The theme of “Feeding Innovation” was a thread woven throughout the 76th Quebec Produce Marketing Association convention, held from Aug. 17-19 at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City.
At the event’s conferences and networking activities, QPMA members’ energy, resilience and creativity shone brightly during the exchanges and discussions, according to a news release.
2023 QPMA Board of Directors Chairman Chris Sarantis and conference Chairman Christian Riopel welcomed 536 convention participants, the release said. Two newly elected directors were also announced at the annual general meeting: Danny Boileau, a production manager representing the grower-packer-processor-shipper sector, and Domenico Procopio, a purchasing manager representing the wholesaler-importer-exporter sector.
QPMA releases strategic plan
During the meeting, Elke Steinwender of Maïeutyk presented the association’s 2023-2026 strategic plan, which sets the direction and priorities for the coming years. One of the four main directions outlined in the strategic plan is to “assert the QPMA as the voice of Quebec’s produce industry,” even more strongly than before, during a year that’s been difficult for producers in fields, orchards and greenhouses and for the entire fruit and vegetable distribution chain because of the effects of climate change, the release said.
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To echo this priority, two topical presentations on the water management outlook in Quebec and the U.S. were give — one by Isabelle Charest of Groupe Agéco and the other by Chris Drew of Ocean Mist Farms.
The QPMA also wanted to inject a bit of fun — and philosophy — into the conference, so it invited biologist, oceanographer and comedian Boucar Diouf to speak about water, winter, fruits and vegetables, and food in general, according to the release.
I Love Fruits and Veggies Movement gains support
Timed with the conference, the Quebec government announced $500,000 in funding for the I Love Fruits and Veggies Movement through combined subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Ministry of Health and Social Services. The grant will be used to run a major social marketing campaign aimed at raising awareness of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and promoting their consumption, particularly among vulnerable groups, according to the release.
An I Love Fruits and Veggies Movement-focused brunch gave produce leaders a chance to take stock of the movement’s five years of growth. With its energetic team of ambassadors-influencers and collaboration with a broad range of experts, the movement has become increasingly well-known, the release said.
Final banquet honors Quebec produce industry leader
The final highlight of the conference was a banquet hosted by Katerine-Lune Rollet. The evening’s highlights included Gérard Trudeau being honored as the pillar of the 2023 Quebec produce industry for his impressive career, vision and integrity and for the mentoring he’s paid forward to the sector’s next generation over the last few decades, the release said.
“Passion is about realizing who you are ... What’s your soul made of? Try to set an intention to live by when you’re young, as this will determine the harvest you reap in the autumn of your life. So, set our intentions and opportunities will spring from them,” Trudeau said in the release. “If you do this with love, the passion will always be there because you’re contributing to society, not waiting for society to be there to serve you ... I must extend my thanks first to my wife and two sons. Without them, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have.”
