This was the seventh year that the Produce Marketing Association’s Center for Growing Talent put on the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference (WFPC) – a unique event created by women, for women. It was a happy coincidence that NatureFresh™ Farms decided to send seven strong female team members to attend this year’s empowering event.
With this year’s theme being ‘I Will’, the WFPC organizers encouraged their female attendees to take actionable steps towards making a difference for themselves and their organizations. Through leadership training and engaging workshops informed by and focused on women’s perspectives, attendees were encouraged to achieve personal and professional growth while networking with like-minded women in the industry.
With endless learning opportunities packed into a three-day event, it was no surprise that we all needed some time to decompress and work through digesting all the valuable information shared with us. From the best moments of the conference to the most valuable lessons learned, check out our reflections and key takeaways below!
Our Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference Experience
Leigh Ann B., Logistics Manager
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
I think it’s important to have women attend an event like this because agriculture has historically been a very male-dominant business, so it’s great for women in the industry to come together as a group, collaborate, and share our triumphs and obstacles!
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
For me, I think the biggest takeaway is everyone has things going on in their everyday life – some more than others – but it’s how we choose to deal with those issues that makes all the difference. We can choose to become a victim of circumstance or to rise above it all and propel to greatness!
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
My favorite part? That’s too hard to choose! I would say Rachel Hollis and Carla Harris’ talks, as well as having the opportunity to bond with team members who I otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance to get to know (because many of us work at different countries or facilities from one another).
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL be a strong, confident and great leader!
Nicole H., Food Safety / Maintenance Administrator
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
It is important for women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event to gain or enhance their skills to maneuver the ever-changing positions in the industry itself. Events like this offer support and networking – something that is very important and such a useful tool!
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
The most important message I took home from this conference was that we as women in the industry are making big moves. We have grown significantly in this day and age, and we continue to make positive forward advancements. The sky is the limit for our ideas and success.
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
My favorite part of the WFPC experience was the opportunity to meet with the vendors face to face that supply us with our packaging, as well as meeting new people from other companies and hearing their perspectives and points of view. It was interesting to talk with these women about their products and production styles, as well as discuss how they handle their concerns inside their company and work towards successful resolution and positive impact for not only their communities but also for their customers across the country.
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL take more risks personally and professionally. What this means is, professionally, I will push my ideas out into the open, voice my thoughts and opinions in tactful yet effective ways to make a positive and productive movement forward and shed light on those who also desire their ideas to be heard. Personally, I will be more outgoing and confident because I know I can succeed in anything I put my mind to! To put fear and insecurity aside and embrace what life has to offer at all times so I can lead a productive and exciting life.
Susie W., Quality Assurance Manager
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
I think it is important for women in the industry to attend this event because it provides the platform to meet people face to face in your field, exchange details, and chat about how you might work together in the future.
The keynote speakers and workshops stimulate new ideas that you can bring back to the company to change the perspective on old ways of thinking and working.
The amount of knowledge that is shared during this event is astronomical and had me leaving empowered and with a fire in me to make changes I wasn’t even aware I needed to make.
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
There were so many great messages, but if I had to just choose one it would have to be from our Master Class with Carla Harris. The whole session was fantastic!
“Your authenticity is your distinct competitive advantage”
- Perception is key to success
- Performance alone will not advance your career
- Just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you should – you will burn out
- For every ‘I will’ there is an ‘I won’t’ (Rachel Hollis)
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
Favorite part of my experience from the WFPC was the keynote speakers, they were all so impactful!
The first night there was an unforgettable part of my experience at the WFPC. The networking event that was put together for all the attendees was the perfect icebreaker to kick off our networking for the remainder of the conference.
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL let go of the small tasks and trust that my team can and will succeed.
Vania V., Human Resources Manager
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
The fresh produce industry has historically been a male-dominant industry, but now, we are seeing more and more females in the produce industry. These female empowerment conferences bring all these talented women together to empower them and allow them to share experiences from their journeys, so they can keep succeeding in the industry. I was personally able to gather many shared experiences from other women at this conference and expand my network for employers that have H2A programs. I also have started to implement some of the things I learned from the speeches!
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
That we all face similar challenges, that there are many talented women in this industry finding success within their organizations, and that the sky is the limit.
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
All the speakers were amazing – I was able to take something from each speaker and implement it in my daily life.
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL walk into a room like I own it – if I am where I am, it is because I work hard for it.
Amber R., Sales / Retail Account Administrator
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
It’s important for women to attend this type of event for their personal growth, their company’s growth, and the opportunities there are for networking with other women in the industry!
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
The most important message I took away from the conference is that you can’t let what you already know hold you back from what you could know. This was a point that all the keynote speakers touched on!
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
Rachel Hollis – her energy, personality, and drive made her engaging and easy to listen to, and hearing her story about her starting off in a poor family with only a high school education was very inspirational!
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL start looking ahead instead of living day by day.
Brittany M., Marketing Coordinator
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
No matter what their position, field, age, or goals – every woman should be given the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally at events just like the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference. There are issues that affect women in unique ways, so it is important to offer all women the tools, training, and networks needed to navigate those unique circumstances. The fact that this specific conference is also designed for women in the fresh produce industry makes it that much more of a “can’t-be-missed”, one-of-a-kind experience.
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
I think one of my biggest takeaways was that no matter where we work, we all face similar struggles and challenges, but that means that it’s that much more important for women to lean on each other for support and advice. That way, we can all grow and help one another conquer.
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
My favorite part of the conference was the speakers. We had some incredibly powerful, thought-provoking women speak to us about confidence, ambition, problem-solving, and authenticity, and even though their messages were similar in many ways, their delivery was completely unique and unbelievably engaging. I left each keynote feeling full of energy and inspired to do some self-searching.
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I WILL be confident in pursuing all my goals, both personal and professional.
Luci F., Purchasing & Product Development Specialist
Q1: Why is it important for more women in the fresh produce industry to attend this type of event?
It is important for women to be empowered and inspired by other professional women in the same industry. Also, the program is specifically designed for women in fresh produce and focuses on women’s perspectives, so it covers a variety of challenges and issues that are unique to women. This event was very valuable to both my personal and professional growth.
Q2: What’s the most important message that you are taking home from this conference?
The most important message I took away was that confidence is not something you are born with, but it’s something you build, and confidence is one of the important factors that leads to success in your life.
Q3: What was your favorite part of your WFPC experience?
Connecting with co-workers whom I don’t usually have a chance to get to know, and having Rachel Hollis as a speaker at the event!
Q4: Coming home from the conference, what is your ‘I Will’ statement?
I will continue to work on building up my self-confidence.
A Conference Like No Other
With passionate speakers, engaging workshops, and a likeminded group of women to network with, the Women’s Fresh Perspectives Conference allowed its attendees to quickly turn ‘We Will’ into actionable goals – we will strive for greatness, we will grow personally and professionally, we will dream big, and we will define our own measurements for success.
Thank you to everyone who made the event such a great success – we can’t wait to see you next year!
