More than 170 participants gathered at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel on April 5 & 6 for PMA Fresh Connections: Retail that was unlike any other industry event.

That’s because attendees themselves determined the program agenda and led discussion sessions. 

The event began with an optional early-morning tour, during which participants got a first-hand look at the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, one of the country’s most sophisticated food import and distribution hubs.

PMA CEO Cathy Burns began the Fresh Connections: Retail program with a kickoff session that addressed trends, challenges and opportunities for fresh produce in the retail space. Cathy set the stage for the day’s conversation about how the consumer’s desire for convenience and quality is driving our industry.

Next, Bill Aal of UnConference.net introduced attendees to the concept of an UnConference, a peer-to-peer learning model that replaced the standard format of speakers on the stage. Bill encouraged attendees to identify topics they wanted to cover and to convene discussion groups to tackle those topics in various ways.

These lively working sessions connected grower/shippers, business solution providers, and retailers—and yielded practical ideas that attendees could implement in their businesses.