THE Produce Marketing Association Australia New Zealand's Fresh Connections event in Brisbane today put into practice one of its key themes- use innovation to reach the consumer.
The conference's hashtag (#PMAFC) began trending on Twitter as delegates "tweeted" comments, questions and photographs during the conference.
The three-day conference has brought together a crowd of more than 800, made up of growers, marketers, researchers and fresh produce supply chain stakeholders.
The prominent social media presence from the conference itself was reinforcement for the various speakers that encouraged producers to make the most of social media networks by telling their stories and presenting a picture of fresh produce.
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Senator Anne Ruston opened the conference by announcing harmonised audit requirements across the major supermarket retailers.
The project, reported to be a world first and funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) will see Aldi, Coles, Costco, Metcash (IGA) and Woolworths agree to a streamlined food safety audit system.
She also used the occasion to announce the six-month moratorium on the federal government's proposed backpacker tax.
Business expert and international advisor Michael Jackson was one of the first speakers, delivering an address on future business growth and the "road ahead".
He said business growth was largely based on looking to the future.
"What is the 'unique' in your business?" Mr Jackson said.
"To uncover that is need to focus on the road ahead. There are no road signs here that are going to help you navigate.
"The windscreen is in proportion to the size of the rear vision mirror. We spend too long looking backwards."
Mr Jackson used the substantial growth in China as an example of a country or business embracing key strategies, including identifying what's important; eliminating everything else; then automate, delegate or ask for help.
Mr Jackson said the old adage of "the more things change the more things stay the same" was dated and didn't apply anymore, particularly to business.
"The only thing holding us back from discovering new opportunities is ourselves," Mr Jackson said.
Other speakers addressed the current profile of the supermarket industry and making in-roads to Asia.
PMA Fresh Connections continues tomorrow with a trade show and then on Thursday with a special interest group day.
Ashley Walmsley
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
Ashley Walmsley is the editor of ACM's only national, fresh produce magazine, Good Fruit & Vegetables, while also covering horticulture stories for the agricultural papers and websites. He also writes the weekly, The Ringer, column in the Qld Country Life.
