Produce Talks

At the CPMA Annual Convention Ron Lemaire, CPMA and John Stackhouse from RBC held a fireside chat to explore the current state of the North American agri-food and produce market. They delve into key issues such as macroeconomic trends affecting supply chains, ongoing trade and market access challenges for agri-food, and the ripple effects of volatile stock markets on industry investment. They also examine the shifting retail and consumer behaviours in a potentially high-inflation environment, along with sustainability pressures, labour shortages, and logistics constraints that continue to shape the industry's growth trajectory.

CPMA President Ron Lemaire is very pleased to introduce MP Lianne Rood as CPMA's 2024 Produce Champion. Lianne is the Member of Parliament for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex in Ontario.Joining the conversation are CPMA Board Members, Steve Bamford of Fresh Advancements and Quinton Woods of Gwillimdale Farms.CPMA's annual Produce Champion award is given to a Member of Parliament or a Senator who has been supportive of the produce industry and effective at bringing industry issues to the forefront on Parliament HillSubscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players.

In this episode of Produce Talks, Dan Duguay, CPMA's Sustainability Specialist, leads a discussion with Tom Pierce of Sobeys and Matt Aronson of Verdant Technologies.In an effort to improve sustainability in the supply chain for broccoli, these two companies worked together in a pilot project to remove ice from broccoli shipments and actually improve the shelf life of the product. They provide their insights in developing the process and how this innovation led to success at the farm, transport and the retail levels.Subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players.

In this episode of Produce Talks, we listen to the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Moderator Colin Chapdelaine of Whole Leaf, leads a discussion with 4 representatives from the retail sector. They provide their insights about changes in consumer buying and their strategies to enable Canadian consumers to continue to have access to healthy, affordable fresh produce.Panellists:• Tom Pierce of Sobeys  • Jerry Dzikowski of Giant Tiger  • Sierra Johnston of Save-On-Foods • Mimmo Franzone of Longo's.Subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players. 

In this episode of Produce Talks, we listen to the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Moderator Jessica Levac of Bellemont Powell leads a discussion with 4 other women as they speak about the power of mentorship, how they have benefited from mentors and how women can get involved in a mentorship program. They also share key insights for other women in the industry. Our panelists are: • Devon Kennedy of Highline Mushrooms • Kate Isaacson of Fresh Direct Produce • Dorothy Redick of FirstFruits Farms • Colleen Goto of Freshpoint Vancouver

In this episode, we listen to the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA's Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Moderator Kevin Sorichetti of EarthFresh Foods leads a discussion with Passion for Produce Alumni who speak about their produce journeys, what motivates them, and what they expect from their employer.Panellists include:Colbert Rahal – OppyAlexa Hambly – Gwillimdale FarmsElena Pitsikoulis – Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers Inc.Jennifer Taylor – Loblaw Companies LimitedSubscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players. 

Industry innovation is a key area of focus for CPMA. Over the years, CPMA has offered its members the opportunity to share their innovation efforts and facilitated connections to new innovators in the produce industry.In this episode, we hear from 3 different innovative companies about their products and their experiences at the Innovation Zone at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show. Mike Mauti asks these companies to share their stories and how they benefited from CPMA's innovation efforts.Laurent Dallaire representing Innodal (www.innodal.com)Dil Vashi representing CO2 Gro (www.co2gro.ca)Todd Fabec representing Clarifruit (www.clarifruit.com)The end of this month's episode features Industry Insights with Mike Mauti, as he shares current consumer perceptions and trends from the Canadian market.You can subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Google or Apple Podcasts, Spotify or many other podcast players.

In this episode, Jane Proctor, CPMA's Vice President of Policy & Issue Management leads a discussion with CPMA Chair, Colin Chapdelaine, Brian Faulkner of BCfresh and Sue Lewis, CPMA's Vice President of Market Development on the state of the Canadian produce industry.The four share their perspectives on:• Two recent research reports on the enormous contribution of the fresh produce industry to the Canadian economy.• What the industry and the government can do to improve Canadians' health by encouraging the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.• Marketing fresh produce to Canadians using tips from the Half Your Plate website.

Ron Lemaire President of CPMA leads a Year in Review discussion with David Coletto. David is the Chair and CEO of Abacus Data, a Canadian market and public opinion research agency. Ron and David give an overview of what Canadians think of the political climate and how it relates to the fruit and vegetable industry. David also provides insights to how Canadians view key areas of sustainability, climate change, our health, inflation and the economy.Listen to the end for this month's episode of Industry Insights as Mike Mauti shares some end of the year statistics from the Canadian consumer market.

