Submit your nomination for Canadian Produce Person of the Year
The Packer is calling for nominations for its annual Canadian Produce Person of the Year award, which will be presented April 26 at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s convention banquet in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Nominations can be made online, and the submission deadline is April 16.
The award is presented to a worthy candidate who has made outstanding contributions toward the interests of fresh produce marketers, and may represent any sector of the trade, allied industry or government.
Since 1973 The Packer has chosen the winner with the help of industry nominations from across Canada.
“It’s been a tremendous honor the past decade to present this award to a great contributor to the Canadian produce industry,” said The Packer’s Publisher Shannon Shuman, who will present the award again this year.
Past honorees
- 1973: Jack Wolfe, The Oshawa Group Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
- 1974: Irwin Hockenstein, Berlet Fruit Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 1975: William Daman, Canadian Horticultural Council & Canadian Fruit Wholesaler’s Association, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1976: Ken Todd Scott, National Co. Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 1977: Paul Soulier, Scott National Co. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- 1978: Gary Hammonds, The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 1979: Ian Greenwood, B.C. Tree Fruits Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia
- 1980: Steve Ewachow, Rite Pak Produce, Toronto, Ontario
- 1981: John Van der Zalm, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Toronto, Ontario
- 1982: Ken Hunter, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1983: Ken Kirsch Scott, National Co. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- 1984: Jacques Brazeau, Courchesne Larose Ltée, Montréal, Québec
- 1985: Garry Wagner, Garry Wagner & Associates Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- 1986: Graham Sanford, Bolands Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia
- 1987: Leonard Arsenault, Uni-Globe SA Representations Inc., Ste. Julie, Quebec
- 1988: Don Rhyno, The Grocery People Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
- 1989: Jacques Obry, Metro Richelieu Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 1990: Dan Dempster, CPMA/ACDFL, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1991: Mike Watson, The Food Group Inc., Saint John, New Brunswick
- 1992: Gerald Rozee, Johnson & Rozee Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia
- 1993: Robert Sawyer, Metro Richelieu Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 1994: Susan Sutherland, Fresh for Flavour Foundation/CPMA/ACDFL, Ottawa, Ontario
- 1995: James P. Diodati, The Ontario Produce Co., Toronto, Ontario
- 1996: Wayne McKnight, Sobeys Inc., Milton, Ontario
- 1997: Glenn Baty, Star Produce, Calgary, Alberta
- 1998: Ghislain Perron, Metro Richelieu Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 1999: Terry Lindemann, Bridge Brand, a GFS Canada Co., Calgary, Alberta
- 2000: John Anderson, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, British Columbia
- 2001: Stephen Whitney, Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp., Ottawa, Ontario
- 2002: Christian Bourbonniere, Metro Richelieu Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 2003: Doug Grant, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, British Columbia
- 2004: Leo Baribeau, Star Produce Ltd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 2005: Rick Wallis, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, British Columbia
- 2006: Martin Desrochers, Mirabel (Hydroserre Mirabel Inc.), Mirabel, Quebec
- 2007: Tom Byttynen, Thomas Fresh Inc., Calgary, Alberta
- 2008: Beth Pattillo, Kings Produce Ltd., Canning, Nova Scotia
- 2009: Adrian Abbott, B.C. Tree Fruits Ltd., Kelowna, British Columbia
- 2010: Jim DiMenna, J-D Marketing, Leamington, Ontario
- 2011: Bernadette Hamel, Metro Richelieu Inc., Montreal, Quebec
- 2012: Jane Proctor, CPMA/ACDFL, Ottawa, Ontario
- 2013: Walt Breeden, The Oppenheimer Group, Coquitlam, British Columbia
- 2014: Eric Biddiscombe, Loblaw Cos., Cambridge, Ontario
- 2015: Mike Furi, The Grocery People Ltd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 2016: Hugh Bowman, Global Citrus Group Inc., Burlington, Ontario
