As we’ve previously mentioned, we had a fantastic time attending the 3rd annual Viva Fresh Expo. This year was exceptional with the addition of 10 talented Aggies walking the show floor, eager to find internships, apprenticeships and full-time positions in the fresh produce industry. Following the show, we asked to hear their thoughts from their experience. Here is how the Aggies for Fresh students felt attending their first trade show in the fresh produce industry!
Viva Fresh Expo According to the 2017 Aggies for Fresh
Shelby
After interning in the fresh produce industry and having a passion for fresh food, I knew that attending the Viva Fresh Expo would be something I needed to attend. I was so ecstatic when I found out that I would be one of the students attending. I didn’t know what to expect come the first day of our trip, but I was really excited to meet everyone. The first thing we did was attend an opening luncheon to kick off the expo. I felt so honored walking to the front of the room and sitting with the DMA Solutions team and the rest of the Aggies for Fresh. After being introduced on stage, I couldn’t wait to start meeting industry leaders. My favorite part of the trip was walking around the show floor and meeting members of several different companies within the industry. Every single person I came in contact with had such a welcoming personality and a want to tell me about what they do, and the impact they make on the industry. Thank you to everyone who took their time to speak with me during the show, the work that you all do is so rewarding and I’m grateful to have gotten to meet all of you. This trip solidified my desire to be a part of the fresh produce industry. I want to thank Dan’l Almy and the rest of the DMA Solutions team for taking their time to mentor us and making this opportunity possible. I knew that I wanted to continue to pursue a career in this industry and the doors this trip opened for me are endless.
Ashley
As soon as I learned about the Viva Fresh Expo experience, I applied. I thought this would be one of the best learning experiences of my college career, and I was right. This experience could not have come at a better time for me. I am a graduating senior with an agriculture degree, but I was not sure where to go with my degree. After attending the Viva Fresh Expo, I know the fresh produce industry is the place for me. I fell in love with the industry on the first day of the expo. I could not get over what a sexy industry the fresh produce industry is and how passionate everyone is about it. My entire life I have dreamed of finding a job that I am truly passionate about, and now I know this is where I need to be. Thank goodness this happened to me before I graduate or who knows where I would’ve ended up. The expo itself was a huge learning experience. Getting to meet with professionals from around the country and have a casual conversation with them was uplifting. They look at us students as the future of the industry! What large shoes to fill. But that was the first moment that I realized that I need to be a part of this. The fresh produce industry is forever growing and needs young minds straight out of school.
McKenna
My passion for the fresh produce industry was sparked when I found myself searching for a healthy lifestyle. I was struggling with acne, eczema, and allergies for years and as a last resort, switched to a plant based diet. I was amazed. All of my health concerns were gone within two weeks and I haven’t looked back since. If this lifestyle helped me so much, I knew it could help others. When I found my cure, I also found my passion. I applied for the Aggies for Fresh scholarship without very high hopes because I am only 19. I would have been the youngest recipient yet. To my disbelief, I was one of ten Aggies to be awarded the experiential scholarship of a lifetime. We met so many great people who were interested in us and our passions that wanted to see us succeed. We attended educational speeches and presentations about everything from the growth of the industry to all that goes into growing plants in a greenhouse. I love this industry because it is ethical, morally sound and is helping people and the environment. The overwhelming perception I gathered was that the industry is friendly, welcoming and working towards the greater good, to provide food to the world. I learned that everybody has a story and has worked hard to get where they are today. That is something I want to be a part of. I left with a feeling of belonging and an even stronger desire to start working. I know I would never stop learning and there would always be something new and exciting in the works. How can it get boring when you’re working with Mother Nature? I walked away with more than three heavy bags of fruit and the experience of a lifetime under my belt that really was the start of my career and the rest of my life.
Anna
Two years ago, I had no idea about the fresh produce industry — what it is, how it worked, or even that it existed. During one of my classes that year, Dan’l Mackey Almy attended one of my classes at Texas A&M as a guest speaker to talk about the fresh produce industry. I didn’t know then, but that would change my life. During her lecture she talked about her journey to founding DMA solutions and Aggies for fresh. However, what really caught my attention was when she called fresh produce “sexy”. I’ve never thought of the fresh produce as sexy, but I’m glad she did because it fits perfectly. In a world of artificial foods, fresh produce is enticing, beautiful, and natural. Dan’l helped me discover an industry with purpose and passion and from then on, I’ve been driven to find my place within it. The opportunity to accompany the DMA team to the 2017 Viva Fresh Expo in Austin was such a blessing. Leading up to expo, I was excited and nervous. The DMA team prepared us well but still, I didn’t know what to expect. My passion was fresh produce and I knew that’s where I wanted to be but I was nervous that once exposed to the whole industry I wouldn’t find my place. Once at Viva Fresh however, all my anxieties disappeared. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to share their passion for the fresh produce. I didn’t meet a single person with something bad to say about the industry. The excitement in the room during the expo definitely rubbed off on me and I felt right at home. Being a $55 Billion industry makes it HUGE, but the love everyone has for what they do seem to bring everyone together to create massive family.
