United Fresh Chairman Tom Lovelace, McEntire Produce addresses the volunteer leaders gathered in Tucson
A
collection of more than 150 United Fresh volunteer leaders met in
Tucson, Ariz. to address programs, policies and priorities serving the
association's broad supply chain membership.
The association's Winter Leadership Meetings included individual gatherings of the association's four market segment boards as well as two of United Fresh’s expert advisory councils,
the Food Safety & Technology Council and the new Supply Chain &
Logistics Council. The two councils that did not meet in Tucson, Global
Advisory Council and Government Relations Council will meet this week
at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Germany, and later this month in
Washington, D.C. respectively.
Following
individual meetings, the attendees came together to discuss the current
economic outlook in the fresh produce and food industry with Dr. Ed
McLaughlin, Professor of Food Marketing and Director of the Food
Industry Management Program at Cornell University. The groups also
talked with United Fresh General Counsel Marshall Matz and United Fresh
outside legislative counsel Randy Russell, discussing what our industry
can expect from the Obama Administration and Congress.
United Fresh General Counsel Marshall Matz discusses opportunities within the new Administration
The week's events culminated with a two-day meeting of the United Board
of Directors to hear from each of its leadership groups, set key public
policy priorities for the year ahead, and shape programs that will
serve the broad membership, including the adoption of new 2009
Government Relations and
Child Nutrition Reauthorization Policy priorities, and a
white paper outlining the association’s food safety policy.
"Our
Winter Leadership Meetings provided a great chance for volunteer
leaders from all sectors of our association to come together in common
purpose to serve our membership," said United Fresh Chairman Tom
Lovelace, McEntire produce. "Clearly, our members have a lot on their
agenda, and it is gratifying to see the boards and councils tackling
the many major issues confronting our industry."
Click here for a full recap of last week's meetings.
