PMA Foodservice Conference to Highlight Member Success Stories and Social Responsibility
MONTEREY, CA - This Saturday, PMA Foodservice goers will have the opportunity to listen to an important discussion on marketing and social responsibility led by Steve Gill of Gills Onions and Dan Hermstad of Jacobs Farm. Together with Corinne Asturias from the research firm CEB Iconoculture, and Jane Frank from SCS Global Services, they will be discussing how businesses can best connect with a consumer base which is placing increasing importance on the environment and social responsibility.
“Consumers today want more information about how their products are made to make sure the practices of producers and brands align with their own values,” says Asturias. “Mentally they have moved from shareholder in a brand to stakeholder.”
Gills Onions is a shining star for these types of modern consumers, having developed the facilities to turn the waste products from their processing plant into electricity as far back as 2009.
“Gills Onions is committed to continuous process improvement in all areas of sustainability as we enter the second decade of the century,” Gill shares on Gill Onions' website. “Achieving zero waste, improving water conservation, and even developing effective nutraceuticals from onion waste are all achievable goals in the near term. We’re excited about our future.”
For his part, Dan Hermstad plans on sharing the philosophy and practices of Jacobs Farm, a grower which has been leading the way in social responsibility initiatives for the last 30 years.
“Fair trade certification, direct trade and all things related to social responsibility are the latest buzz and we think it’s important to share our story,” says Hermstad. “We’ve created 3 different farmer cooperatives in Baja California and multiple other farmer businesses to produce high quality, organic food that is safe for consumers as well as the people who grow it.”
The group will be giving their talk on Saturday, July 26th at the PMA Food Conference. According to a press release, the Conference will also feature other talks on a variety of subjects close to the industry, including global flavor trends, food safety and big data. Check out PMA's website for more information on this and other Conference events.
