Dive Brief:
- Ready-Pac Foods and the Produce Marketing Association are expanding a recruitment program aimed at attracting young people to the global produce industry.
- Forty college students from 13 universities in the U.S., Chile, South Africa, and Australia will attend the PMA Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in Anaheim, CA, in October, and tour industry facilities in California.
- PMA is now in the tenth year of its Career Pathways program, which promotes the industry to college students.
Dive Insight:
Back in 2004 when PMA launched the Career Pathways initiative, the produce industry was a bit of a tough sell. Technology and finance jobs were attracting the best and the brightest. And although it's hard to remember now, the foodie culture was in its infancy then.
But with the rising popularity of food industry jobs, there are all-new challenges for the produce industry. Now it's not a question of finding someone, anyone who would consider working for you. Now the trick is to attract the best of the best to your company. Given that, it's wise of PMA to keep bringing college kids to Career Pathways events.