clients. The latter is a great combination considering that for the past three years, Cowan has held the position of Consumer Insight Director at London-based Kantar Worldpanel UK, which has the UK's largest consumer panel, comprised of 30,000 households.The roots to Cowan's current position started when he left Kantar's sales division and joined its produce team. It was then, he says, he "met some interesting characters and was instantly hooked on the quirks and fun of working in the produce industry."Today, Cowan works with over 60 of the UK's leading retail suppliers, ranging from multinationals to mid-sized family businesses, and gains a unique view as to how each operates, innovates and the challenges posed to these suppliers by retailers. Interestingly, as Cowan says, while two companies may supply the same specification of product to the same retailer, the questions posed by each to Cowan at Kantar are very different.When he attended the first London Produce Show, Cowan says his network expanded to an international one and his ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Superstar Roberta Cook
Guides London Produce Show Attendees
On NAFTA, The Impact Of Trade
And The Perils That Lie Ahead]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Dr. Roberta Cook, on the slate for the London Produce Show, is among the foremost authorities on produce trends around the globe. She remains a coveted catch for any conference. Previous presentations at the New York Produce Show&nbsp;and the London Produce Show&nbsp;have stimulated thought and discussion on a wide range of topics including:Will Amazon Outgrow Tesco And Carrefour? Dr. Roberta Cook Will Present Comprehensive Data And Analyze Worldwide Retail And Produce Trends All At The London Produce Show And Conference&nbsp;The Intersection Of Technology And Trade: At Global Trade Symposium Roberta Cook Of UC Davis Talks About Mexico's Broadening Role In A Diversified Global MarketDr. Roberta Cook Will Talk About Increasing Produce Consumption At Global Trade Symposium&nbsp;Riding The Roller Coaster: Roberta Cook Of UC Davis Explains How Economic Fluctuations Create Marketing Opportunities.We spent some time with her to find out what's been happening since her last interview and to get a sneak preview of what she'll share in London.Roberta Cook, PhDFounder, Fresh Produce Marketing Consulting, in Dixon, CAand retired Cooperative Extension Marketing EconomistDepartment of Agricultural and Resource EconomicsUniversity of California, DavisQ: The last time the Pundit spoke with you, you were preparing for your talk at the 2015 New York Produce ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Can Children Be Wooed To Eat Bitter Vegetables?&nbsp;Wageningen University's Gertrude Zeinstra Presents New Research:&nbsp;Is Repetition The Key To Healthy Habits? Insight Shared At The London Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=6" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=06/06/2017&amp;pundit=6</id><updated>2017-06-06T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[There is near unanimity on the desirability of children eating more produce. But when one looks at the initiatives actually done, almost all wind up getting children to eat more sweet fruit and calling it a victory.The problem, of course, is that many of the healthiest elements of produce consumption come about through consuming more vegetables. When we learned of a researcher focused on this area, we dove in and were thrilled when Gertrude Zeinstra &nbsp;of Consumer Science agreed to share her research at The London Produce Show and Conference. We asked Pundit Pundit Investigator and Special Project Editor Mira Slott to find out more:Gertrude ZeinstraScientistConsumer ScienceWageningen, The NetherlandsQ: Anecdotal evidence can sometimes distort or cloud the reality of a program's success or failure in increasing children's produce consumption. This is why we are so pleased you will be presenting your expert, scientifically based research at the London Produce Show to help attendees formulate and validate effective policies and strategies in this challenging arena.Before we delve into a preview of your enlightening talk, could you share some background about the Consumer Science &amp; Health group at Wageningen Food &amp; Biobased Research, and your role?A: I work as a consumer ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[London Produce Show Preview:
Chef Gerry Ludwig Talks About
Veg-Centricity At Foodservice Forum]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2017-05-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the great benefits of events such as The London Produce Show and Conference&nbsp;is that we gather intelligence from all over the world, thus saving attendees from a lot of time and cost in traveling themselves. Rarely is that as true as with this year's Keynote Presentation at the event's Foodservice Forum&nbsp;by Chef Gerry Ludwig of Gordon Food Service.Chef Ludwig conducts an annual tour de force of research, as he and his team visit new restaurants in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles -- all with the goal of identifying new trends and new menu options for the customers of Gordon Food Service. He presented the results of this research at the New York Produce Show's "Ideation Fresh" Foodservice Forum, and the information has been extraordinarily well received and featured in our sister publication, PRODUCE BUSINESS.This year, we bring him to the Foodservice Forum at The London Produce Show and Conference - held the day before the trade show on Wednesday, June 7 - to give attendees insight into what is hot and happening with fresh produce in the USA.We asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out more:Gerry LudwigCorporate Consulting ChefGordon Food ServiceWyoming, ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Where Dreams Come True
