QPMA names 2017-18 Next-Generation intern
GATINEAU, Quebec — As the Quebec Produce Marketing Association celebrated its 70th year with its annual convention Aug. 17-19 in Gatineau, the association’s Next-Generation Intern program entered its sixth year by naming Catherine Hamel as the 2017-18 intern.
The program began with the forming of the Next Generation Committee in 2012 to put into action the intent of cultivating the younger generation’s involvement in and leadership of the association and the Quebec produce industry.
As the QPMA continues its mission of increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in Quebec, it’s good to have the perspective and input of someone younger, said Enrico Charest, head buyer for Sobeys Quebec, who leads the Next Generation Committee.
Simon-Pierre Murdock, president of distributor Morille (Morel) Quebec, said his year as the 2016-17 intern was valuable in gaining an understanding of the different sectors of the produce industry as he met people and participated in numerous meetings and events. (See story here.)
Murdock finished his year by describing the highlights of his internship to attendees of the industry brunch Aug. 19.
In a departure from previous years when the identity of the next year’s intern was revealed previous to the convention, Hamel’s selection from a group of six candidates was kept secret until the end of the industry brunch.
Hamel has been working in the produce industry for more than eight years, starting at her father’s food brokerage firm Pieral Ltee (Ltd.), where she ended up responsible for the fresh produce division.
In April, she was hired as director of business development at Boucherville, Quebec-based Clark Drouin Lefebvre Inc., where she is responsible for brand management and sales of produce and bakery items.
Hamel said she first got involved with the association seven years ago at the urging of incoming QPMA board president Francis Berube, produce merchandising manager of Sobeys Quebec, when she began attending events and joined the marketing committee.
HamelHer involvement over the years gave her a chance to see what QPMA does (it’s not just about fun social events for members), and she applied for the internship several years ago and again this year wanting to learn more through hands-on involvement.
“It’s an opportunity to learn and see how one thing affects another, understand how things relate and get perspective,” Hamel said.
As she attends numerous meetings over the next year and is involved with the newly formed Next Generation Network and more, Hamel said she looks forward to seeing how Quebec’s produce industry works together for the common cause of increasing consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
