2010 Conference presentations

• The Thick and Thin of it

• In a forthright address, Ian Dale, one of Britain’s leading political commentators and bloggers, challenged the industry to take its cause to the government and lobby hard to influence the mindset of incoming, “ill-informed” ministers. He said the trade needs to put aside “long-winded whinges” and offer solutions to achieve industry goals.

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• Reading Consumer Minds

• Michael Freedman, senior consumer analyst at the IGD, outlined key challenges facing the fresh produce industry as it battles to stay one step ahead of consumer trends.

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• Buy Locally, Eat Globally

• The afternoon session brought four presentations which showed delegates that UK consumers’ newfound interest in food is here to stay, that fresh produce promotion is a common cause but we need to be wary of issue fatigue.

• Sarah Pettitt, chairman of the Horticulture Board, NFU
• Maria José Sevilla, chief executive, Foods from Spain
• Pam Lloyd, managing director, Pam Lloyd PR
• Harriet Lamb, executive director, and Mark Varney, head of business development (food), Fairtrade Foundation.
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• Panel Discussion

• The panel agreed that consolidation and co-ordination among the different fresh produce bodies and associated certifications in the UK would be the way forward to establishing a sustainable future for all links of the supply chain.

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