Industry executives from across North America and as far as Israel and France gathered on the Ivy League campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., March 14-19 for the fourth annual United Fresh Produce Executive Development Program.

Developed in partnership with Cornell's Food Industry Management Program, the course aims to help produce industry executives sharpen their business skills, navigate economic challenges and learn effective tools to advance their companies.

This year's sold-out course featured a range of executive-level programming such as negotiation and conflict resolution, leading through change, financial strategy, as well as produce and food industry analyses. In addition to the expert Cornell instructors, the participants also had a unique opportunity to hear from guest "professors" Jim Prevor, Produce Business president and editor-in-chief, Pro*Act President and CEO Steve Grinstead and Bruce Peterson, president of Peterson Insights.

"In a single classroom, some of the produce industry's brightest and most promising executives got the opportunity to learn together and share ideas about the challenges and opportunities they face," said United Fresh Vice President of Communications Ray Gilmer, who welcomed the group. "It's a very heady experience for the participants and a program that undoubtedly makes our industry stronger."

The next Produce Executive Development Course will take place in March 2011. For more information, please contact United Fresh Senior Vice President of Member Services Victoria Backer at 202-303-3400 ext. 408.