Innovative produce packaging recognized

Five companies were named as the produce industry's best packaging innovators by the Produce Marketing Association (PMA), receiving the association's fifth annual PMA Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging.

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The packaging entries were judged on a set of five criteria with 28 finalists selected for final judging. Submissions earned points for excellence were marketing, food safety, supply chain efficiency/functionality, sustainability and, new this year, consumer convenience. 

The 2011 Impact Award winners were: 

"PMA founded its Impact Award program in recognition of the important role packaging plays in connecting with consumers, enhancing food safety, sustaining the environment, and improving supply chain efficiencies," said Bryan Silbermann, President and CEO, Produce Marketing Association. "We're pleased to highlight those who have demonstrated such innovative thinking." 

The award program is designed to help promote excellence in produce or floral packaging. In total, PMA received 53 entries this year from which the 28 finalists were selected to be reviewed by a panel of expert judges who chose the winners. 

The judges, from a diverse range of industry experience, were: Bridget Bennett, category manager/produce for the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCa); Kip Martin, produce and floral supervisor for Raley's Family of Fine Stores; Ron McCormick, senior director of local and sustainable sourcing for WalMart; Pamela Riemenschneider, editor of Produce Retailer magazine and retail editor of The Packer and  Bob Whitaker, PMA's chief science & technology officer.