Report explores COVID-19 impacts on fresh produce industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 19 June 2020

Melbourne, Victoria: The PMA A-NZ State of the Industry Report 2020 has been released to the fresh produce industry, identifying the trends and drivers that will affect the industry in a post-pandemic world.

Changing consumer purchasing habits, redefining occupational health and safety and consumer interest in food safety have been flagged as the major drivers of change across the fresh produce supply chain in the “new normal”.

“COVID-19 has driven change at a rapid pace, affecting the way we work, live, eat, move and use technology,” said Darren Keating, CEO at the Produce Marketing Association Australia-New Zealand (PMA A-NZ).

During the COVID-19 lockdown, consumers purchasing habits have changed, shifting away from the convenience trend that had been gaining momentum in the industry.

“Consumers are tending to have one major grocery shop during the week, rather than the 3-4 visits prior to the pandemic. The general public is cooking at home more, experimenting with new fruits and vegetables, and nothing suggests that trend will stop when restaurants and foodservice return to normal,” Keating said.

With widespread concerns about public health, food safety has now become a major focus for consumers and the buying public.

“Consumers want assurances about the origin and integrity of produce, plus evidence that food production, handling and preparation practises meet acceptable hygiene standards,” Keating said.

“In addition to this, the way workplaces operate will change. OH&S requirements are no longer just about physical safety, but also the health-related safety of employees. This will necessitate significant reviews and redesign of facilities, equipment and amenities along the entire fresh produce supply chain.”

The drivers of change as a result of COVID-19 reflect the mega trends that PMA A-NZ highlighted and explored in the State of the Industry Report 2019.

“The trends and drivers identified as a result of COVID-19 are the same as we have been living for a number of years, but what COVID-19 has done is accelerate and re-prioritise them.”

“Trends that we had seen as slow burners that were to be prominent in shaping our future are here now. We’ve seen the rapid adoption of communication technology and online shopping, but have also had a reset in the way we view food safety and OH&S.”

PMA A-NZ, the leading fresh produce industry association, launched the State of the Industry Report 2020 on 17 June. The report is available at www.pma-anz.com.

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About PMA A-NZ: PMA Australia & New Zealand is Australia’s largest industry association for fresh produce. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, PMA A-NZ serves members in both countries by connecting members with the ideas and people that make their problems smaller and opportunities bigger, through industry events, networking, research and resources.