CPMA announces new board of directors

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association has announced the election of its new board of directors.

Mike Furi, manager of procurement and pricing for The Grocery People will be the association's new chair.

He took on the role from Bernadette Hamel, VP of national procurement for produce at Metro. During her time as chair, Hamel helped launch CPMA's Half Your Plate program, which encourages Canadians to fill at least half their plates with fruits and vegetables.

The member companies of CPMA are responsible for 90% of fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada.

The new members of the board of directors are:

Executive committee:



Chair: Mike Furi, The Grocery People
Past chair: Bernadette Hamel, Metro Richelieu
First vice-chair: Sam Silvestro, Walmart Canada
Second vice-chair: Rick Alcocer, Duda Farm Fresh Foods
Executive committee member: Les Mallard, Chiquita Brands North America

Board members:

Murray Driediger, BC Fresh Vegetables Inc
George Pitsikoulis, Canadawide Fruit Wholesalers
Byron Bellows, Colemans Food Centres
Jean-Guy Mazerolle, Co-op Atlantic
Oleen Smethurst, Costco Wholesale Canada
Guy Milette, Courchesne Larose Ltee
Stephan Schmekel, Del Monte Fresh Produce Canada
Davis Yung, Fresh Direct Produce Ltd
Joel Ippolito, Ippolito Fruit & Produce Ltd
David Dube, Krown Produce
Eric Biddiscombe, Loblaw Companies
Mimmo Franzone, Longo Brothers Fruit Markets
Mario Masellis, M.L. Catania Co. Ltd
Tim York, Markon Cooperative
Joe Sbrocchi, Mastronardi Produce
Andrea Palmer, Nova Agri Inc
Kendra Mills, PEI Potato Board
Michele McMillan, Sobeys National Procurement
Colin Chapdelaine, Star Produce
Brian Slagel, Sunkist Growers
John Corsaro, The Giumarra Companies
Steve Young, The Oppenheimer Group
Brian Hampton, The Produce People
Scott Fairbairn, Thrifty Foods (Jace Holdings)
Gerry Van Winden, Veg Pro International
Mike Ecker, Vineland Growers' Co-operative