What’s the best way to learn about innovations in produce? Attend PMA Fresh Summit! 11

I love learning new things and I loved school. There I said it, but now my kids are laughing at me. Each time my kids teach me something new I feel like a sponge, soaking up as much information as possible.  In the past four months I have had three different opportunities to learn.  In July I attended Blogger Bash, two weeks ago I attended Type A and in just two short days I am leaving for PMA Fresh Summit.  Each of this opportunities have provided me with things to learn, explore and engage with.  I am hooked on learning and I can’t wait to learn more this week.

I am a member of Kitchen Play,  an amazing network of Food Bloggers led by Casey Benedict.  Casey creates ways for bloggers to connect with brands. Kitchen PLAY is a digital agency that specializes in custom blogger outreach programs which promotes pathways for brands to connect with digital influencers through unique and innovative culinary events. Casey is so creative and enthusiastic. I have worked with her online a few times but this will be my first in person conference as a member of a team of influential bloggers.  Together we will be representing #TeamFreshSummit and taking PMA by storm.  Tweeting, sharing photos on Instagram, and writing blog posts about all the innovations we will see.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the foods that are closest to my heart. I drive my kids a bit crazy in my quest to get them to eat as healthy as possible. I can’t wait to see all the new foods and ideas at the show this week. More than 18,000 people are participating.  PMA Fresh Summit is the place that produce and floral industry leaders from all around the world converge to share ideas, breakthroughs and inspiration.  I will be a part of this excitement starting on Friday.  You know what else I am really excited about? Getting to hear Guy Kawasaki speak on the topic, The Art of Innovation. Can’t wait!

We have four sponsors who are helping to make the Kitchen Play #TeamFreshSummit trip possible.

Our four sponsors are:

HBF International: HBF International offers a wider selection of fresh berries under the Hurst’s Berry Farm brand than any other major berry shipper. From blackberries, kiwi-berries, and currants, to cranberries and blueberries. Buyers throughout the world recognize HBF as the year-round source for fresh berries.  HBF International’s mission statement of “Leadership, loyalty and excellence in berries from farm to market” is both a long-term vision and a daily practice that guides how we partner with growers and market their fresh berries throughout the world. 

Sun-Maid and Valley Fig: Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is the world’s largest producer of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits, including prunes, apricots, cranberries, cherries, figs, dates, and yogurt raisins.  For 100 years, Sun-Maid raisins have been one of the most accepted consumer packages in households worldwide and the “red box” has always had just one ingredient:  California Seedless Raisins.  Sun-Maid products provide everything the 21st century consumer is looking for:  nutrition, quality, convenience, taste, value, and trust.

Outrageously Fresh!:  The Outrageously Fresh—Greenest Greenhouse growers of SunSelect and Divemex represent Oppy’s diversified, year-round greenhouse program. Over 900 acres in Canada, USA and Mexico including Organic, Fair Trade certified, Non-GMO, Sustainable and Carbon Capture growing, set us apart. Core products include: Sweet Bell/Mini Peppers; TOV, Grape/Cherry/Gourmet Snack Mix, and Cocktail tomatoes; Long English/Mini Cucumbers.

If you want to follow along live, and be able to see all the cool new products that I am seeing, you should follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I will be posting many photos and updates there.  I will also be sharing my favorite finds from PMA Fresh Summit here on the blog.

Tonight at 9:00PM EST we are having a Twitter party. You can join in and win some prizes from our #TeamFreshSummit sponsors. Not only will we have many prizes, we will also have lots of information about the PMA Fresh Summit as well as produce news. Reserve your spot in our twitter party by clicking HERE to be eligible for prizes. Kitchen PLAY is very excited to be hosting this Twitter party to introduce the 2015 Fresh Summit sponsors. We’ll talk about these delicious brands and how they are continuously innovating to bring great tasting produce to your table throughout the year.

As a member of #TeamFreshSummit I received a media pass to attend Fresh Summit as well as compensation for social media activity to promote the event and our sponsors. All opinions and thoughts are completely my own.

I also have an amazing team that is joining me as members of #TeamFreshSummit and you should follow all of them as well.