William Prevor and 360DegreesofDisney.com]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2017-05-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Junior Pundit Primo, aka William, has been engaged with the produce trade since he was born. He was nestled in this Pundit's left arm while we hammered out columns with our right on the day of his birth. He swam with Joe Nucci at the PMA Board of Directors meeting in Cancun, Mexico, when he was not even six-months-old.&nbsp; He has even contributed to our editorial product, providing inspiration for pieces, such as Little Taste Bud.When he was asked if he might be interested in taking over the enterprise that publishes this Pundit one day, he laughed: "Dad, why should I do that when I can be the CEO of The Walt Disney Company."Finding his logic impeccable, we left him to his own devices, and in time he began to publish a web site dedicated to all things Disney.He publishes his own columns. Here are a few of the Pundit's favorites:Will Disney serve the Enthusiast Market?What is Going on with Character Integrity?Are Lilo and Stich Doomed?Was Discontinuing Disney Infinity a Mistake?And the overall website, which you can find at&nbsp;www.360DegreesofDisney.com, is chockfull of photos, videos and analysis in which William tries to identify how decisions made in one division ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[In Social Policy&nbsp;And In Business
Open Minds Are Needed
To Solve Intractable Problems]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2017-05-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[We often talk about Americans being unwilling to work in the fields and stagger at the thought of what we would have to pay and how we would have to change the job to get Americans to do this work.It is the same situation with teaching - except the issue is not finding a person to do the job but enticing people of high intelligence into the field. For many years, we got such labor on the cheap, because women were constrained from entering many other fields. So high-IQ women became teachers, &nbsp;nurses or social workers. Today, comparable women become doctors, lawyers and engineers.The New York Times recently ran a lengthy piece titled, The Broken Promises of Choice in New York City Schools. Written by Elizabeth A. Harris and Ford Fessenden, the article starts on the front page of the Sunday paper and then covers three additional full pages. It is the kind of commitment a paper such as the New York Times makes when its editors consider the story worthy of contention for a Pulitzer Prize.The article is built around a premise:Under a system created during Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's administration, eighth graders&nbsp;can apply anywhere&nbsp;in the city, in ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[On The Nature Of Friendship:
Funny Trump Video From The Netherlands Hits A Nerve About NATO]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=4" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=4</id><updated>2017-05-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[As a result of launching The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference, we now have many friends throughout the Netherlands and many have passed on a video that the producers of the Dutch TV show "Sunday with Lubach" broadcast that was designed to introduce The Netherlands to America's new President:Put together by two Jewish guys from Illinois, Greg Shapiro and Pep Rosenfield, who have lived in the Netherlands for two decades, it is not clear how much it reflects Dutch attitudes. But it raises the question of how the world will perceive the whole "America First" attitude that President Trump is promulgating.Scholarly critics and journalists critique the phrase because, in its original usage, it was isolationist and anti-Semitic - although notably, the America First Committee, which had spearheaded opposition to the US joining in World War II, often via prominent speeches&nbsp;from Charles Lindbergh, was dissolved three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.It is, however, doubtful that the phrase retains that meaning today to President Trump or many Americans. Today, it is more a slogan that means to many Americans that their concerns and their well-being should be preeminent in policy decision-making process used by their own elected representative.The problem, ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Pundit's Mailbag - Unemployment, Automation, Modern Technology and Envy
Will 'Our' Civilization Crumble?
