The Grocery Manufacturers Association and local officials discussed job creation in the industry at the facility, which the GMA called one of the fastest-growing providers of manufacturing jobs in the Lehigh Valley. Pamela G. Bailey, CEO of the association, spoke at the kickoff of the Grocery Manufacturers Power America tour. "The grocery manufacturing sector is our nation's single largest source of manufacturing jobs, employing 2.1 million Americans in 30,000 communities across the country," Bailey said. "In Pennsylvania alone, grocery manufacturing companies like Freshpet, Furmano's Foods and Bimbo Bakeries provide over 65,000 local workers with jobs." Billy Cyr, CEO of Freshpet, said he was "delighted" to be the first stop on the tour recognizing the importance of grocery manufacturing jobs. "Freshpet is proud to be a top employer in the Lehigh Valley, and we're looking forward to continuing to create high-quality jobs as we execute on our growth strategy," he said.