Spudman

PMA resources focus on industry-specific UPCs

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) is releasing a new toolkit to help industry better respond to the gradual transition to company-specific universal product codes (UPC). Requirements include the transition from generic to company-specific UPCs to improve category management while also enhancing traceability and business efficiencies. Currently, UPC numbers begin with a generic, PMA-assigned prefix, followed by an item reference number and check digit to identify packaged produce. It is expected that retailers will begin to require…  » Read more

---

Spaces remain for postharvest short course

A limited number of spaces are left for the annual UC Davis Postharvest Technology Short Course, which will be held June 17-28. This course is a two-week study of the biology and current technologies used for handling fruits, nuts, vegetables and ornamentals in California. The first week will be spent on campus with lectures, discussions and hands-on laboratory work. The optional second week will feature field tours of California processing, cooling, storage, distribution and field…  » Read more

---

Cal Poly to partner with California Strawberry Commission

Cal Poly and the California Strawberry Commission have signed an agreement to create the first of its kind Strawberry Sustainability Research and Education Center. The center will focus on applied research that incorporates both teaching and learning experiences for Cal Poly students, faculty, and California strawberry farmers. "This partnership will enrich our Learn by Doing approach by providing our students, faculty and staff the opportunity to work alongside experts in the strawberry industry on real-world…  » Read more

---

PMA calls for speakers at 2013 Fresh Summit

The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit Committee is accepting applications for the 2013 Fresh Summit educational program. The committee is seeking future-focused and creative ideas that address the global produce and floral supply chains and will help attendees in their goal to anticipate change, identify emerging trends, and profit from new opportunities. Presentation topics may include ideas related to business culture and talent, science and technology, consumer connections and public affairs.  Applications are being…  » Read more

---

UC Davis to host two March workshops

A pair of workshops at University of California Davis will explore post-harvest technologies and fruit ripening/retail. On March 14-15, a new workshop called “Emerging Postharvest Technologies” will present information on current produce trends such as traceability and packaging innovations, nanotechnology, robotics, packing line improvements and more. This short course will be presented in a shortened, interactive, and more convenient time format to allow busy agriculture professionals to attend. For more information, visit http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Education/
Emerging_Postharvest_Technologies_Workshop/.  A March…  » Read more

---

PMA to hold first conference for women

The Produce Marketing Association Foundation for Industry Talent will debut the Women’s Fresh Perspectives (WFP) Conference April 21-23 at the FireSky Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz. Offered in partnership with Simmons School of Management, a widely recognized authority on women’s leadership and management, this new conference has been customized to develop women’s leadership potential throughout the global produce industry and will make its mark as the only industry-specific development program for women, according to…  » Read more

---

Georgia, United Fresh offer HACCP course

United Fresh is once again partnering with University of Georgia on the “Developing & Implementing GAPs and GMPs for HACCP-based Food Safety for the Fresh Produce Industry” course in Athens, Georgia. The three-day course, June 11-13, will teach participants how to develop and document good agricultural practices, standard operating procedures, sanitary standard operating procedures, and good management practices for farm and field operations, packing facilities, cold storage operations and produce shippers. Break-out sessions will use…  » Read more

---

Supply chain conference set for February in Florida

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) Trading Partner Alliance are jointly hosting the fourth annual Supply Chain Conference, Feb. 4-6 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Fla. FMI and GMA have created this unique forum for retailers and manufacturers to come together to establish collaborations that foster supply chain efficiency, reduce costs and improve the bottom line. At this conference, attendees will attend sessions and discussions that address…  » Read more

---

United Produce Inspection Program

United Fresh and USDA-AMS are offering three courses of the Produce Inspection Training Program in 2013. These sessions are designed to help produce industry members better understand the breadth of the total produce inspection process. The program is offered in two specialized courses. “Fundamentals of Produce Inspection” focuses on topics such as inspection essentials, the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act, sampling procedures and general market principles. The three-day “Commodity Labs” takes place in the lab and…  » Read more

---

NSF International offers food processing certificates

The Training and Education division of Ann Arbor, Mich.-based NSF International has earned American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation for its food safety certificate programs for food processing quality professionals. NSF International is an independent global organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries, The certification provides food companies added assurance that their quality managers are receiving the most current and highest quality training available from a…  » Read more

---