In this episode, Dan Duguay, CPMA's Sustainability Specialist, provides an update on the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) packaging regulations that aim to significantly reduce plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables.We discuss CPMA and the industry's response to these proposals and report on the impact they would have on the fresh produce industry in Canada.Listen to the end for this month's episode of Industry Insights as Mike Mauti shares more current statistics from the Canadian consumer market.

In this episode, Dan Duguay, CPMA's Sustainability Specialist, provides an update on the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) packaging regulations that aim to significantly reduce plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables. We discuss CPMA and the industry's response to these proposals and report on the impact they would have on the fresh produce industry in Canada. Listen to the end for this month's episode of Industry Insights as Mike Mauti shares more current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Cascades.

In this episode, we hear from different innovative companies and incubators about their products and how they have benefited from the Innovation Zone at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show. The first part features Mike Mauti interviewing Denise VanderVeen of CleanWorks, a produce innovator, and Andrew Wylie of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. www.cleanworkscorp.com www.vinelandresearch.com In the second part, Mike Mauti interviews Mike Meinhardt of Provision Analytics, also a produce innovator, and Heather Marshall from the Creative Destruction Lab, an incubator affiliated with the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto that supports companies and their new technologies. www.provision.io www.creativedestructionlab.com/locations/calgary Listen to the end for this month's episode of Industry Insights as Mike Mauti shares more current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

This episode features CPMA President, Ron Lemaire, CPMA Board Member, Kendra Mills of the PEI Potato Board, and the 2023 CPMA Produce Champion, Member of Parliament (MP) Kody Blois, in a discussion about opportunities and key challenges within the fresh produce sector in Canada, and how Members of Parliament can help advance the goals of the Canadian agriculture sector. MP Blois has been the Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, Nova Scotia since 2019. He was recognized as the 2023 CPMA Produce Champion for his ongoing contributions to advancing the priorities of CPMA members and the broader Canadian agricultural sector. In addition, we've added a new segment to each of our monthly episodes called Industry Insights. Listen to the end of the podcast as Mike Mauti shares some current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

In this episode, we listen to the recording of the Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA's Convention and Trade Show in Toronto. Moderator Stewart Lapage from Oppy talks with 4 Passion for Produce Alumni. These young professionals talk about their experiences in the produce industry, including going through the COVID years and their thoughts on what's next in the evolving workplace. Moderator: Stewart Lapage – Oppy Panelists: • Jessica Levac – Bellemont Powell Ltd • Ryan Ostertag – Star Group/CFP Ltd • Katrina McMorrow – Global Citrus • Greg Palmer – Loblaw Companies In addition, we've added a new segment to each of our monthly episodes called Industry Insights. Listen to the end of the podcast as Mike Mauti shares some current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

This is the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Convention and Trade Show in Toronto. Effective leadership is essential to ensure sustainability and innovation across the produce industry. This recording focuses on some female leaders who are helping move the food industry forward utilizing innovative solutions to challenges that impact the long-term sustainability of food in Canada. Moderator: Kimberly Roberts – Walmart Canada Panelists: • Stephanie Sansen – Loop Mission • Sangeeta Lalli – TELUS Agriculture • Susan Jones Ng – Limoneira Company • Amy Bowen – Vineland Research & Innovation Center We've added a new segment to each of our monthly episodes called Industry Insights. Listen to the end of the podcast as Mike Mauti shares some current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

In this episode, we're excited to present the annual “Between Two Chairs” podcast. Ron Lemaire shares stories with the previous CPMA Chair Mario Masellis and current CPMA Chair Colin Chapdelaine. Mario is with Catania Worldwide and Colin Chapdelaine is with the Star Group. Listen as they tell us where the industry is going and how sustainability and innovation are keys to the future of the produce industry. We've added a new segment to each of our monthly episodes called Industry Insights. Listen to the end of the podcast as Mike Mauti shares some current statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

