Fresno State is hosting a reception for students, faculty and alumni attending the annual Produce Marketing Association Fresh Summit Expo and Conference  in Anaheim. The Fresno State Alumni Party will be held 8:30-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 on the fifth floor Outdoor Pool Deck Bar & Grill at The Hilton-Anaheim.

The Ag One Foundation, Enzo Olive Oil Company, MJR Creative Group and RJO Produce will host the party following the summit’s opening reception. Attendees will enjoy award-winning Fresno State wine and a hosted bar while watching the end of Fresno State’s football game at Boise State. The event is free to attend.

Alumni Vincent Ricchiuti, of Enzo Olive Oil, and Mike Rolph, of MJR Creative Group, forged the idea to unify the University’s presence at the event. With Fresno State’s strong agriculture community, Ricchiuti and Rolph said it will benefit alumni, students and friends to engage together with agricultural industry leaders.

Rob and John O’Rourke of RJO Produce are among the Fresno State alumni who will be attending the conference and engaging with current students.

“For the past nearly 30 years, one of the most rewarding aspects to our business at RJO Produce has been the work we have done with hundreds of agribusiness students at Fresno State through our Bird Dog Inspection Program,” said Rob O’Rourke. “We are as committed as ever to help educate these future leaders by providing real-world, on-the-ground experience that today’s fresh produce leaders seek.”

The PMA Fresh Summit attracts world leaders in the produce and floral industry to share ideas, innovations, breakthroughs and collaborations. With more than 20,000 attendees and participants, the event helps cultivate change, identify trends and open opportunities to the industry and young professionals.

This year, 40 students from Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology will attend the expo and participate in the alumni and friends gathering. Students will have the chance to make business connections, network professionally and experience one of the largest produce trade shows in the nation.

For more information or to RSVP for the opening reception, contact Shannon Fast at sfast@csufresno.edu.

(Copy by Jodi Raley, University Communications news assistant.)

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