NEWSMAKERS

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) held its biggest convention and trade show ever from April 25-27, 2023! More than 4,200 attended the Toronto event.

Hearty congratulations to the following CPMA award winners:

• Fresh Health Award – Mucci Farms

• Young Professional Award –Greg Palmer, Loblaws Companies Ltd.

• Lifetime Achievement Award –Sam Silvestro

• The Packer’s Produce Person of the Year Award – Mario Masellis, Catania Worldwide

• Best Island Booth Award –EarthFresh (booth 820)

• Best Inline Booth Award –Highline Mushrooms (booth 310)

• Best First-Time Exhibitor Booth Award– Lucid Corp (booth 1923)

In post-convention news, CPMA announced that Colin Chapdelaine is the new 2023-2024 chair. A produce veteran of more than 25 years, he is currently the president of Berry Operations at Star Produce and has served on the CPMA Board from 2007 to 2012 and then from 2015 to present. He is also a member of CPMA’s Executive and Human Resources Committees and is currently the vice-chair of the Association’s Industry Technology Advisory Committee. He plans to prioritize crucial areas that significantly affect the industry, such as innovation and sustainability, while also addressing key supply chain challenges.

Garlic Growers of Ontario held its annual general meeting in late April, re-electing Joann Chechalk as president for a three-year term. Joining her is Martin Van Raay, Bob Romaniuk and Nathan Teetzel

The British Columbia Vegetable Commission has elected its 2023 board. Derek Sturko is chair. Directors are Armand Vander Meulen, greenhouse crops; Natalie Veles, independent; Craig Evans, independent. Newly elected directors are Hugh Reynolds, storage crops; Kevin Husband, storage crops; Paul Guichon, storage crops; John Newell, greenhouse crops; Michael Minerva, greenhouse crops.

Congratulations to Pierre Petelle, president and CEO, CropLife Canada. He was honoured at the annual Spring Dialogue Days for his 15 years of service to the organization.

A new $1-million research chair in an emerging field at the University of Guelph is intended to make agri-food production more efficient and ensure sustainable food production in Canada and around the world. Dr. Tongzhe Li has been appointed the Arrell Family Chair in Behavioural and Experimental Economics. She will support students and seed projects and enable the hiring of a lab manager for a growing research lab in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) within the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC).