This Year at the PMA Fresh Summit with Team Fresh Summit

Last weekend I enjoyed the opportunity of attending the Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Fresh Summit in sunny Anaheim, California. Brought together as a Team, Casey of Kitchen PLAY organized a group of 12 bloggers with All-Access passes to this industry-wide event.

The Fresh Summit is a yearly event where the produce and floral industry leaders from over 60 countries meet to share ideas, inspire and showcase up and coming trends and products within the industry. It’s an opportunity for those in the industry to network and make connections with growers, shippers, distributors, retailers and trade media. This year, the Fresh Summit enjoyed record breaking numbers with:

• 22,400+ attendees
• 1,159 retailers
• 1,090 exhibitors

PMA Fresh Summit 2014 Expo – Photo courtesy of Laura Sampson

My three days at the Summit was scheduled with both educational and motivational workshops, receptions and two full days of an amazing expo. It was fast-paced, exhilarating and by the end, exhausting (in a good way!).

Exhibitors were challenged to create a recipe with produce as the main ingredient that was kid-friendly, innovative, and over all appealing for the Fresh Summit Sensory Experience Contest. Our Team Fresh Summit organizer and leader, Casey of Kitchen PLAY, was one of more than 20 (composed of both adult and children) judges.

2014 Fresh Summit Sensory Experience Contest

What I was able to sample, was all very delicious. Although I didn’t capture a picture of it (because I was too busy stuffing my face with two servings), Ball Design’s Fresh Fruit Nachos with Honey Yogurt Drizzle was one of my favorites, along with the Mushroom sauce pizza. Expect a post on TC when I share the recipes for them!

Guess who made a surprise visit to congratulate the contest winners? Mickey shook hands and gave warm hugs to those involved. I think I shrieked the loudest when my childhood love appeared to greet!

2014 Fresh Summit Sensory Experience Contest – Mickey made a surprise appearance!

This is where the real fun begins. It’s almost dizzying how many booths, exhibits, entertainment, produce, food and people are on the floor! This expo is not for the faint of heart. Rows as far as the eye can see of beautiful displays, chefs cooking and sharing samples of their delicious recipes using products that are current or are slated to hit the stores next year.

[Top-Left] The Blue Ribbon Orchards Choice & Sun-Maid California Figs – Our team receives a quick education about the history, nutritional benefits and relationship between the two grower cooperatives from the Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for Sun-Maid.

[Bottom-Left] A new product from Gourmet Gardens…Lightly Dried Herbs!

Mariani booth sharing a new line of flavors and product for next year.

Yum-Yum Produce Shippers demonstrate the strength of these watermelon handles.

[Top-Left] Wish I could’ve captured the beauty of Nutraleaf’s purple leaf lettuces and romaine.
[Top-Right] Watermelon Board’s spectacular display of carved watermelon. Amazing about the health benefits of watermelon!
[Bottom] Mucci Farms Sun Drop Tomatoes and bell peppers.

Gorgeous displays of color and high style decor in the Flower Pavilion.

Meet Patrick, the Fruit Carving Ninja! The intro image for this post was carved by this artist. Patrick demonstrates the dawning of a new masterpiece carving out a rose from this watermelon.

Frieda’s Specialty Produce is about unusual and exotic fruits and vegetables. Here, they are sampling some Jack Fruit and Buddha’s Hand!

Pear Pops Parfait: Not on the expo floor, but served to us for breakfast. Isn’t that a pretty presentation!

One of the many great experiences of the Fresh Summit are the produce, products and marketing ideas that will roll out for the next year. It’s like a fashion show of previews and teasers for next season! In a follow-up post on this year’s Fresh Summit, I’m going to share a sneak-peek or two (or three…) of some of the goodies I found on the Expo floor that retailers will be or are sharing in markets near you!

I would be remiss had I failed to mention our sponsers!

• Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice & Sun-Maid California Figs
• Dandy – Duda Fresh
• Gourmet Garden Herbs & Spices
• HBF International (Hurst’s Berries)
• Mucci Farms
• National Watermelon Promotion Board
• Nutraleaf

Team Fresh Summit


PMA Fresh Summit 2014 Team Fresh Summit- Photo courtesy of Carly Morgan

Thank you to all the Team members who were all so fun, friendly and professional. Most of all, much appreciation for Casey, who was always organized and took care of the Team!

Click over to read other Team members’ recaps and visit their Instagrams for more images. This year’s Team Fresh Summit included:

• Beth: OMG! Yummy
• Carly: Ever Clever Mom
• Cathy: Noble Pig
• Heather: Real: The Kitchen and Beyond
• Jason: Modernist Cooking Made Easy
• Laura: Hey What’s for Dinner Mom?
• Lori: Fake Food Free
• Megan: Stetted
• Mimi: Mimi Avocado
• Rachel: Trampling Rose
• Suki: Super Duper Fantastic

and not to forget Casey of Kitchen PLAY.

Want to read a live feed of what the Team covered that weekend? Type in #TeamFreshSummit in Twitter’s Search -OR- click here to read Team tweets from then and after concerning the Fresh Summit.

The Next Fresh Summit

Next Year’s PMA Fresh Summit will be in Atlanta, Georgia from October 23-25, 2015.

Don’t forget…

Don’t forget to check back (or better yet, sign up for emailed updates!) to read the follow-up posts on:

1. Newer products to watch for next year;
2. Recipes brought home from the Fresh Summit;
3. A recipe or two that I’ve developed with some delicious product from Blue Ribbon Orchard Choice & Sun-Maid California Figs (sponsor).