Government Proposals for Packaging Regulations

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.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Cascades.

CPMA Innovation Zone Company Spotlight

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA Produce Champion MP Kody Blois

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Young Professionals – Growing in Produce

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Produce Talks: Women in Produce

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Produce Talks: Between Two Chairs

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

The Changing Supply Chain – A Buyer’s Perspective

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Mentorship and the CPMA Passion for Produce Program

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 25^th-27^th, 2023 in Toronto.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

Saving money on food: Insights from the nutrition community

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

       

Sustainable Produce Packaging

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 Farms

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Young professionals and CPMA's PFP program

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 Group
The discussion is also around the benefits of CPMA's PFP program and how their PFP mentors continue to help them succeed.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Cybersecurity Awareness for the Produce Industry

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Produce Champion MP Scot Davidson and Financial Protection Bill Panel

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Women in Produce

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Supply Chain Disruptions – Retail Perspectives

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 – Metro
Zack Jones – Save-On-Foods
Jeff Fowler – Sobeys
Emily Vosburgh – Gordon Food Service
Mimmo Franzone – Longo Brothers Food Markets

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Between Two Chairs

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

CPMA would also like to acknowledge Fresh from Florida as a sponsor of this podcast.
       

Future Growth and Change in Produce Production

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 Fresh Advancements leads an informative discussion with some industry experts on new ways of growing produce.

Speakers:
Florent Schmahl – Growcer Modular Food Solutions
Amy Bowen – Vineland Research & Innovation Center
Barry Murchie – GoodLeaf and TruLeaf Farms
Philippe Labrie – GreenForges
Bahram Rashti – Fresh Green Farms / Up Vertical Farms

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

       

Whole Genome Sequencing

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.

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Thank you to our podcast series sponsor, Nature Fresh Farms.

       

CPMA Market Annual Report – Mike Mauti

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.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.

       

Ambassador of Colombia Jorge Londono

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.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsors, Nature Fresh Farms and Fresh From Florida.