The Produce Marketing Associating (PMA) will offer a series of workshops devoted to global trade topics during its Fresh Summit International Convention and Exhibition at the George R Brown Conference Center, Houston, Texas, on October 12-15.

PMA vice president of global business development Nancy Tucker said: “We are particularly excited that this year’s Fresh Summit global trade workshops offer sound research and trend analysis, and expert advice on how to integrate this information into new or existing global business and marketing plans.”

The programme includes the following workshops:

• Global supermarket growth offers super opportunities - October 13, 9.35-10.50am - a review of important changes taking place in food retailing in emerging markets - from Latin America to Asia to Eastern Europe - that could impact businesses significantly.

• Incredible India: a land brimming with opportunity - October 14, 9.15-10.45am - looking at the potential of the emerging market in India, and the backdrop of unique challenges and obstacles that are also present.

• What do consumers really think about corporate social responsibility? - October 12, 2.45-4pm - outlines new research assessing consumer attitudes in the UK and US on corporate social responsibility, exploring perspectives on terms such as organics, locally grown, food miles, carbon footprints, sustainability and fair trade.

• Traceability: choice or necessity? - October 12, 2.45-4pm - provides attendees with an understanding of full supply chain traceability and how it works within the Best Practices Framework established last year by PMA and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.

Alongside the Global Trends sessions, PMA will also offer a “consumer insights” group of workshops to discuss consumer trends and their impact on the produce industry supply chain.

“Our industry’s livelihood depends on a better understanding of consumer needs and purchasing patterns,” said PMA president Bryan Silbermann. “That’s why PMA has focused greater attention on getting inside the minds of the purchasing public, and then sharing those insights with marketers so we can increase consumption. These workshops enhance Fresh Summit’s value by getting this crucial information to key industry professionals, and take our offerings of original research and analysis at Fresh Summit to new heights.”

The consumer insights highlights are:

• Healthy eating is kids’ stuff - October 12, 2.45-4pm - will examine samples of national and international programmes created to raise awareness about healthy eating habits in children. Participants will also learn what they mean for the produce industry, and why you need to be involved.

• Ripe for the picking, part I: Retail facts and consumer findings - October 12, 2.45-4pm - reveals the latest research developed by the Perishables Group, examining consumer shopping patterns and preferences. New research will be compared to national and syndicated data from previous years.

• Taste the Future - October 13, 9.35-10.50am - explores how different elements, various cooking methods and the five senses can affect flavour.

• Ripe for the picking, part II: supplier/retailer roundtable - October 13, 9.35-1050am - four leading suppliers discuss the implications of new consumer research jointly developed by their firms exclusively for Fresh Summit.

• Inside the minds of retailers and consumers - October 14, 9.15-10.45am -focuses on two different audiences - retailers and consumers - and asks how they really perceive organics and food safety in the produce department.

The deadline to pre-register is Friday, September 28. Participants may also register on site in Houston from October 11. For more information about the 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, visit www.pma.com/freshsummit.