In this episode, we listen to the recording of the Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA's Convention and Trade Show in Toronto.Supply chain challenges continue to impact the fresh produce industry. Compounding these issues, geopolitical, weather and economic impacts are now at the forefront of pressure to maintain the supply of fresh produce in a period of increasing concern about food prices. Canadian buyers will speak to their biggest challenges, the potential impacts across their supply chains and what changes they may be anticipating in the year ahead. Moderator: Mario Masellis – Catania Worldwide, CPMA Chair 2022-2023 Panelists: • Andrea Vandergrift – Costco Wholesale Canada • Lindsay Young – Federated Cooperatives Ltd • Sierra Johnston – Save-On-Foods • Jeff Fowler – Sobeys Inc • Jen Zavala – Gordon Food Service Canada We are very pleased to add a new short segment to each of our monthly episodes called Industry Insights. At the end of this episode, we'll hear from Mike Mauti with some statistics from the Canadian consumer market. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Greg Ogiba is the Chair of the CPMA Education Committee and President of Mike and Mike's. In this episode, Greg leads a discussion about mentorship and CPMA's Passion for Produce Program with Jessica Levac of Bellemont Powell and Michael Wexler of the Oppenheimer Group. CPMA looks forward to hosting the next group of 18 Passion for Produce participants at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show April 25th-27th, 2023 in Toronto. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

In this episode, CPMA's registered dietitian, Jen Ong Tone, discusses money-saving tips to help consumers continue to eat healthy with fruits and vegetables. She is joined by Christina Iaboni and Laurence Vezina as they discuss ways to stretch your food dollars in a safe and healthy way and offer other tips from the halfyourplate.ca website. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.        

This episode tackles the challenging goal of reducing plastics in produce packaging.Daniel Duguay is CPMA's packaging specialist and coordinator for the pilot project developing sustainable packaging guides for the food and produce industry. We hear about an innovative new product that is helping reduce plastic packaging in cucumbers. Daniel introduces the topic and leads the discussion with:• Colton Moore - Commercial Director of New Products Introductions, Apeel Sciences• Joseph Talbourdet - Director of Marketing and Business Development, Topline/Westmoreland Sales• Dan Branson - Director of Business and Product Development, Mucci FarmsPlay the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

This episode features a recording of one of the 2022 Convention and Trade Show Learning Lounges, Growing in Produce. Moderator Mike Catalano of The Wonderful Company discusses with other young professionals who are Passion for Produce program (PFP) alumni about how they started in the produce industry and their current roles. The panelists are:• Kevin Sorichetti, EarthFresh• Stephanie Myles, Nature Fresh Farms• Kelsey Van Lissum, Oppy• Vaughn Smith, Global Citrus GroupThe discussion is also around the benefits of CPMA's PFP program and how their PFP mentors continue to help them succeed. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness month in Canada. We welcome Johnny McGuire and Eric Regnier who are representing the Produce Supply Organization. The PSO is a not-for-profit organization that was established to help suppliers in the produce industry understand and use technology effectively. We have a discussion about cybersecurity and what organizations need to know and what they should be doing to combat the many cyber threats that exist today. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

In this episode, CPMA President, Ron Lemaire and CPMA Chair, Mario Masellis of Catania Worldwide welcome the 2022 CPMA Produce Champion, Scot Davidson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for York-Simcoe. CPMA's annual Produce Champion award is given to one or more Members of Parliament and/or a Senator who have been supportive of the produce industry and effective at bringing industry issues to the forefront on Parliament Hill. In the second part of the podcast, Ron Lemaire leads a panel of discussion consisting of Quinton Woods of Gwillimdale Farms, Fred Webber, former CEO of DRC, Guy Milette of Courchesne Larose, and Colin Chapdelaine of Star Produce. The panel discusses the Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act (C-280), which was recently introduced in the House of Commons by MP Scot Davidson, the history and the importance of this bill, and how people can get involved to support it through the legislative process. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

In this episode we feature the recording of a Learning Lounge from our recent Convention and Trade Show in Montréal. Listen now to Moderator Michèle McMillan of Ippolito Fruit and Produce, as she speaks with Julie Trepanier of The Wonderful Company, Susan Leung of Fresh Direct Produce and Jennie Coleman of Equifruit about their experiences in the produce industry. They share some interesting personal and professional stories and offer some suggestions to help other women succeed and thrive. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

In this episode, we feature a recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Convention and Trade Show. As we come out of the global pandemic, the disruptions in the supply chain are still a stress on the produce industry. Listen to some of the buyers for Canadian retailers to learn how they've had to adjust and how their expectations are shifting for today and into the future. Moderator: Mario Masellis – Catania Worldwide Panelists:Steve Boulianne – MetroZack Jones – Save-On-FoodsJeff Fowler – SobeysEmily Vosburgh – Gordon Food ServiceMimmo Franzone – Longo Brothers Food Markets Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

CPMA President Ron Lemaire chats with past Chair Guy Milette of Courchesne Larose and current Chair Mario Masellis of Catania Worldwide. This annual Between Two Chairs special features them talking about the current produce industry challenges and issues and how our industry helps consumers continue to enjoy fresh produce in these challenging times. They also discuss their other activities during the past year including the successful in-person Convention and Trade Show in Montréal and they look forward to our next annual Convention and Trade Show in Toronto in April, 2023. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms. CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.                 

