Produce Talks

With Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) being phased in to trucks in the United States and Transport Canada looking at a similar requirements, we took the opportunity to connect with Jaret Moch, Senior Director of Logistics at Star Produce to discuss what this could look like for the Canadian produce industry. Play the Podcast 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. 

With the latest round of NAFTA negotiations concluding in Montreal we’re connecting with the CPMA team that was there on behalf of the produce industry.  Troy Sherman, the CPMA Manager, Policy lets us in on what it’s like to be at the negotiations, what the role of the CPMA is at the table, and why it is important for CPMA and other association to be there and available. Play the Podcast 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. 

Looking back at 2017, we’ve already seen how new trends and innovations are changing the landscape of the fresh produce industry. As with previous years, we’re using our year-end episode to connect with industry media for a brief glimpse into what they’re seeing in terms of trends and innovations that are influencing the industry into 2018 and beyond. Presented in two parts, in part 1 we touch base with: Matthew Ogg – Fresh Fruit Portal –Expanding product lines and the pressure of smaller retail stores.Maggie Giuffrida – The Produce News – The youth movement and the impact of social media on produce. Dr. Sara Celik – Renew Life on behalf of Grocery Business – How gut health is starting to influence consumer choices. Play the Podcast 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. 

 Looking back at 2017, we’ve already seen how new trends and innovations are changing the landscape of the fresh produce industry. As with previous years, we’re using our year-end episode to connect with industry media for a brief glimpse into what they’re seeing in terms of trends and innovations that are influencing the industry into 2018 and beyond. Presented in two parts, in part 1 we touch base with: Greg Johnson – The Packer – The consumer statistics behind the continuing growth of organics.Karen Davidson (The Grower) – Smaller non-agriculture tech companies innovating with growers. Play the Podcast 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. 

Waste is a word that not many people see as a positive, but according to Martin Gooch, “where there is waste there is opportunity.”  The Value Chain Management International co-founder connects with us on this month’s podcast for a deeper discussion on how examining waste can create opportunities for organizations.  We also touch base with Brad Wiseman from EarthFresh about his company’s participation in a case study on improving table potato quality and pack-out. Play the Podcast 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. 

Just three years ago if you brought up the idea of a meal kit in a box almost everyone would picture the traditional frozen dinner that you might have to chip out of a block of ice in a freezer - that’s definitely not the case anymore! With rising consumer confidence there has been a swell in online grocery and meal kit purchases. This month on Produce Talks we touch base with Daniel Henderson, VP of Culinary & Strategic Sourcing for Chef’s Plate and Reza Bafandeh, VP of Supply Chain for SPUD.CA to discuss online purchasing, meal kits, and how this part of the industry is evolving. Play the Podcast 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. 

This month on Produce Talks we present the second part of a conversation recreating a panel discussion from CPMA’s Learning Lounge at CPMA’s Convention & Trade Show.  Rich Dachman, Sysco; Hans Maurer, The Agri-Chain Center, Mario Masellis, M L. Catania Co. Ltd; discuss how the industry is changing as consumers demand access to produce grown around the world. Play the Podcast 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. 

This month on Produce Talks we present the first part of a conversation recreating a panel discussion from CPMA’s Learning Lounge at CPMA’s Convention & Trade Show. Rich Dachman, Sysco; Hans Maurer, The Agri-Chain Center, Mario Masellis, M L. Catania Co. Ltd; discuss how international boundaries have slipped away as produce moves around the globe to meet the ever-increasing consumer appetite for all produce, year round. What has the impact been to industry, how have companies across the supply chain adjusted to this new business model? Play the Podcast 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. 

This month on Produce Talks we continue our conversation with Kristina Goodall, Director of Operations for NFI, and Jennifer Morris, VP Sales for Two Roads Logistics, to discuss the transportation and third-party logistics side of the produce industry. In the second part of our discussion, we explore changes happening in the transportation and third-party logistics business, including the impact of changing trade agreements Play the Podcast 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. 

This month on Produce Talks we connect with Kristina Goodall, Director of Operations for NFI and Jennifer Morris, VP Sales for Two Roads Logistics, to discuss the transportation and third-party logistics part of the produce industry. In Part 1 of our conversation, we discuss how changes in technology are affecting how produce is transported and the workforce that moves it. Play the Podcast 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. 

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. Play the Podcast 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. 

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. Play the Podcast 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. 

One of the real advantages of investing in technology is the ability to collect and analyze data across all parts One of the real advantages of investing in technology is the ability to collect and analyze data across all parts of a company’s processes. But how does a business take all that data and synthesize it to make a positive change? This month on Produce Talks, we touch base with Naturefresh Farms about recently being featured in an Intel case study, and how Naturefresh has taken information from data to improve its procedures. Play the Podcast 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 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. Play the Podcast 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?

There has been a steady growth the variety and origin of produce over the past ten to fifteen years.  In part one we explore some of the factors that are contributing to this growth, including the influence the rising number of newcomers to Canada are having on the produce departments.  We assembled a panel to discuss how the produce department is changing and the opportunity that exists with this trend. This month we have the privilege of being joined by:Davis Yung, President, Fresh Direct ProduceGeorge Pitsikoulis, President, Canadawide Fruits WholesalersMichael Baird, Category Manager Ethnic, Loblaw Companies Play the Podcast 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.