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.
Friday, 26 February 2021
Sustainable Agriculture: Innovations and Alternatives
Friday, 29 January 2021
Sustainable Food Systems and the National Index of Agri-Food Performance
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.
Friday, 18 December 2020
Growing in Produce
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.
Monday, 30 November 2020
Accelerated Changes and New Normals in Retail
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.
Wednesday, 28 October 2020
And the Winner Is...: Conversations with 2020 Award Winners
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.
Wednesday, 14 October 2020
Unpacking Food Recalls
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.
Monday, 31 August 2020
A 2020 Look at Automation and Technology in Produce
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.
Friday, 7 August 2020
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.