PMA Announces Packaging Impact Winners and New Leadership Award

Four companies, representing five new products, were named the produce industry’s best packaging innovators receiving the association’s 10th annual Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging. Additionally, a new award is being established to honor the collaborative leadership style of retiring PMA CEO Bryan Silbermann. The Impact Award winners and new award weer announced PMA’s Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in October.

2016 Impact Award. The winners of the 2016 Impact Award, which recognizes exceptional produce and floral packaging that demonstrates innovation and makes an impact on consumers, are (in alphabetical order):

• Mann Packing Co. Inc., Salinas, Calif., for its Nourish Bowls
• Mastronardi Produce Ltd./SUNSET, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its Dill It Yourself Pickle Kit
• Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its CuteCumber Flow Wrap Re-seal
• Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its Smuccies Sweet Strawberries Top Seal Tray
• Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, Calif., for its Season & Steam Sweet Baby Broccoli

A panel of judges evaluated entries holistically, awarding points for excellence in five key areas: marketing, food safety, supply chain efficiency/functionality, sustainability and consumer convenience. The combined point totals from each of these areas determined the finalists and five packaging winners. The 15 remaining finalists were:

• Braga Fresh Family Farms, Soledad, Calif., for its Josie’s Organics Chopped Salad Kits
• Display Pack, Grand Rapids, Mich., for its Good Foods Grab & Go
• Fresh Solutions Network, San Francisco, for its Side Delights Flavorables
• Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, Calif., for its Watermelon Radishes
• Mastronardi Produce Ltd./SUNSET, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its SUNSET Organics 6-Ct. Pepper Bag
• Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its Fresh Mix Double Compartment Tray with Re-Sealable Label
• Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its Veggies-To-Go Clamshell
• Mucci Farms, Kingsville, Ontario, Canada, for its Tomato-X Clamshell
• NatureFresh Farms, Leamington, Ontario, Canada, for its The TomBox
• NatureSweet, San Antonio, Texas, for its Constellation Tomatoes
• Naturipe Farms, LLC, Estero, Fla., for its “Selections” Cranberries
• Pure Hothouse Foods Inc., Leamington, Ontario, Canada, for its Cloud 9 - The Irresistible Tomato
• RPE, Inc., Bancroft, Wis., for its Tasteful Selections Season and Savor
• RPE, Inc., Bancroft, Wis., for its Tasteful Selections Take and Shake
• Taylor Farms, Salinas, Calif., for its Chef Crafted, Taylor Clear

Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award. The Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award is being established in recognition of Silbermann’s 30-year career at PMA, including 20 years as its president. “Throughout his career, Bryan brought a collaborative spirit that engaged and motivated industry leaders to work together to create opportunities and solutions to challenges, so much so that collaboration has become a defining characteristic of PMA,” said PMA President Cathy Burns. “We want to honor Bryan with this award as PMA continues to expand its role as a prominent voice for the fresh produce and floral communities worldwide.”

The first award will be presented next year at PMA’s Fresh Summit Convention & Expo in New Orleans. A five-member panel of judges will select the recipient from nominations submitted by PMA members. It will recognize an individual for working with one or more people or organizations, including those outside the nominee’s own organization, to realize mutually beneficial solutions to an industry issue.

The annual award will honor an individual for a specific example of collaboration or for collaboration throughout a career, per the following criteria:

• Past or present PMA member.
• Significant collaborative volunteer contributions in service to solutions-based answers to industry issues.
• Conducts business within the global produce and/or floral industry supply chain with integrity, dedication and distinction.
• Provides motivational and inspirational leadership to advance the industry through the use of collaboration.

Award winners will receive the PMA Bryan E. Silbermann Collaboration Award engraved with his/her name presented at Fresh Summit along with a press release announcing the award and exposure on PMA’s website.