In today's episode we feature a recording of a recent CPMA Learning Lounge from our 2022 Convention and Trade Show. Climate change, pesticide management, improving yields and growing in non-traditional areas are just some of the factors that influence how produce is grown. Listen now as our Moderator Steve Bamford of Bamford Produce leads an informative discussion with some industry experts on new ways of growing produce. Speakers:Florent Schmahl – Growcer Modular Food SolutionsAmy Bowen - Vineland Research & Innovation CenterBarry Murchie - GoodLeaf and TruLeaf FarmsPhilippe Labrie - GreenForgesBahram Rashti - Fresh Green Farms / Up Vertical Farms Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.                 

In this episode of Produce Talks, Jeff Hall (CPMA's Food Safety Specialist) talks to Dr Lawrence Goodridge and Dr Jeffrey Farber, both from the University of Guelph about the history and the technology of Whole Genome Sequencing. Jeff discusses this technology and how industry can apply it to food safety with Afreen Malik, Director of Science Programs at Western Growers. Whole Genome Sequencing occupies a more important role in foodborne outbreak investigations, but many people don't understand what it is or its history. Jeff will ask these experts to explain the technology and discuss the implications for industry.Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.                 

On this episode we are pleased to welcome CPMA's Sue Lewis and Mike Mauti, Managing Partner of Execulytics Consulting as they discuss the recently released CPMA Canadian Marketplace Annual Report. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Canadian produce market for 2021. They discuss consumer trends in Canada, the growth of Canadian greenhouse grown and consumer perceptions about organic produce. Mike also uses his crystal ball to look at 2022 and beyond in relation to the growing and retailing of fruits and vegetables in Canada.Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.                 

In this podcast we welcome Mr. Jorge Londono de la Cuesta who has been the Ambassador of Colombia to Canada since November 2020. Ambassador Londono speaks with CPMA President Ron Lemaire about the economic opportunities in his South American country. He also talks about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and how his country is recovering economically. Listen to hear Ambassador Londono share his insights and his country's trade goals and the opportunities for Canadian produce companies in Colombia. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.                 

This edition of Produce Talks is a recording of our October webinar on the 2021 federal election results and the impact on the fresh produce industry. David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, shares his election analysis and insights, followed by a roundtable discussion with industry leaders on issues requiring federal government action. Current issues such as supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, sustainability, and the need for a Canadian financial protection tool for produce sellers are discussed.Be sure to check out this insightful and engaging conversation featuring the following panelists:• David Coletto (Abacus Data)• Ron Lemaire (CPMA)• Guy Milette (Courchesne Larose)• David Dube (Krown Produce)• Quinton Woods (Gwillimdale Farms)• Larry McIntosh (retired from Peak of the Market) Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.                 

In this episode, Ron Lemaire has a discussion with Larry McIntosh, a past Chair of CPMA and the 2021 Produce Person of the Year. Larry has spent 27 years in the produce industry, recently retiring as CEO of Peak of the Market. We talk about how the produce industry has evolved over years, the resilience of our sector and the future hurdles that we will continue to overcome. Among many other topics, Larry tells us that he feels CPMA's Passion for Produce program is the best program in the industry for young professionals and shares his advice for PFP participants to achieve success in business. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.                 

In this episode, we feature a discussion with the CPMA 2021 Produce Champion, Ontario Senator Rob Black, who is a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. CPMA's annual Produce Champion award is given to one or more Member(s) of Parliament and/or Senator(s) who have been supportive of the produce industry and effective at bringing industry issues to the forefront on Parliament Hill. Senator Black shares his story on how he became a Senator and how he has worked to further the interests of agriculture in Canada, throughout his professional career and, more recently in Ottawa. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

