Produce Talks

This episode from a CPMA 2026 business session features a panel of growers, retailers, and food rescue innovators who break down practical strategies to reduce Canada’s food loss and waste. Tune in to learn more about how addressing logistics, economic incentives, surplus produce, and new supply chain survey initiatives could help tackle the complexities of food loss and waste.

In this episode of the CPMA Produce Talks podcast, Sue Lewis, CPMA’s VP of Marketing & Events, interviews Canadian food influencers Christopher Rivest, dietitian Desiree Nielsen, and home economist Marilyn Smith on how they inspire their audiences to eat more fruits and vegetables.

In this episode of CPMA Produce Talks, host Daniel Duguay, Senior Director, Sustainability at CPMA, speaks with Edmund Chin, Managing Director and Co-founder of Lucid Corp, about how design thinking is transforming the way innovative packaging is developed, designed, and ultimately adopted across the fresh produce supply chain.

In this episode, Sue Lewis, Vice President of Marketing at CPMA, and Registered Dietitian, Veronica Rouse, discuss the key role fruits and vegetables play in enhancing overall health. Key highlights include: • The biggest barriers to eating more fruits and vegetables — and tips and tricks to help consumers to overcome them • The latest trends in consuming fruits and vegetables • How the produce industry can better support those trends

The fresh produce supply chain has always been driven by innovation. Whether an organization is involved in primary production, wholesale, retail, big or small, innovation is at the heart of competitiveness as all strive to provide the consumer with products they want to buy again. In this episode, Denise Venderveen (Clean Works), Amanda Wilder (Provision Analytics) and Francois R.-Moisan (Sollum Technologies) discuss current and future innovations influencing the produce  industry.

In this episode, CPMA VP of marketing & events, Sue Lewis, talks with Mike Mauti of Execulytics Consulting about the Canadian shopper. Building on years data gleaned from monthly consumer surveys, Mike looks at the shopping habits of Canadian Gen Z , what is motivating shoppers and  how the 2026 retail landscape will look like.

In this episode, Ron Lemaire, president of CPMA, and David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, break down the biggest forces that have shaped Canada’s fresh produce industry in 2025. From shifting consumer habits to global trade impacts, the two explore what truly moved the market this past year. Looking ahead to 2026, David highlights key consumer and market trends the industry should prioritize to strengthen supply chain resilience and meet evolving consumer demand. This episode of Produce Talks podcast is sponsored by Crawford Packaging.

If there is one topic that has dominated the sustainability conversation in our industry, it is packaging. But as we look toward 2026, the conversation is evolving from simple reduction to a complex balance of functionality, food safety, and environmental footprint.  In the finale of our Fall 2025 Sustainability Series, CPMA's Produce Talks sits down with experts across the supply chain to discuss how we can minimize waste without compromising the quality of fresh produce for Canadians.   In this episode, Stuart Jackson of Crawford Packaging, JF Delorme of IFCO, and Jeff Brandenburg of QFresh Lab, join us as we discuss the "Field to Fork" Balance: How to reduce packaging waste without increasing food waste. We also explore B2B vs. B2C: Navigating the differences between primary consumer packaging and tertiary logistics packaging, as well as leading Future Trends related to recycling, composting, and the next generation of packaging materials. A special thanks to our series sponsor, Crawford Packaging, for supporting this vital conversation.

Is increasing "audit fatigue" stifling genuine environmental progress? In this episode, we tackle the sustainability reporting paradox with John Mesko, CEO of the Potato Sustainability Alliance, Wyatt Maysey, Director of Sustainability, Taylor Farms, and Garland Perkins of Fresh Endeavors Consulting. Discover how the fresh produce industry can move from reactive compliance to "making our own playbook"—transforming the sustainability reporting burden into a strategic input for growth and prosperity.   This episode of Produce Talks podcast is sponsored by Crawford Packaging

In this episode of Produce Talks podcast, CPMA’s Dan Duguay sits down with Justine Taylor, the CSO of Topline Farms to discuss her career journey, the evolution of her role, and the leading challenges CSOs face today. Tune in to hear her perspective on the future of sustainability in fresh produce and her top advice for professionals just starting their journey.

