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.

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.

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.

Between Two Chairs 2020

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.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

                 

Taking Your Business to New Markets (LIVE from the CPMA Trade Show Floor)

Last year we saw the development of the new NAFTA and confirmation of additional free trade agreements. The Canadian government, and others around the globe, are focused on removing barriers to product movement, opening new markets and increasing exports for domestic organizations. On this episode we head back to the Learning Lounge on a session in April with Dr. Stephen Tapp, Deputy Chief Economist from Export Development Canada. Stephen provides insight into these efforts and how Canadian business can capitalize on these growing opportunities. The session was moderated by President of Consolidated Fruit Packers Ltd., Dariel Trottier.  

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

                 

Improving Enterprise Efficiencies to Reduce Food Loss and Waste (LIVE from the CPMA Trade Show Floor)

This month, we're covering food loss and waste as CPMA plans the release of a food waste consulting tool available to our members. On this first food waste episode, we head back to the learning lounge for a panel discussion on how growers and businesses across the supply chain can tackle food loss and waste and improve their bottom line.
Moderator: Mike Ecker - Vineland Growers Co-operative
Speakers:  Dan Martin - EarthFresh Foods, Martin Gooch - Value Chain Management International, Scott Ross - Canadian Federation of Agriculture

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

                 

The Future is Floral - LIVE! From the CPMA Trade Show Floor

In this presentation from the CPMA Trade Show Floor we're exploring Fresh Trends in Floral. Pulling from his over 35 years of experience and unique insights into this part of the fresh category, J Schwanke  (ubloom.com) will discuss how the latest trends in the floral department are poised to influence the future of both the produce department and the broader retail industry. 

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

My Produce Story featuring Angela Santiago and Brian Faulkner - LIVE! From the CPMA Trade Show Floor

This episode we’re taking you back to the Learning Lounge on the CPMA Trade Show Floor for a session featuring two interesting career stories. How often do you get a chance to sit down with a top level produce professional to find out about their produce story?  How they got to where they are and who helped them along the way?  This session will feature a deep dive into the careers of two such individuals:

• Angela Santiago, CEO and Co-Founder,  The Little Potato Company
• Brian Faulkner, VP Sales & Marketing, BC Fresh Vegetables Inc.

The discussion was moderated by Mario Masellis, from Catania Worldwide.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

Between 2 Chairs 2018

This month on Produce Talks we turn the microphone over to Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA, as he sits down for a conversation with Rick Alcocer, the past CPMA Chair, of Duda Farms for the past year, and Les Mallard, the new CPMA Chair, of Fyffes North America Inc. They’ll discuss the role of the CPMA chair, the direction CPMA will take in the next year, and how young professionals can get involved and make a difference.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

Produce Talks: Between Two Chairs – Part 2

This month on Produce Talks Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA, continues his conversation with Sam Silvestro, Past Chair of CPMA, and Rick Alcocer, the new CPMA Chair, of Duda Farms. In this part of the conversation, Rick outlines the priorities for his upcoming year as chair, and we get to learn just how much CPMA’s first international chair knows about Canada.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

Produce Talks: Between Two Chairs – Part 1

This month on Produce Talks we turn the microphone over to Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA, as he sits down for a conversation with Sam Silvestro, Chair of CPMA for the past year, and Rick Alcocer, the incoming CPMA Chair, of Duda Farms. They’ll discuss the role of the CPMA chair and the direction of CPMA.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

Vertical Farming: Toward the Future

Vertical farming has started to find its own space among growing methods. This month on the Produce Talks podcast, we are joined by Greg Veinott, Manager of Business Development for GoodLeaf Farms, based in Bible Hill, NS. In our conversation, we explore the specifics around indoor vertical farming, including technology, unique characteristics of the plants, and how this method of growing could affect the future of the produce industry.

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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

You can subscribe to the podcast. 