Is A Moral Renaissance Possible?]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=5" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=05/11/2017&amp;pundit=5</id><updated>2017-05-11T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Our piece Putting Aside Pesticide Residue Levels And Climate Change: Will The City Of Light Be A Beacon For The West To Combat ISIS? We Can Never Prosper If Our Civilization Crumbles was followed by Pundit's Mailbag - Thoughts On Global Warming and Wealth, which included letters from both Doug Stoiber and Deidre Smyrnos.Now that piece has brought a response of its own:Your article, "Thoughts on Global Warming and Wealth," linked to quite a collection of perspectives, including a discussion of the ISIS phenomenon and what, if anything, can be done to contain it.The underlying question, I think, is the subtitle, "We can Never Prosper if our Civilization Crumbles." I feel this is both completely true, and a very elusive idea - the ambiguity being, what we understand by "our civilization" appears to be quite different depending on who you talk to - for example, a Trump supporter vs a Sanders supporter?It&#39;s obvious that even within "our (geographic) civilization," there are big divisions, and different perceptions of how to keep it from crumbling into a pile of rubble.At the same time, many, if not all people in different cultures around the world are seeing their respective civilizations crumbling. &nbsp;One ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Set Your Alarm For Wednesday, December 7, As 10 Heavyweight Thought Leaders Take The Stage At New York Produce Show's Keynote Breakfast]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=12/02/2016&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=12/02/2016&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2016-12-02T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the great traditions of The New York Produce Show and Conference is the announcement of the annual Perishable Pundit's "Thought Leaders" Panel, which gathers at the Keynote Breakfast of The New York Produce Show and Conference.The panel provides a unique opportunity to hear what key players in the industry see as the path to business and industry success. Without further ado, we are honored to announce the 2016 Perishable Pundit's Thought Leaders Panel:RICH DACHMANVice President of ProduceSysco CorporationRichard Dachman is a native of Denver and attended&nbsp;Colorado State University. He began his produce career at his family-owned business in Denver.Following the sale of the family business he and his father opened a new foodservice operation in Denver for&nbsp;Kraft Foods, Inc.&nbsp;before joining Kraft's corporate office in Chicago as national director of Produce in 1987.In 1992 Rich joined&nbsp;FreshPoint Inc.&nbsp;and was president of FreshPoint Operating Companies in Houston, Denver, Atlanta and their central procurement office in Salinas, CA.When&nbsp;Sysco&nbsp;acquired FreshPoint in 2000 he was appointed to the position of senior vice president, Western Region and in 2007 was promoted to vice president of Produce for Sysco Corporation.Rich was awarded the Foodservice Achievement award by the Packer in 2010, and served as chairman ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Cornell's Miguel Gomez Goes Double Duty At New York Produce Show: Gives Micro-Session On Northeast Greenhouse Potential And Teaches Foundational Excellence 'Students' About Global Trade ]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2016-11-30T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Miguel Gomez has exemplified the way an academic can engage with industry to share the latest and most important new research with the trade. Speaking at The New York Produce Show and Conference and The London Produce Show and Conference, he has dealt with topics such as these:How To Capitalize On An Age Of Global Trade: Miguel G&oacute;mez Of Cornell University At The Foundational Excellence ProgramUNIVERSITY HEAVYWEIGHT PUTS SCIENCE BEHIND OPTIMIZED GLEANING SCHEDULES: Cornell's Miguel G&oacute;mez Talks About How The Produce Industry Can Put Itself On The Side Of The Angels By Reducing Food Waste While Helping The HungryThe Renaissance Of The Wholesale Sector - Why Those Who Support &#39;Locally Grown&#39; Should Support Investment In Market Intermediaries. Cornell University Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez Reveals Research Findings At The London Produce Show And ConferenceA New Hypothesis On Local: To Boost Sales, Sell It Through Supermarkets ... Cornell's Miguel Gomez Previews His Upcoming Talk At The New York Produce Show And ConferenceCornell Professors To Present At The New York Produce Show And Conference: New Ways of Thinking About Local: Can The East Coast Develop A Broccoli Industry?Cornell Professor Miguel G&oacute;mez To Speak At New York Produce Show And Conference On Fruit &amp; ]]></summary>
</entry>
<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Combining Heritage And Innovation, The UK's Charlie Dunn
Speaks Out On Storytelling And Industry Relationships
At The Global Trade Symposium]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2016-11-30T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Charlie Dunn is scion of a 200-year old family farming business, now called Chandler and Dunn Ltd. Founded in 1809, the 600 hectare farm encompasses 200 hectares producing potatoes, wheat, beans, barley; 200 hectares of grassland and livestock; and the remaining 200 hectares in top fruit - apples, pears and plums.Dunn has worked full time at the farm for 18 years with heavy involvement in top fruit and he is currently farm manager. He is also the current chairman of the UK's "Under 40s Fruit Growers Group" and junior vice chairman of the national fruit show.He exemplifies what can happen when even the most deeply rooted people engage with new ideas.&nbsp;We thought the story inspirational and motivational, and we invited Charlie to speak at The New York Produce Show and Conference. We asked PRODUCE BUSINESS Contributing Editor Jodean Robbins to find out more:Charlie DunnChandler and Dunn LtdCanterbury Kent, UKQ: How did you get involved with the Under 40s?A: I heard about the Under 40s in 2013 from some other fruit growers because I wanted to learn more about our industry and farming. The Under 40s trip that year was to Poland. I was impressed with the amount of knowledge ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Using Produce To Inspire The Next Generation Of Culinary Professionals,