In this episode, Jennifer Ong Tone, Manager of Health & Education at CPMA sits down with three alumni of CPMA’s Passion for Produce (PFP) Program – Biagio Fonicolo, Senior Buyer at Canadawide Fruits, Janis Deschênes, Sales Manager (Retail, Wholesale, & Food Service) at Highline Mushrooms, and Jenna Peters, Brand Promotions Manager at Mucci Farms to discuss their experiences in the PFP program, the biggest lessons they’ve learned, and their top tips for anyone applying for the 2026 PFP program. 

In this episode of Produce Talks, Shannon Sommerauer, CPMA Senior Director of Government Relations & Industry Technology is joined by George Pitsikoulis, CPMA past Chair and President and CEO of Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers Inc.,  Adri de Wet of Fresh Direct Produce, and Hutch Morton of J.E. Russell Produce for a bite-size conversation on the role of advocacy in supporting the fresh produce sector in Canada, and their experiences connecting new and returning Parliamentarians with the fresh produce supply chain in their communities.

The three talk leadership, advocacy, and the future of fresh produce. From navigating supply chain and geopolitical challenges to setting priorities for the year ahead, this candid conversation looks at where we’ve been, what’s next, and how CPMA continues to drive impact for the industry.

Produce Talks, brought to you by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, is back with shorter, more frequent episodes packed with what’s new in the produce industry. This season features a special sustainability series on food waste, packaging, and more, along with consumer insights with influencers, dietitians, and marketing research experts. We’ll also put a spotlight on people shaping the future of produce. Stay tuned – because the future of fresh starts here.

In an ever-shifting geopolitical environment, Canada has elected a minority government with many new faces on Parliament Hill. In this episode, CPMA President Ron Lemaire is joined by David Coletto, founder, Chair and CEO of Abacus Data. They break down the post-election political landscape and emerging consumer trends, what we know about Prime Minister Mark Carney and his leadership values, and what it all means for how we can advocate for industry priorities.   Speakers:  Ron Lemaire, President, CPMA David Coletto, Founder, Chair, and CEO of Abacaus Data

At the CPMA Annual Convention Ron Lemaire, CPMA and John Stackhouse from RBC held a fireside chat to explore the current state of the North American agri-food and produce market. They delve into key issues such as macroeconomic trends affecting supply chains, ongoing trade and market access challenges for agri-food, and the ripple effects of volatile stock markets on industry investment. They also examine the shifting retail and consumer behaviours in a potentially high-inflation environment, along with sustainability pressures, labour shortages, and logistics constraints that continue to shape the industry's growth trajectory.

CPMA President Ron Lemaire is very pleased to introduce MP Lianne Rood as CPMA’s 2024 Produce Champion. Lianne is the Member of Parliament for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex in Ontario. Joining the conversation are CPMA Board Members, Steve Bamford of Fresh Advancements and Quinton Woods of Gwillimdale Farms. CPMA’s annual Produce Champion award is given to a Member of Parliament or a Senator who has been supportive of the produce industry and effective at bringing industry issues to the forefront on Parliament Hill Subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players.

In this episode of Produce Talks, Dan Duguay, CPMA’s Sustainability Specialist, leads a discussion with Tom Pierce of Sobeys and Matt Aronson of Verdant Technologies. In an effort to improve sustainability in the supply chain for broccoli, these two companies worked together in a pilot project to remove ice from broccoli shipments and actually improve the shelf life of the product. They provide their insights in developing the process and how this innovation led to success at the farm, transport and the retail levels. Subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players.

In this episode of Produce Talks, we listen to the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Moderator Colin Chapdelaine of Whole Leaf, leads a discussion with 4 representatives from the retail sector. They provide their insights about changes in consumer buying and their strategies to enable Canadian consumers to continue to have access to healthy, affordable fresh produce. Panellists: • Tom Pierce of Sobeys   • Jerry Dzikowski of Giant Tiger   • Sierra Johnston of Save-On-Foods  • Mimmo Franzone of Longo’s. Subscribe to CPMA Produce Talks on Apple Podcasts, Simplecast and Spotify and on most other podcast players.  

In this episode of Produce Talks, we listen to the recording of a Learning Lounge from the recent CPMA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Moderator Jessica Levac of Bellemont Powell leads a discussion with 4 other women as they speak about the power of mentorship, how they have benefited from mentors and how women can get involved in a mentorship program. They also share key insights for other women in the industry. Our panelists are: • Devon Kennedy of Highline Mushrooms • Kate Isaacson of Fresh Direct Produce • Dorothy Redick of FirstFruits Farms • Colleen Goto of Freshpoint Vancouver