Produce and politics, retail insight, plus AFM's Super Bowl campaign

The Packer's Tom Karst, Amy Sowder and Ashley Nickle discuss key topics of the week, including federal policy and leadership changes affecting produce; insight from multiple produce retail executives at West Coast Produce Expo; and Avocados From Mexico's new Super Bowl strategy featuring Troy Aikman and Erin Andrews. For more on these topics, check out the following articles: Leaders look to new political era, hope for immigration reform — Issues that are important to the industry include immigration reform, expanded trade and continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is too early, industry leaders said, to predict how Biden will approach those challenges, and if he will be successful. Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews: Game days call for Avocados from Mexico — The campaign, Make The Big Game Your Bowl Game, is Avocados From Mexico’s first in-store celebrity shopper engagement program and is available for free to all grocery retailers. Focus on fundamentals, says Rouses produce director — How can retailers engage their communities with events that excite shoppers about produce during a pandemic in its ninth month? Michael Schutt of Raley's talks e-commerce at WCPE — Michael Schutt discussed at the West Coast Produce Expo his company’s growing online business and his experience with navigating the pandemic as he has transitioned into a new role. Jeff Cady talks leadership, key attributes for produce roles at WCPE — Jeff Cady shared his takeaways on how 2020 has developed him as a leader, which characteristics are essential for different produce roles, and opportunities he’s taken to continue his development and that of his team. Consumer retail habits, reshaped by pandemic, aren’t changing soon — The consumer’s wild ride through the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet, according to Steve Lutz, senior vice president of insights and innovations for Category Partners.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.