Four companies that participated in the recently wrapped Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Anaheim, Calif. -- which this year posted a record attendance of over 19,000 -- received “Best of Show” awards for their exhibits’ outstanding salesmanship and presentation excellence.

Sunsweet Growers of Yuba City, Calif., and Temple-Inland of Austin, Texas, were first- and second-place winners, respectively, in the Island Booth category, while Fruit2Day of Broomfield, Colo., and the National Watermelon Promotion Board of Orlando, Fla., placed first and second, respectively, in the In-Line Booth category.

“Knowing how much more important top trade shows such as Fresh Summit become to marketing a business in a down economy, our exhibitors were especially on their toes this year,” said PMA president & CEO Bryan Silbermann. “So this year’s ‘Best of Show’ winners should be particularly proud of their achievement.”

Winners were judged by an anonymous team of industry professionals during show hours on Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3, on three criteria: booth presentation (integration of company identity in booth design, design and graphic elements, clearly communicating message to attendee, and adherence to show rules/exhibitor guidelines); product presentation (product displays and benefit messaging); and exhibit personnel (professional appearance/etiquette, engagement with visitors, and adequate staffing).

Silbermann also highlighted the winners’ accomplishments in light of Fresh Summit’s status as a Top 100 U.S. trade show, which it was named last month by Trade Show Executive magazine. In April, Fresh Summit ranked No. 100 on Trade Show Week’s Top 200 Trade Shows of 2008.

First-place winners received a host of prizes, among them recognition on PMA’s Web site, including multiple photos and a press announcement; two seats at a VIP table and recognition, including a digital photo of their booth during the Monday general session of the 2009 convention; an announcement on the exposition show floor; a $250 credit towards their 2009 Fresh Summit bill with PMA’s official general service contractor, GES; one complimentary full registration to next year’s Fresh Summit in Orlando, Fla.; and a commemorative plaque.

Second-place winners received recognition on PMA’s Web site, two seats at a VIP table during the day’s general session, one complimentary day pass for 2010 Fresh Summit, an announcement on the exposition show floor, and a commemorative plaque.