Reaching out Globally to Attract Talent to the Industry
Over the past 60 years, PMA has grown from a converted barber shop headquarters – with just a few members, convention attendance of 100 and a budget of thousands – to a global trade association serving more than 3,000 member companies in 45 countries around the world.
The PMA Foundation for Industry Talent was initially founded to attract talent to the produce industry. As human resources issues are more complicated, the PMA Foundation is expanding its reach to solve the “people problem” globally.
Armed with the vision to help sustain a vibrant global produce industry through its most valuable resource…people, the PMA Foundation is working alongside PMA departments to address talent challenges for all members, no matter where they operate.
Programs that attract talent are being replicated outside the U.S borders; other types of programs are being developed to address situations unique to a region or country. As new countries join the PMA global development strategy, the PMA Foundation will be there to help address a universal challenge for the industry—talent.
Global Programs and Events Calendar
Career & Bursary Fair at Stellenbosch University
April 25, 2013 l Capetown, South Africa
Career Pathways in conjunction with PMA A-NZ
June 11-13, 2013 l Sydney, Australia
Career & Bursary Fair at University of Pretoria
August 22-23, 2013 l Pretoria, South Africa
PMA A-NZ Emerging Leaders Program
September 23-27, 2013 l Auckland, New Zealand
Encouraging Global Representation at PMA Foundation Programs and Events
The PMA Foundation continues to encourage worldwide representation in all of its programs in order to expand the view of this ever increasing global business.
Emerging Leaders Program
14% of the 2011 and 2012 classes of the Emerging Leaders Program was from outside of the United States.
Leadership Symposium
This thought-provoking 2 1/2 day seminar is enriched by the global participant. In recent years, leaders from Mexico, Canada, Australia, Chile and South Africa have participated.
Pack Family Career Pathways Program
Australian, Chile and South African universities continue to send students to the Pack Family Career Pathways program exposing them to a premier event, PMA’s Fresh Summit, and helping them see the possibilities of a career in the fresh produce industry.
Other PMA Foundation Program and Event Participation
Annually, non-U.S. participants are involved in PMA Foundation events like the 5K Race for Talent, Women’s Fresh Perspectives and other programs to raise the awareness of the PMA Foundation’s mission.
Efforts Underway to Attract Talent
Students Participate in Pack Family Career Pathways Program
Australian and New Zealand universities have been sending students to the Pack Family Career Pathways program since 2007. To date a total of twelve students along with their faculty member have participated in the program. There have been eight students from these regions who have taken their first job or internship in the produce industry. In 2011 we added another university to participate in the program.
University Students Get Involved in PMA’s Fresh Connections
PMA Australia/New Zealand is expanding its involvement with university students by including them in PMA’s annual Fresh Connection event held in Australia. To learn more visit the PMA Australia/New Zealand web site.
Career & Bursary Fair at Stellenbosch a Huge Success!
The 2nd PMA Foundation Career & Bursary Fair at Stellenbosch University on April 26, 2013 was a huge success! More than 370 high school and 600 plus university students went through the Career Fair. These students, from fruit producing areas in South Africa, traveled by industry-sponsored buses to the event. Once on campus, they were addressed by post-graduate students, went on a campus tour and walked through the Career Fair.
Additionally, the more than 60 high school faculty and 20 university professors attending the program were pleasantly surprised to learn of the career opportunities in a commercial farming operation. This proved to be a very successful strategy – to make teachers ambassadors of the produce industry!
Thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors:
Sponsors: Pioneer Foods, Capespan, Shoprite and Freshmark, Tru-Cape, Capital Harvest, Laastedrif, Potatoes SA.
Exhibitors: Agricultural Business Chamber (agbiz), Agric Produce Agents Council (APAC), Capespan, Citrus Academy, Distell, Fruit & Veg City, GWK, Hortgro, Nat. Agric Marketing Council (NAMC), Pannar Seed, Potatoes SA, PPECB, RSA Market Agents, Rugani (Greenway Farms), Shoprite, Starke Ayres, SUBTROP, Western Cape Dept. of Agriculture, ZZ2.
Testimonial from an Industry Member
“We are here today because it is our duty to encourage young people to enter the horticultural industry. We will keep on supporting the PMA’s human capital development initiatives – we are looking forward to the Career Fair at Petoria”.
Vincent Sequeira
Co-owner of Greenway Farms
Encouraging Global Representation at PMA Foundation Programs and Events
The PMA Foundation continues to encourage worldwide representation in all of its programs in order to expand the view of this ever increasing global business.
Emerging Leaders Program
14% of the 2011 and 2012 classes of the Emerging Leaders Program was from outside of the United States.
Leadership Symposium
This thought-provoking 2 1/2 day seminar is enriched by the global participant. In recent years, leaders from Mexico, Canada, Australia, Chile and South Africa have participated.
Pack Family Career Pathways Program
Australian, Chile and South African universities continue to send students to the Pack Family Career Pathways program exposing them to a premier event, PMA’s Fresh Summit, and helping them see the possibilities of a career in the fresh produce industry.
Other PMA Foundation Program and Event Participation
Annually, non-U.S. participants are involved in PMA Foundation events like the 5K Race for Talent, Women’s Fresh Perspectives and other programs to raise the awareness of the PMA Foundation’s mission.