Women leaders discuss their professional experiences at anniversary Global Women Fresh event in Berlin
Fresh produce industry organisation Global Women Fresh celebrated its fifth anniversary at a special event at Fruit Logistica in Berlin last week (7 February).
Julie Escobar – founder and president of the network created to close the gender divide in the fresh produce sector – highlighted some of the initiatives launched around the world to empower women since Global Women Fresh’s inception in 2020.
This included a partnership with Cedepas Norte in Peru to provide scholarships to women in agriculture to give then the technical skills needed to secure brighter futures.
Education was mentioned as key to female progression within the global industry during a moving panel discussion moderated by Fruitnet’s Maura Maxwell.
Women leaders from companies in Morocco, the US, the UK and Ecuador shared their personal career journeys and touched on the challenges of juggling family life with their leadership roles.
Panellists were Sara Mouhssine, project manager at Venec SA in Casablanca; Casey Kio, EVP global business at Consalo Family Farms, US; Charlotte Knowles, BerryWorld marketing and communications director, UK; Miriam Miller Volk, IFPA chief membership officer, US; and Diana Freile Leon, CEO Irubi Terra, Ecuador – who, together with her three sisters, has built the largest avocado exporter in Ecuador.
All five women stressed the importance of support from inside and outside their organisations in getting where they are today.
And the value of mentoring was recommended to the packed audience at Fruit Logistica on the last day of the show.
