Conference connections and bonds of the fresh produce industry

Anyone remember the song, “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me”? As an old, “Hee Haw” TV show fan, I love the backwoods humor, as many times it does help to laugh to keep from crying.

In 2007, the retailer I worked for at the time had just been purchased by a larger company. If you’re the buy-er when this occurs, you’re in great shape. As for the buy-ee, well, you see the writing on the wall; it’s unlikely they’ll keep you, so it’s best to start looking.

And as the buy-ees, looking is what most of our staff was doing.

I scraped up some money to attend the Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit (now the International Fresh Produce Association), held in Houston that year. It was the big retail rendezvous of everyone who’s anyone in the produce business: growers, shippers, retailers, wholesalers, equipment manufacturers and packaging companies. If anything is connected with fresh produce, they are sure to be there, I thought — including headhunters or companies looking for a helping hand.

I thought this was the best place to pass out a few resumes and, you know, see what happens.

I had already been through a couple of interviews in my own backyard and beyond, with little response. Depressing. I suspect there’s more than a few out there who know what it’s like to use your last $20 for gas to go to a fruitless interview.

Since I went to Houston on my own dime, I had to be frugal. I took a late flight, arriving around midnight. Once there I endured an agonizing, zig-zagging shuttle with a very lost driver, finally checking into my hotel around 3 a.m.

The conference was exhausting enough. That seemed to set the tone.

I managed to score an entry badge from a sympathetic vendor. The PMA itself was incredible, as usual. I was able to speak with some people I knew and to a lot more people I didn’t know. I tried to engage with someone in every booth, with anyone willing to chat.

Though I was technically still employed, a person doesn’t know the pangs of desperation until you are faced with the unknown of the where-do-I-go from-here feeling. Especially for someone pushing 50.

It’s a slow burn, radiating through your core.

I’d been to plenty of PMA conferences before, but those were happier, no-pressure times. Those trips were fun — hangin’ with my peeps, trying to decide which perimeter event to attend or being drawn to whichever supplier was hosting the biggest rooftop festivity.

Those PMA events were about listening to keynote speakers, focusing on product lines to consider and seeing scores of items being unveiling for the first time.

Even in the dismal state of mind I was in, this was the produce show. With the IFPA held in Atlanta this year (Oct. 17-19), it remains a premier industry event. I encourage anyone who’s never been to attend at least once in their career.

I returned from the Houston conference empty-handed that year, but I was fortunate — blessed actually — to land on my feet once home. I didn’t score my most desired type of job at the time, mind you. It was temporary, but I was grateful to find work.

However, memories of the PMA/IFPA have always been positive, even that ’07 Houston trip.

It reinforced to me then — and now — that we’re a brotherhood-sisterhood type of industry and that the fresh produce world is, and always will be, my home.

Still, every year when I see the IFPA is on the horizon, like it is in Atlanta this month, it reminds me of that not-so-long ago Houston experience — of the bleak tinge that no one is immune to learning one day that your company has just been sold or exempt from finding a pink slip on your keyboard some morning. I’m just thankful that things worked out OK, and in fact, in the long run, more than just OK.

We’re all joined at the hip in this crazy business. Enjoy the IFPA, if that’s where you’re headed. You can never have enough friends to laugh with (or to keep from crying).
Armand Lobato works for the Idaho Potato Commission. His 40 years of experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions.

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