Show Notes:

0:21
Greg provides a description of the physical layout of GoodLeaf Farms in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia.
1:31
What makes a good location or building for a vertical farm?
2:33
Making sure to closely monitor what comes in and out of a vertical farm.
3:45
Controlling pests and disease in a controlled environment system
5:06
The product that makes sense to grow with a vertical farm.
7:00
Will we ever see a Vertical Farm growing strawberries?
7:58
The costs of production factoring into choosing to grow vertically
9:09
Why do all pictures of vertical farms look red/purple?
10:31
How light affects the plant development - taste, texture, and rate of growth.
11:55
Interactions and ties between research and development at GoodLeaf Farms and Dalhousie University
13:43
Why is GoodLeaf succeeding in an area where a lot of people have failed? Why are they successful with their vertical farming operation?
15:20
How do vertically grown products compare tastewise to a traditionally grown product?
16:44
How consumers are reacting to vertically grown product.
18:08
Will we ever see skyscrapers growing food in dense urban areas?
20:35
Can vertical farming help with food insecurity issues in the north?
21:53
What is the future of vertical farming, and what is the catalyst that will drive it?

Episode 31 - Connecting with the CPMA Chairs - Part 2

This month on Produce Talks we turn the microphone over to Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA as he sits down for a conversation with Mike Furi from The Grocery People (CPMA Past Chair), and Sam Silvestro from Walmart Canada (CPMA Chair) to discuss the role of the CPMA chair and the direction of the CPMA organization. This month we are splitting the conversation into two episodes.




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Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

Episode 31 - Connecting with the CPMA Chairs - Part 1

This month on Produce Talks we turn the microphone over to Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA as he sits down for a conversation with Mike Furi from The Grocery People (CPMA Past Chair), and Sam Silvestro from Walmart Canada (CPMA Chair) to discuss the role of the CPMA chair and the direction of the CPMA organization. This month we are splitting the conversation into two episodes.




Download Episode

Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.

Remember, if you have an idea for a podcast we want to hear from you.

Episode 28 – Project Veggie and Space Lettuce

This month on Produce Talks, we connect with Trent Smith the Project Manager for the Veggie facility on the International Space Station. Trent was able to explain some of the unique considerations that exist when trying to provide plants with just the essentials of soil, water, and light. Project Veggie has implications for not only for long-term space travel, but some of what they are learning can have impacts on production practices back on earth.



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Music in this episode is from bensound.com.

Trent was kind enough to provide us with a few links for more information on the Veggie project, as well as, links to some of the content discussed on the podcast. Click on the embedded links below to access the pictures, videos and tweets.

Veggie News Releases

Harvesting the First Crop Salad

Selfie Still of Kjell and Scott enjoying their home-grown space lettuce.

Salad Selfie

Tomorrow we'll eat the anticipated veggie harvest on @space_station! But first, lettuce take a #selfie. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/fUKQMhEDjK

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) August 9, 2015

Space Station Live: How Does Your Garden Grow in Space?

Veggie Plant Growth System Version-5

Wringing out a Washcloth in Space

Media Talks: 2015 Retrospective on Produce, Part 2

In part 2 of the Produce Talks year in review, we have turned the mic over to Ron Lemaire, President of CPMA, to continue his conversation with a panel of media who cover our industry to review the year that was 2015 and predicting the major stories of 2016.

This episode is the second half of a conversation with:

·        John Groh (Produce News)

·        Karen Davidson (The Grower)

·        Tom Karst (The Packer)

·        Karen James (Grocery Business)

·        Matthew Ogg (Fresh Fruit Portal)

In this episode, the panel reviews some changes in international trade, technology impacts, marketing trends, and predicting the big stories of 2016.

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Music in this episode is from bensound.com.

Episode 13 - Passion for Produce

In this episode we explore the Passion for Produce program offered annually at the CPMA Convention & Trade Show. This program is a once in a lifetime educational opportunity to learn about the produce industry and interact with a group of industry leaders as program mentors. Eric Biddiscombe from Loblaw joins us to discuss the program and how it came about.

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