Sustainability has been a focus for the produce industry for many years and is a complex issue with multiple areas of focus. In Canada current areas of focus include the potential of a Canadian index to benchmark Agri-food sustainability, government focus on issues such as carbon credits and industry-led initiatives to improve sustainability. This episode provides industry insight on some of the key areas of focus including Canada's Sustainability Index, greenhouse gas (GHG) sequestration, biodiversity and regenerative agriculture. Guests on this episode include Scott Ross of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Keith Kuhl of Southern Potato, Quinton Woods of Gwillimdale Farms, and David McInnes representing the National Index of Agri-Food Performance. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

Foodborne illnesses continue to bed a source of concern within the fresh produce industry. CPMA asked two of Canada's top food safety professionals to join us in discussing recent outbreaks, the challenges in identifying outbreaks and what the future of outbreaks may look like. Lisa Sparrow-Moellenbeck, Food Safety Manager, Federated Co-operatives spoke with Joyce Cheng - Acting Manager Outbreak Management, Public Health Agency Canada and Dr. Lawrence Goodridge - Director - Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS), Graduate Coordinator - Food Safety & Quality Assurance Program, University of Guelph. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

On this special 100th episode of Produce Talks, Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA moderates a roundtable discussion with our Chair, Guy Milette of Courchesne Larose, and nine past CPMA Chairs including: Davis Yung of Fresh Direct Produce, Oleen Smethurst of Costco Wholesale Canada, Les Mallard of Fyffes, Rick Alcocer of Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Mike Furi of Federated Co-operatives Limited, Walt Breeden of Oppy, Jim DiMenna of Red Sun Farms, Prentice Dent of Pear Bureau Northwest, and Larry McIntosh, former President and CEO of Peak of the Market.This group of produce professionals brings well over 200 years of produce experience, and each looks back at his/her term as CPMA's Chairs, revisiting how the industry and the Association operated, and how we collectively overcame adversity. The group also looks at how the pandemic has reshaped our market and ways that members and industry partners can navigate the future. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

This episode we feature a panel of women in produce and recognize the achievements of women leading the promotion of produce in Canada. Earlier this year, CPMA partnered with Grocery Business Magazine to recognize some of the exceptional women in the industry. The Grocery Business article was released in the March/April edition recognizing ten outstanding women in produce. Joining this episode were Michèle McMillan with Thomas Fresh, Ashley Pinto at Loblaw and Luci Faas at Nature Fresh Farms. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

In this episode, we turn to a panel of young leaders in produce as we continue our focus on the development of young professionals in our sector. This panel webinar was held in February and featured past Mary Fitzgerald Award Winners Mike Catalano of POM Wonderful, Stephanie Lariviere of Erie James, and Ryan Goad of Loblaws. The discussion focuses on several topics including leadership, mindset, mentorship and what makes the produce industry unique to develop and grow in. Joining the podcast is Greg Ogiba, Principal of GRO Advantage who moderated the panel. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

The Suez Canal crisis, COVID-19 implications and ongoing port labour disputes have all showcased that moving product globally day in and day out is an incredible feat. There are implications when one link in a global supply chain breaks and this episode we’re talking about the movement of produce across borders, through ports and around the globe. We dive into factors and initiatives at the border impacting produce importers and exporters. Guests on the show include Stephen Devries, Director of Commercial Compliance at the Canadian Border Services Agency and Shannon Sommerauer, Director of Government Relations at CPMA. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

This episode dives into sustainable agriculture and looks at alternative production practices that we are seeing across Canada. It is estimated that by 2050, the world's population will rise to almost 10 billion people with over 67% expected to live in urban areas. In order to feed this growing population, the United Nations estimates that food production will have to increase by 70%. We explore the growth and considerations of vertical farming, hydroponics and urban agriculture as methods of furthering the sustainable supply of fresh fruit and vegetables across Canada. Guests on this episode include Evan Fraser from the Arrell Food Institute, Emma Tamlin from Raised Roots Consulting and Darby McGrath from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

As supply chains, investors, and government all push to reduce impacts on the environment, the ability to measure and demonstrate sustainability credentials from farm to retail becomes paramount. On this episode, we widen the lens on sustainability and talk about Canada’s agri-food system including a collaborative project to benchmark and demonstrate Canada’s sustainable agri-food performance. Guests on the show include David McInnes, the project coordinator of the National Index of Agri-Food Performance, John Uhren, Head of Sustainable Finance, Product and Strategy at BMO along with Bridget Schrempf, Senior Manager of Sustainable Food Systems at CDP Worldwide.   Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