Culinary Institute of Michigan Joins New York Produce Show Program
NEW CULINARY COMPETITION UNVEILED]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/30/2016&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2016-11-30T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Chef demos at The New York Produce show and conference are legion for helping innovate new ideas for increasing produce consumption in the foodservice sector as well as adding color and excitement to the day. This has been well reported in pieces such as these:Chefs Demonstrate Produce-Centric Dishes at The New York Produce Show.This year, the program is expanding with, for the first time, four students from the Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM) among those foraging produce from exhibitors and stepping up to the kitchen stage to impress the judges. These students will be competing against four students from the Providence, Rhode Island-based Johnson &amp; Wales University, under the tutelage of Professor and Chef Doug Stuchel, veteran of six previous New York Produce Shows.The CIM students will be accompanied by coach and instructor, Thomas F. Recinella, CEC, AAC, HGT, Dean of Culinary Arts and executive Chef of the school's Courses Restaurant. We asked Carol Bareuther, Contributing Editor of Pundit sister publication PRODUCE BUSINESS to find out more:Thomas F. Recinella, CEC, AAC, HGTDean of culinary Arts&nbsp;Executive ChefCulinary Institute of MichiganQ:Could you tell us about the Culinary Institute of Michigan?A: The Culinary Institute of Michigan is a Division of Baker ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[At New York Produce Show's Global Trade Symposium:
Fourth Generation British Produce Luminary, Laurence Olins,&nbsp;Explains A Unique Business Model&nbsp;And How Berries Have Become The Number One Category In UK Supermarkets]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2016-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The Global Trade Symposium&nbsp;is an annual highlight of The New York Produce Show and Conference, and this year a highlight of the event is the appearance of Laurence Olins.It is hard to overstate the influence of this man. In addition to the formidable role he plays as Chairman of one of the most prominent produce firms in the UK, the Poupart Group, and the role he plays as Chairman of British Summer Fruits, the position in which he will speak about in New York, he is a non-executive director for&nbsp;some of the most important firms in the industry: G&#39;s Marketing, The Shropshire Farming Group, Grace Foods UK&nbsp;and Reynolds Catering Supplies.He originated the annual City Food Lecture&nbsp;held at Guildhall&nbsp;and was the force behind the Global Berry Congress.And here is a secret nobody knows: It was, in no small measure, due to his willingness to lend his personal prestige and industry influence to our launch of The London Produce Show and Conference&nbsp;that we were able to succeed as we did.So when we heard that a man of such repute had a story to tell about the rise of the berry industry in the UK, with notes of caution on what impact ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Pundit's Mailbag - Tim York Speaks Out:
PMA Hires Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Scott&nbsp;But Is The Industry Willing To Test And Reject Sub-Par Fruit?]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2016-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Tim York, President of Markon Cooperative and a leader of many industry organizations and initiatives, has often contributed to the Pundit both by writing in and by giving interviews. His contribution has been substantial and includes pieces such as these:A Call For An Industrywide Sustainability And Social Responsibility InitiativeSingle Step Award Winner - Tim York of MarkonTim York Takes Leadership Role In Food Safety CrisisTim York Points Out Buyer Commitment To Food SafetyHis hard work serving on the Thought Leaders Panel&nbsp;at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference&nbsp;and his preparation for the upcoming "Ideation Fresh" Foodservice Forum&nbsp;at The New York Produce Show and Conference&nbsp;hasn't stopped him from paying close attention to recent Pundit pieces, such as Industry Challenge To Lauren Scott, PMA's New Marketing Officer: Can The Industry Produce Consistent Quality To Enable Effective Marketing?&nbsp;Tim weighed in on the debate with this piece:Your column on Lauren M. Scott, PMA's new chief marketing officer, and the unique challenges she faces in moving the needle on produce consumption reminds me of a piece you wrote some years ago on delivering a consistent brand promise for produce, especially fruit&nbsp;-&nbsp;Can The Produce Industry Rely On Fast Casual To Boost Consumption? Your example was Krispy ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[The American Bubble]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/14/2016&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2016-11-14T00:00:00-05:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[Growing up on the Hunts Point Market and being in daily touch with producers in rural areas around the country, we've always thought ourselves incredibly lucky to be connected with a diverse cross-section of Americans. We often have been