VANCOUVER, BC - The show might be over, but the connections forged in the beautiful Vancouver landscape will go on. The 93rd Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Annual Convention began with an opening party bang that started a 48-hour sequence of discussions, dinners, networking, awards, and a lot of great food!

“The CPMA is another opportunity to bring everyone together to talk about where we are going, what we are doing, and, most importantly, how we’re affecting our community,” Association President Ron Lemaire told attendees as he discussed challenges and changes, as well as innovations and triumphs, in our industry. “Challenge what you need to know every day and then push the envelope. CPMA is an opportunity for you to do that.”

Challenging what we knew were several keynote speakers, including Rob Saik, agrologist and GMO expert; Terry Stuart, Deloitte Canada’s Chief Innovation Officer; Ben Hughes, Zespri’s Regional General Manager - Americas; and Roland Fumasi, PhD, Vice President, Senior Analyst, and Manager at Rabobank, speaking on everything from genetically modified foods and technologies influencing our industry, to navigating natural and financial obstacles.

For those whose minds were hungry for more, CPMA offered insightful Learning Lounges on the show floor like Produce Disruptors: Trade, Transportation and Technology, Growing Produce Skills, and Retail and the Industry Today, speaking with experts in a close and welcoming setting right there in the middle of all the action.

"I had an awesome time in Vancouver for CPMA 2018, with the show once again delivering the best of what our industry has to offer,” Mimmo Franzone, Director of Produce and Floral at Longo’s, tells me. “It was great to see 27 countries unite under one roof for an incredible convention. Looking forward to Montreal next year—thank you Vancouver and CPMA!”

Mastronardi Produce’s Events and Internal Branding Manager, Nancy Pickersgill, agreed enthusiastically.

“CPMA does so well organizing this show; I love the way everything flows,” Nancy explains. “I think this is one of the shows we as a team participate most in in terms of going to all the events. Vancouver is also such a great location, it’s easy to get to and such fun. Overall it’s been a great way to make all those connections and do everything we need to do.”

It was interesting to see both new friends and old from all over the world. As Giumarra Companies' CEO John Corsaro tells me, the evolution of the produce industry has made CPMA not just a great event, but a necessary one.

“I grew up in a regional business, and as time has gone on regional became national, then national became global. It’s a global trading world now and when I first came to CPMA it was a great way to connect,” John recalls. “Over time it has stayed fun and become a great way for young people to grow up in the industry. For us, it’s a great way to understand our customers and what’s going on in the Canadian marketplace.”

Julie DeWolf, Director of Retail Marketing at Sunkist Growers, also talked about why understanding Canadian customers is important and the important role CPMA plays in that.

"Canadian consumers per capita consume more citrus than Americans and have high awareness of specialty varieties like blood oranges, Cara Cara, navels and Minneolas, making Canada an extremely important market for us,” Julie shares.

Booth Awards

• Best Island Booth: Earth Fresh Farms
• Best InLine Booth: Peak of the Market
• Best New Member Booth: Fundacion para el Desarollo Empresarial Rural (FUNDER) & Trade Office of Ecuador - PROECUADOR

New Product Awards

• Best New Product Showcase: Star Produce Inspired Salad Kits
• Best Freggie Approved Award: Mucci CuteCumber Poppers
• Best Organic Award: Organic Girl Fresh Designer Dressings
• Best Packaging Award: Sunset You Make Me Kits

  ---

CPMA also honored industry experts and rising stars within our industry, shining a spotlight on both products and people that are helping to propel our industry forward.

Congratulations to CPMA's Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Scott Fairbairn, as well as Mary Fitzgerald Award recipient Mike Catalano of The Wonderful Company, both who joined an elite list of names in fresh produce yesterday.

And I cannot forget one of my key highlights of being in the presence of four amazing hockey Olympians—Meghan Agosta, Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Blayre Turnbull, who all joined CPMA on the ice for the Half Your Plate Hockey Classic. The trophy went back with CPMA, while BC Produce Marketing Association was recognized with the Fresh Health Award for Half Your Plate Efforts.

Overall there were too many great experiences to count, neatly delivered into one cohesive show. Like Mimmo, I cannot wait to meet this amazing group back in Montreal for 2019.

CPMA