CPMA recognizes Murray Driediger with Lifetime Achievement Award
Murray Driediger, president and CEO of BC Fresh Vegetables Inc., has been named the 2024 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
The award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions to the fresh produce industry.
Driediger’s career spans more than 40 years, beginning in 1979 at his family’s business, Driediger Bros. Farms Ltd., where he worked as the managing partner.
Over time, he developed a supply network of over 40 growers as well as a distribution network for six fruit commodities throughout North America.
Since then, he has held various senior roles within the industry. As BC Vegetable Marketing Commission’s general manager, Driediger helped guide the expansion in the root crop and greenhouse sectors.
In 2005, he moved into the role of president of the Golden Eagle Group.
He then joined BC Fresh in 2007 as president and CEO, where he has remained for the past 17 years.
Driediger transitioned the company from an on-farm distribution model to a central distribution network, resulting in two warehouse expansions in the last 14 years. Under his leadership, the company now markets and distributes an expanded produce offering from 60 farms, consisting of 8,000 acres and 95,000 tons in annual produce sales.
Driediger has served on several boards, including CPMA, the North American Tomato Trade Working Group, the Canada-US Potato Committee and BC Strawberry Growers Association.
He has earned such accolades as The Packer's Canadian Produce Person of the Year Award in 2018, and the British Columbia Produce Marketing Association’s 2017 Produce Person of the Year Award.
“Murray has been a prominent figure in the produce industry from his time working on the family farm to leading BC Fresh. His dedication to advancing the sector has truly left a lasting impact,” said Ron Lemaire, CPMA president, in a statement. “As a CPMA Board member for 10 years and past Chair of the Leadership Committee, Murray actively supported various initiatives. Notably, he championed the Freggie children’s program and advocated for enhanced financing tools for the industry, including the establishment of a financial protection mechanism for produce growers and sellers, now recognized as Bill C-280. His commitment to the industry’s growth, governance, and well-being has been commendable.”
Driediger will be presented with this award alongside other industry members and businesses at the CPMA Convention and Trade Show’s Awards Brunch on April 25 in Vancouver.
