On Monday, I shared some information about PMA’s Fresh Connections: Yakima event that will focus on consumer trends and social media. Today, I’d like to mention a few Fresh Summit 2012 sessions that will also focus on social media marketing and sales opportunities for our industry.

You might recall last year at Fresh Summit we talked about how to connect with food bloggers, how to tell one’s story (be it food safety, sustainability, consumption, or otherwise), and how marketers can connect with consumers directly over social media. In 2012, Fresh Summit’s program will feature:

• It’s a Digital World—5 Simple Steps to Social Media Success. In this Friday, October 26 session, John Avola, founder and CEO of Social Good 360 will discuss how produce professionals can build relationships with consumers – especially in light of the statistic that shows 81 percent of shoppers’ purchasing decisions are influenced by people they know and the reality that more consumers are questioning where their food comes from, how their produce is grown, and are more aware of the benefits of eating a well-balanced diet. Participants will learn how to connect with their customers, build loyalty, increase sales, and create a profitable social media strategy in five simple steps that can be applied immediately. (Note: This session is designed as a ‘social media 101’ program for beginners; its follow-up and more advanced session is mentioned below.)
• Beyond Branding: Leveraging Social Media to Drive Sales. Scheduled after a short break for the session above, this workshop will help attendees understand revenue opportunities and how social media works with traditional media to speak to today’s consumer. Participants will gain the tools necessary to integrate social media into their current business practices and begin to monetize these efforts immediately. Speaking during this session is Carisa Miklusak, CEO of tMedia Strategies.

You can learn more about the 2012 Fresh Summit program by visiting our website. Also, if you’re planning to attend, be sure to register on or before September 21 to receive early registration rates. There are a number of event registration packages available; get complete details on these options.

There’s also a Fresh Summit Community on PMA Xchange where you can learn more about this year’s show, as well as look back at sessions from the 2011 event.

Tags: Consumption, Fresh Summit

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