Traceability, crisis communication and sustainability -
learn from the experts
FFVA 2009, Florida Fruit & Vegetable's 66th annual convention,
offers more than a beautiful venue, exciting keynote speakers, and
unsurpassed networking opportunities. The event will be held Sept. 27-29
at The Breakers in Palm Beach. Three very informative educational
sessions will fill you in on some important timely issues:
TRACEABILITY: WHAT’S AHEAD
With traceability from field to fork becoming increasingly important,
you’ll want to see where things stand with industry efforts to
ensure rapid, accurate traceability throughout the entire supply
chain.
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The Produce Marketing Association's Gary Fleming will share his
knowledge about traceability in produce.
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Serving on the traceability panel is Gary Fleming, vice president
of industry technologies and standards for the Produce Marketing
Association. He has spent the majority of his career in the food
industry working in various segments of the supply chain. His
experiences in various industry-wide initiatives have allowed him to be
at the forefront of best practices related to supply-chain efficiencies.
He has written numerous documents now being used as standards in both
the grocery and food-service segments of the food industry for packaged
goods, produce and floral businesses. Fleming is actively involved in
industry-wide committees aimed at identifying best practices within the
produce and floral industries exploring topics such as traceability,
product identification, data synchronization, RFID and temperature
monitoring. He also has taken a leading role in the incorporation
of standards, best practices and supply-chain technologies for the
remaining fresh food categories.
A second panelist is Jane Proctor, a 23-year veteran of the produce
industry who now serves as the vice president of policy and
issue management for the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
Proctor specializes in marketing, government relations, education, food
safety and industry technology. She is the CPMA representative on many
international committees and groups examining issues that impact the
industry. Through these efforts she works with industry groups,
standards-setting bodies, and multi-sector perishable initiatives. She
was involved in the creation of the Global Traceability Standard, the
standards for DataBar, and was the industry lead in the effort to create
the Global Fruit & Vegetable Traceability Guide.
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Jane Proctor, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, also will be
part of the traceabilitiy panel.
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Proctor has participated in many initiatives domestically, bilaterally
(with the United States) and internationally. In her position as the
Canadian produce industry representative internationally, she sits on
the Board of the International Federation for Produce Standards,
participates in the Global Standards Management Process of GS1, and sits
on the Board of Directors of the Produce Electronic Identification
Board.
In Canada, Proctor facilitates the CPMA Industry Technology Advisory
Council and the CPMA Industry/Government Policy Working Group.
A third panelist, Alan Newton, retires this month after 36 years in
the produce industry as the vice president of information systems for A.
Duda & Sons, Inc., a company with agribusiness and land development
operations throughout the United States and headquartered in Central
Florida. He currently serves as an IT consultant to Duda.
Newton also is the chief operations officer of ProduceSupply.org,
LLC, a consortium of 17 North American produce suppliers whose mission
is to move industry standards and electronic trading forward in the
produce industry. He is vice chair of the Produce Marketing Association
Industry Technology and Standards Council. This council was formed to
help identify and prioritize key technologies and/or standards that
could have impact in the produce and floral industries.
Newton is a current member of the CPMA Industry Technology Advisory
Committee and served on the Produce Traceability Initiative formed by
PMA, CPMA and UFPA in 2008.
Bill Poole, manager of Agricultural Production and Research for
Wegman’s Supermarkets is also scheduled to participate in the
traceability panel. Poole is involved in Wegman's efforts to move local
growers towards greater implementation of Good Agricultural Practices on
their farms.
CRISIS PLANNING AND COMMUNICATION: ARE YOU
READY?
The reality today is that one day your business is likely to face a
crisis situation, and you could be required to act as a spokesperson
or be subject to media scrutiny. At this educational session, you
can find out how to assess your risks and how to be ready to deal with
potentially negative publicity.
Participants will hear from Jim Mulhern, managing partner of Watson
Mulhern LLC. Mulhern is an award-winning communicator and veteran policy
strategist based in Washington, D.C. During the past 25 years, he has
provided expert strategic counsel to a host of Fortune 500 companies and
has worked extensively in crisis communications, media relations, issues
management, government relations, media training, and litigation
support. He is a veteran of Capitol Hill, having worked for members of
Congress in both the House and Senate, and managed federal policy and
communications activities for a national trade association.
Watson Mulhern is a life sciences communications and public affairs
firm. The firm focuses on communications and policy challenges facing
the food and agriculture community.
Mulhern has worked extensively in food safety communications and
crisis management. He managed the communications effort of the
public-private Partnership for Food Safety Education, and has provided
food safety communications counsel to a number of companies and
organizations, including the United Fresh Produce Association, National
Restaurant Association, Beef Industry Food Safety Coalition, American
Foods Group, Boar’s Head Provisions, the American Meat Institute,
Animal Health Institute, and Pfizer.
SUSTAINABILITY: IMPLICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURE
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Western Growers Association's Hank Giclas will talk about
sustainability and its implications for agriculture.
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What is sustainability exactly, and how will it shape the future of the
agriculture industry?
It may be one of the most mentioned buzzwords in the industry today.
How much do you understand about how the sustainability movement
will affect your business? Join us for this informative session, and
you'll be armed with the knowledge to confidently position your
operation as one that's on board for future developments.
Hank Giclas, vice president of science, technology and strategic
planning for Western Growers, and Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of
United Fresh Produce Association, will serve as panelists for this
session.
OUTSTANDING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Besides relevant, informative educational sessions, FFVA's convention
will feature a double bill of keynote speakers: U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam
and former astronaut Fred Haise.
Putnam was one of the youngest members of Congress in history and is
now running for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. Haise piloted the
lunar module during the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission and was inducted
into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. His presentation
emphasizes teamwork as a necessary component to success in any
endeavor.
Putnam is scheduled to speak at the annual traditional Cracker
Breakfast on Sept. 29. Haise is to address the Awards Luncheon later
that day.
BEAUTIFUL SETTING
It all comes together at The Breakers, the Palm Beach jewel that's
more exciting than ever with $250 million in renovations and new
surprises. The historic, exquisite oceanfront property features an
extensive range of services and amenities in a classic seaside
location.
REGISTER ONLINE NOW
For more information about FFVA 2009, see the special convention section of the FFVA Web
site for details and everything you’ll need to
register. If you have questions, call (321) 214-5200.