CPMA sessions cover meal delivery, young workers
Between networking and discovering new products, the annual Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention offers opportunities to catch up on the latest trends and hot topics in the produce industry.
President Ron Lemaire said the two Wednesday morning business sessions, open to full delegates and trade show participants, will deal with the changing produce landscape.
First up is the rise of alternative food delivery models offering healthy, preportioned meals with recipes. Canadian contenders include leader Chefs Plate and newcomer Hello Fresh from Europe, while Blue Apron, founded in 2012, ships eight million meals a month in the U.S.
Lemaire said the second session will deal with changing demographics in the workplace, and how to work with the new generations of employees.
Dietitians, produce managers
Dietitians from across the country will get their own education session, followed by access to the trade show floor.
“They’ll be able to find the answers to questions their clients ask, from what is local, what do imports mean and what is CanadaGAP,” he said.
“They can become champions for the industry and help drive our message.”
Retail produce managers, a minimum of 150 a day, have also been invited back to the show for two days of training sessions and a chance to walk the show floor.
“We sell out every year,” said Lemaire, “but you have to preregister.”
Learning sessions
CPMA Learning Lounges on the show floor are also back, from 12:30 to 3:15 on Thursday.
Lemaire said this year’s 30-minute sessions will focus on food safety, the globalization of produce with a focus on ethnic merchandising, and a session on how to attract, mentor and advance women in produce.
“A lot of people have asked why we don’t have a Women in Produce program,” he said, “but we don’t want to duplicate what others are doing.”
He expects this year’s session to “start the conversation” and see where it goes.
“If something comes from it afterward we as CPMA will support it,” he said.