Forrest
I was honored to be chosen to attend the Viva Fresh Expo. For a long time I have felt that I was the only one who had a burning passion for fruits, vegetables, and a healthy lifestyle. I was pleasantly surprised to meet others at the expo with the same passion. I heard quotes from people like, “love the food that loves you back” and “let thy food be thy medicine” as these are quotes in which I live my life by. The people that I met were very welcoming and made feel like we were long lost friends. When the expo began I was surprised by how many people wanted to meet me just because I am a young man with some interest in the fresh produce industry. These people involved in the industry wanted to get to know me, they were curious as to why young people are interested in the produce industry, and this made them excited. If you are interested in the produce industry you have to attend this event or at least try to, the contacts that you will make along with the experience you will have are well worth your time, and will improve your chance of success in the future in whatever industry you decide to pursue. I couldn’t’ be more thankful for the opportunity I was given.
Victor
As the population around the world grows, the produce industry will continue to grow. The Viva Fresh Expo showed me how I could impact this industry. One way I could do that is in Food Safety, I want to make sure our produce is safe to consume for our consumers. As graduation is approaching, I now have a better idea of what I want to do in my field of Food Science and Technology. The Viva Fresh Expo opened my eyes to realize how much the produce industry has grown over the years. Now that consumers are becoming more health conscious, we need more produce than ever. I hope one day I could make some kind of impact and look forward to learning more about the industry. I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to attend Viva Fresh and I hope one day I am a part of this amazing industry making a difference.
Ashely
My last semester of college, I was scrambling around trying to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had narrowed it down to “sales” but that was still a huge field. Some told me that if you liked sales, it would not matter what you are selling. I beg to differ, I wanted to love what I was selling and I wanted to support it 100%. I want the people I sell to, to buy it from me because they know that I genuinely support the product. I kept searching and searching for this miracle industry, with no luck. When I arrived to Viva Fresh, everyone I met was cheerful, passionate, and genuine. The moment I walked into the exhibit hall, I knew at that moment that that is where I wanted to be. Walking around the floor and getting to meet many of the industry members only confirmed my feelings. I had finally found where I was meant to be – fresh produce.
Gabrielle
The Viva Fresh Expo was amazing. Before walking in we were constantly being stopped by people who wanted to help us not only grow our knowledge of this industry but to meet and discuss potential careers. As someone who wants to go into marketing I was in heaven on the show floor. Every single booth was so unique and different in their set up. You could tell who the target customer was from how they were presenting their product. You legitimately felt like you were walking into their world. All in all this experience was incredible and I am forever grateful to have been chosen to be part of it. I can honestly say I found my fit. I left the conference with such an appreciation for just how the food on my plate got there, as well as having lifelong friends from this program. I’m really excited to see where all of my peers end up and some probably working the show next year. Hopefully after my education with grad school is complete, I can take that final leap into working full time in this industry.
Victoria
I felt very fortunate to see the people and companies that work together to make fresh food available to us. The joint efforts of growers, packers and distributors to make quality products accessible to people domestically and abroad are admirable, since special care must be given to these perishable products so they may reach consumers at their best. Another great aspect of attending this tradeshow was the great variety of companies that we were able to speak to. I was able to talk with representatives of companies that were not only based in Texas, but from all over the U.S. as well as from Mexico. Many of them had locations multinational, making conversations about these companies’ processing and distribution even more interesting due to the types of products they handle. To sum up, attending the Viva Fresh Expo allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how the fresh produce industry works than that of which was introduced to me in a classroom setting. I feel very fortunate to have been chosen to attend this year’s tradeshow. I would make the recommendation to students whose study emphasis is in any fresh produce, agriculture related area of studies to consider attending this event; especially if it is with the guidance of the DMA Solutions’ Aggies for Fresh group.
Jonathan
Since the expo, I have had great fun doing research on the companies I made contact with and keeping contact with many that share mutual interest. I have also tried to spread the word of Aggies for Fresh within my department through advisors, clubs, and really anyone who will listen. Students interested in growing/production seemed to be quite underrepresented, so I hope to get more agronomy and soil science students interested in the fresh produce industry. I’d like to close by thanking the DMA Solutions team, without your hard work and interest in the future of the fresh produce industry this great event would not have been possible for us lucky students. Without your passion for creating opportunity in this industry, Aggies for Fresh would not have been possible and we would not have had the Viva Fresh experience. Thank you for this chance to get a foot in the door and for caring about who we were as individuals and how we can fit into the future of fresh. I hope to help spread the word to fellow Aggies about the Aggies for Fresh organization and to enlighten others about “choosing fresh.”
To say the industry left an impression on these students is just the tip of the iceberg! If you had the opportunity to connect with these students, we would love to hear from you! Also, make sure to check out our Internship Guide to ensure your future internships are top-notch!
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