amazed at how detached the coastal "elites" can be from the great mass of the country.When we saw the sketch with David Chappelle and Chris Rock, "Election Night in America," we were reminded that, every once in a while, Saturday Night Live catches a perfect tone.Watch here:&nbsp;And who knew that produce would even get a mention:Aidy Bryant: What about undocumented immigrants?Dave Chappelle:&nbsp; Ahh... they're not going nowhere. Come on...You act like everybody trying to pick their own strawberries.Political Scientist Charles Murray is one of the most important social commentators of our time. In 2012 he published a book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960 - 2010, which focused on whites to avoid any thought that the trends he describes are racially driven.The gist of the book: that Americans, for many reasons - such as the tendency of well-educated high IQ women to marry well-educated high IQ men - are finding the country bifurcating into a New Upper Class ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[Being Audacious In Amsterdam]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=1" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=1</id><updated>2016-11-02T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[What is really going on over in Amsterdam? Pundit Sister publication ProduceBusinessUK.com laid it out by publishing the Pundit's comments in the Inaugural Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference Directory:Being Audacious in AmsterdamWhen asked if he had done any kind of market research when planning to launch his Model T, the first mass-produced automobile, it is said that Henry Ford responded, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."It is doubtful he ever really said that, but it doesn't matter. The idea expressed in the quote is an argument for audacious innovation, a rebellion against cautious incrementalism, and this is what brings us to Amsterdam today. It is what underlies The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference.Of course, this event is rich with opportunities for commerce, for buyers and sellers to connect and find business opportunities. But in a larger sense, this event is built on more lofty aspirations: It is built on the idea that our personal careers can advance, our businesses can advance and our industry can advance only by a willingness to stand on the shoulders of the people who have built this industry and use this point of vision to see ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[For The First Time On The Continent
Introducing
The Perishable Pundit's Thought Leaders Panel&nbsp;At The Amsterdam Produce Show And Conference]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=2" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=2</id><updated>2016-11-02T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[One of the highlights of The New York Produce Show and Conference and The London Produce Show and Conference that we are bringing to Amsterdam is kicking off the day of the show with our "Thought Leaders" panel. The program is intentionally designed this way because before we head off to a trade show, we need to open our minds to new ideas and new ways of doing things. This is especially important at an event such as The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference where the floor is not divided by normal commercial considerations, but, instead, is divided into four Knowledge Centres, with zones focusing on Innovation, Sustainability, Education and Health.The Inaugural Thought Leaders Panel at The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference:Said BelhassanSr. Director Produce &amp; Floral &amp; PlantsAlbert HeijnZaandam, NetherlandsSaid Belhassan has been part of Ahold/AlbertHeijn's management team for 20 years. His experiences have taken him from being a store manager to category manager for various food and non-food items and onto his current position as Senior Director Produce &amp; Floral.His knowledge of the various aspects of retailing gives Said a unique perspective on ways the produce and floral industry can maximize sales to consumers, and he is ]]></summary>
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<entry>
<title><![CDATA[-Instock Innovation:
Albert Heijn Partners To Rescue Food]]></title>
<link href="http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.php?date=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=3" /><id>http://www.perishablepundit.com/index.phpdate=11/02/2016&amp;pundit=3</id><updated>2016-11-02T00:00:00-04:00</updated><summary><![CDATA[The issue of food waste is top of mind for many now. Indeed in many iterations of The London Produce Show and Conference and The New York Produce Show and Conference, scholars have addressed the issue in seminars and workshops such as these:Solution To Food Waste? Italian Professor Proposes Getting Consumers And Retailers To Disregard Cosmetic Standards When Selecting ProduceCan Labeling Impact Food Waste? Is Zero Waste The Optimal Standard? Cornell's Brad Rickard To Present New Research At The London Produce Show And ConferenceUNIVERSITY HEAVYWEIGHT PUTS SCIENCE BEHIND OPTIMIZED GLEANING SCHEDULES: Cornell's Miguel G&oacute;mez Talks About How The Produce Industry Can Put Itself On The Side Of The Angels By Reducing Food Waste While Helping The HungryWhat's in&nbsp; A Word? Sell By, Use By, Best By And Fresh By.Can A Word Alter Food Waste Significantly? Cornell's Brad Rickard Speaks OutSo with The Amsterdam Produce Show and Conference fast approaching, we heard about a new approach Albert Heijn is supporting that just might make a difference. So we asked Pundit Investigator and Special Projects Editor Mira Slott to find out more:Instock,&nbsp;an innovative food rescue project to combat food waste, operates through a partnership with Albert Heijn Supermarkets, where food waste ]]></summary>
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