Produce Talks

The new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations came into force in January, 2019 through the CFIA. Anytime new regulations come into place, businesses can be impacted. We touch base with CPMA Food Safety Specialist, Jeff Hall and Fred Webber from the Dispute Resolution Corporation to discuss new requirements for produce businesses and the resources available to industry. Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms.                  

We’re back for 2019! On this episode we explore corporate culture and the inaugural CPMA Corporate Culture Award. Gaining insights from John Anderson at Oppy and Barrie Carlyle from Waterstone Human Capital, we discuss the challenges and, more importantly, the opportunities that corporate culture presents to the produce industry. We also chat about the inaugural CPMA Corporate Culture Award, an exclusive opportunity for CPMA members to examine their corporate culture and be considered for the award! Play the Podcast Thank you to our podcast sponsor, NatureFresh™ Farms. You can subscribe to the podcast. 

When matching career expectations, communication is key. And with today’s generational shift discussing changing career priorities is becoming paramount to staff retention. Join us for an open conversation on current professional development expectations from young professionals in the industry and how those expectations align with the vision business leaders have for their employees. 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. 

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.  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. 

From the Learning Lounge on the CPMA Trade Show floor, CPMA has queried industry leaders to create a series of questions for our retail panel that identify the biggest issues and hot buttons for retail and their expectations from their suppliers as they navigate the ever-changing Canadian retail landscape. Speakers:   Frank Gambioli, Loblaw Companies                     Jim Waites, Overwaitea Food Group                     Reza Bafandeh, Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery Inc. Moderator:  Les Mallard, Fyffes North America Inc. 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 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. 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’re bringing you to our Learning Lounge on the CPMA Trade Show Floor for the session on produce disruptors. NAFTA, ELDs, and other acronyms are having huge impacts on how businesses need to approach trade, transportation, and technology. So how do we mitigate these produce disruptors and ensure we’re prepared for what’s to come? Our panel of senior industry executives debate what they see as the essential details that companies need to pay attention to moving forward. This panel featured Brent Lloyd, The Star Group, Guy Milette, Courchesne Larose Ltée, Stewart Lapage, The Oppenheimer Group and was hosted by Alison Robertson, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association   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. 

In Canada, there are a number of programs that require companies to take responsibility for their part in creating consumer waste.  This month on Produce Talks we’re touching base with Calla Farn the Vice President, Steward Relations at the Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance to discuss how the stewardship programs work.  We’re also touching base with Steve Roosdahl Executive Director of Supply Chain for the Oppenheimer Group to get the industry perspective on how the industry needs to respond. 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 we’re touching base with Dr. Amy Bowen, the Research Director at Vineland Research to discuss how research shapes the produce industry, particularly in Canada.  We touch on some of the different types of research being done, the importance of consumers, and why transparency is key. 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 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. 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. 

We’re picking up on the Social media conversation with our panel once again, this time the conversation revolves around some key points for any business.  How are produce companies looking at their return on investment when it comes to social media.  The panel shares their thoughts on best practices, and shares some examples of companies outside of produce who are great examples to learn from. Our Panel includes: Cathy Gomez, Markon Cooperative Inc. Heather Klein, Peak of the Market Kara Badder, NatureFresh™ Farms. Yumiko Hayashi, FreshPoint Vancouver 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. 

Social media is no longer a side of the desk product, and is now usually either embedded or is the entirety of a company’s communication strategy.  This month on produce talks we touch base with those responsible for social media from several CPMA member companies to discuss the changing landscape of social media, different strategies they are employing and best practices.  This month’s guests include: Cathy Gomez, Markon Cooperative Inc. Heather Klein, Peak of the Market Kara Badder, NatureFresh™ Farms. Yumiko Hayashi, FreshPoint Vancouver 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 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.