Produce Talks

Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Produce Talks is the monthly CPMA podcast. The podcast is available through the CPMA website and iTunes, with member exclusive content reserved for the CPMA member community. Each month we explore issues and developments in the produce industry by connecting with our members and a network of experts.

  • 29 minutes 12 seconds
    How Design Thinking is Shaping the Future of Sustainable Produce Packaging

    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.

    17 April 2026, 8:00 pm
  • 13 minutes 24 seconds
    Latest trends in produce consumption

    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

    9 March 2026, 4:00 am
  • 22 minutes 55 seconds
    Innovation in produce industry

    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.

    25 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 21 minutes 56 seconds
    Canadian consumer trends in produce shopping

    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.

    28 January 2026, 4:30 pm
  • 35 minutes 13 seconds
    Reflecting on 2025 and key insights for a stronger 2026 produce industry

    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.

    16 December 2025, 5:15 pm
  • 33 minutes 18 seconds
    Beyond waste reduction - Redefining sustainable 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.

    2 December 2025, 5:00 am
  • 37 minutes 57 seconds
    From burden to advantage: Rethinking sustainability reporting and assurance

    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

    18 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 14 minutes 38 seconds
    My Produce Story - Sustainability: A Lifelong Pursuit

     In this episode of Produce Talks podcast, CPMA’s Dan Duguay sits down with Justine Taylor, chief sustainability officer (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.

    4 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 16 minutes 17 seconds
    Growing Your Career in Produce: Insights from the Passion for Produce Program Alumni

    In this episode, Jennifer Ong Tone, Manager of Health & Education at CPMA sits down with three alumni of CPMA’s Passion for Produce (PFP) ProgramBiagio 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. 

    21 October 2025, 4:05 am
  • 27 minutes 43 seconds
    Advocacy for fresh produce

    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, President of Fresh Direct Produce, and Hutch Morton, Senior Vice President 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.

    14 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 27 minutes 31 seconds
    Between Two Chairs: Navigating Change in Canada’s Produce Sector

    CPMA President Ron Lemaire sits down with CPMA Chair Steve Bamford, CEO of Fresh Advancements, Bamford Produce, and Freshline Foods, and past CPMA Chair George Pitsikoulis, President and CEO of Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers Inc.

    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.

    30 September 2025, 4:00 am
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