This episode features a panel of young professionals in the produce industry with a lens on the development, recruitment, and retention of young talent in our sector. We look back on 2020 and explore several themes such as resiliency, adaptability, value alignment, mentorship, and more. Panelists included Passion for Produce (PFP) Alumni Kara Badder from NatureFresh Farms, Kevin Sorichetti from EarthFresh, and Vaughn Smith from Global Citrus.   Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

With greater demand and sales on-line, customer experience enhancements, and COVID-19 protocols in place, the retail landscape has changed dramatically in 2020. This episode dives into retail trends and changes with a look ahead to 2021. We look at what makes a good on-line grocery experience, merchandising opportunities and considerations, and the new normals that are here to stay. Guests on this episode include Colleen Martin of market research firm Caddle, Mike Mauti of Execulytics, and Daniel Kats from Infarm.   Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

On this episode, CPMA President, Ron Lemaire speaks with 2020 CPMA award winners about their careers, key focuses, and the industry changes they have seen and experienced through the years. Ron first talks with the 2020 CPMA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Mike Ecker, along with Oleen Smethurst, The Packer's 2020 Canadian Produce Person of the Year. This is followed by a conversation with the CPMA Produce Champion advocacy award winner, Member of Parliament for Cowichan–Malahat–Langford and NDP Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Alistair MacGregor.   Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

Food safety has become a more and more prevalent topic for the produce sector and for regulators. This episode focuses on food recalls and the impacts and processes when a foodborne illness outbreak occurs. We specifically unpack the processes behind food recalls and advisories, the impacts on consumer confidence, the role and improvements in traceability, and the importance of instituting a culture of food safety. Guests include CPMA Food Safety Specialist, Jeff Hall and National Director of Produce at Sysco Canada, Tom Bak.   Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

On this episode, we unpack new developments and barriers to automation and technology across the produce sector. As labour gaps remain, the future of automation, robotics and innovation is a large focus from farm to fork. We talk about several factors influencing the shift to automation such as measuring return on investment, system integration, and the evolving expansion of artificial intelligence and big data. Featured guests on this episode include Hussam Haroun from Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Shelley Fellows from Automate Canada, and Jason Smith from BC Blueberry Council.  Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

On this episode of Produce Talks, we feature an interview with CPMA Chair Davis Yung of Fresh Direct Produce and CPMA Past Chair Oleen Smethurst of Costco Canada for our annual Between Two Chairs special. We take a look back at the last several months, revisiting the ways that CPMA continues to support the produce industry with new resources and advocacy efforts. We also take a look at what is ahead and talk about some of the ways that members and industry partners can get engaged with CPMA.Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

This episode, as we hit the three month mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, we revisit the impacts along the supply chain and unpack the key takeaways since March as businesses continue to adapt and prepare for a busy summer and harvest season. Featured guests Stéphanie Levasseur, President of Quebec Apple Growers, Satri Alpine, Director of Talent and Culture at Oppy and Tammy Vautour, Quality Assurance Director at Metro cover a variety of topics including the temporary foreign worker program and labour, corporate culture, the supply chain, product availability and much more.Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

Ensuring food quality, sustaining food availability, reducing waste, minimizing costs to consumers and maximizing recyclability – all while mitigating the impacts on the environment – makes the conversation on sustainable packaging and preferred packaging materials remarkably complex. On this episode, guests talk about their work in the area of sustainable packaging and highlight the need for continued collaboration and communication across the supply chain to make the most sound and informed sustainable packaging decisions. We were joined by Dan Duguay of Tactix Government Relations and Public Affairs, Ian Gordon, Senior Vice President of Loblaw Brands, Emily Murracas and Fernanda Albuquerque from Mucci Farms, and Scott Howarth from Sinclair International.Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

This episode, we unpack fairtrade practices as an influential method to sustainability. We spoke with Jennie Coleman, President of Equifruit about their approach to sustainability and the Fairtrade certification. We also brought Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral with Longo’s into the conversation to talk about their Fairtrade organic banana program with Equifruit and the added value for their guests. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                 

On this episode, we dive into the impacts, responses and anticipated future risks of the COVID-19 outbreak across the entire produce supply chain. We feature interviews with industry leaders Davis Yung of Fresh Direct Produce, Angela Santiago of The Little Potato Company, and Tim York of Markon Cooperative to talk about their approaches in addressing these unprecedented challenges and how it has impacted their views on crisis management. We also spoke with the Executive Medical Advisor of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada to cover the measures that companies and individuals handling produce can take to keep themselves and their employees safe. Play the PodcastThank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.