During its Fresh Summit event, in Houston on October 12-15, the Produce Marketing Association will 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, 9.35-1050 - 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 how 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 beginning on October 11. For more information about the 2007 Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, visit www.pma.com/freshsummit.
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