With these generous contributions, the PMA Foundation has been able to...

• Build our Career Pathways programs which bring college students from targeted universities with targeted fields of study to produce industry events. What started out several years ago as one program, the Pack Family/PMA Career Pathways program at the PMA Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition, has blossomed into several more programs which annually bring students to the New England Produce Council Expo in April, the Fresh Produce and Floral Council Expo in July and the PMA Foodservice Conference in July.
• Develop student outreach programs allowing the industry to volunteer as ambassadors to students at industry events, visit universities to speak on the industry's behalf, become career mentors, distribute literature detailing career opportunities in the produce industry, and create their own internship and scholarship programs.
• Employ resources to connect companies with students via the Fresh Summit Career Fair and an online career bank, as well as with young professionals and other targeted groups in the produce industry.
• Enhance events which bring the most talented minds in our industry together with additional networking opportunities, sharpened programming and outstanding speakers. These events include the PMA Leadership Symposium and the Fresh Perspectives series dedicated to networking and leadership for women in the produce industry.
• Create the PMA Leadership Institute which will become the industry's premier growth and development tool for all levels of talent. This series of leadership development programs are being designed to enhance the leadership skills of those who lead today and prepare those who will lead tomorrow.
• Cultivate a young professionals' network to allow the members to continue their professional development while developing camaraderie among peers. This network will include those who have gone through the Career Pathways programs as well as others in the produce industry who are seeking professional development and enthusiastic about making a contribution to the future of their industry.
• Provide Human Resource tools including an expert body of knowledge on retention best practices and business cultures, an online HR community and an awards program recognizing progressive companies in areas of employee retention.