Hi everyone! I wanted to start this blog post off by saying “Thank You” to all of you! I appreciate the love, support, and encouragement that each of you have offered me along this journey.

October has been another busy month; with meetings, conferences, conventions, office duties and much more. I was fortunate enough to attend the Produce Marketing Association conference (PMA) again this year. PMA hosts the PMA Fresh Summit and Expo every year which I feel is the largest convention of the year. This year the PMA convention had over 25,000 attendees. (Seriously, it’s nonsense!) CPAC was fortunate enough to have a booth space within the Colorado Department of Ag Pavilion at the show. Throughout the two-day expo we are able to talk to many people in the produce industry from buyers and logistic companies to dietitians and media/press.  It is so much fun (honestly) and so interesting to have the opportunity to talk to so many people throughout the produce industry in such a short amount of time. Another grand perk to attending the PMA Expo is the fact that every (or almost every) produce company, including companies from outside of the US (Mexico, Guatemala to Chile to name a few) come and served new innovative samples of delicious fruits and veggies!

The 2019 PMA Fresh Summit and Expo was a success from Colorado Potatoes; not only did I eat half my body weight in Washington apples, but also, I was able to connect with many great people and help get them excited about Colorado Potatoes! (People were seeking us out, because they love CO Potatoes! There were great conversations and connections made.

Another awesome project that I get to be a part of is the GFPP in Denver. What is GFPP? It’s the Good Food Purchasing Program. As the City of Denver begins to analyze the need for a GFPP and the way that it could be implemented throughout the city; it has been so rewarding and beneficial that CPAC has a seat at the table. At our most recent meeting, we had the opportunity to hear from great professionals, along with sharing the room with buyers, growers, ranchers, and others. I have enjoyed being among these business professionals and talking about one of my favorite things; food! 🙂

This past week has been another fun time for the CPAC office. We were able to host the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) Annual Retreat in the San Luis Valley! It was such a treat to have the CFVGA members in the Valley and be able to chat with them at a dinner meeting one evening. It is humbling to work with veggie growers everyday, but being able to meet and mingle with other fruit and vegetable professionals is beyond rewarding!

I think as a consumer, I often forget how hard working, risky, and rewarding the work of a grower is. Farmers and ranchers work 365 days a year to ensure that we, as consumers, have affordable, quality and safe products easily accessible. As I continue to attend conferences, meetings and have conversations with growers of all types, I am continually reminded of how fortunate I am to be able to work for these individuals. I am thankful for the opportunity that I have to be present and to represent the Colorado Potato Industry.

Happy Halloween, y’all!

xoxo,

Jess