Traceability, Food Safety to Star at N.C. PMA Event

The Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Connections: North Carolina event will enable local produce industry members to meet with regional buyers and suppliers, as well as learn more about food safety risks and traceability efforts. Hosted by Dole Food Co. in partnership with Food Lion, the one-day event is scheduled for April 5 at Dole’s David H. Murdock Core Lab in Kannapolis. Running from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fresh Connections: North Carolina is made possible by participating sponsors Columbus IT, FoodLogiQ and Redline Solutions.

Attendees will hear from PMA chief science & technology officer Bob Whitaker about common food safety errors, and how they can boost their companies’ food safety efforts and better protect their bottom lines. Additional event features will include the “10 Commandments of Food Safety,” which is aimed at sales and marketing professionals.

Also on hand will be PMA VP of supply chain efficiencies Ed Treacy, who will discuss 2011 implementation timelines for Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) milestones and how these milestones affect every company receiving inbound product. Attendees can find out the necessary steps to maintain compliancy with the industry-led initiative.

“Food safety and traceability issues change in complexity every day, [and] PMA Fresh Connections events translate these complexities into understandable business solutions that help companies keep pace with industry standards and best practices,” explained Jim Bresler, food consulting director for Columbus IT, a Denmark-based global technology and software company. “This event also offers a content-rich and intimate format to give attendees the highest return on investment and make the most of their time away from the office.”

The event format will include plenty of time for attendees to ask talk with the Newark, Del.-based trade organization’s experts about food safety and traceability initiatives. Additionally, a networking lunch and breaks will present opportunities for attendees to forge profitable connections and share insight with fellow supply-chain members from the region.

PMA’s Fresh Connections events reach out to the trade group’s members in their own areas with business-building news and information, as well as giving prospective members the chance to learn firsthand about the benefits of PMA membership and community. The events additionally let the organization’s staff hear from members, so it can address their specific concerns.

Limited seating for Fresh Connections: North Carolina is open to both PMA members and potential members. The advance registration fee for members is $150, with Gold Circle contributors getting an additional $50 knocked off the member rate, while potential members pay $225. The advance registration deadline is March 31, and on-site registration will be available. For more information, visit www.pma.com or contact PMA’s Shara Stewart at 302-738-7100 or [email protected].
 

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