Highlights from CPMA Montreal 2022
“The pandemic has made us think and do things differently,” CPMA president Ron Lemaire told delegates at the organization’s convention and trade show in Montreal last week. In his address, Lemaire spoke of where the industry is now and where it’s headed. “And we have seen success. We’ve seen change. We’ve seen a range of opportunities.”
Despite “massive” supply disruptions over the past few years—thanks to COVID as well as environmental events in the form of wild fires, heat domes, floods etc.—the produce industry has learned to adapt, find solutions and “do our best to put food on the shelves for Canadians,” said Lemaire.
From regulatory change to geopolitical issues that are impacting access to inputs, new challenges are impacting our businesses, said the CPMA president. “We are already dealing with fertilizer costs, packaging costs—material costs [are] already skyrocketing.” In addition, we're seeing a decline in the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, as Canadians grapple with rising food prices thanks to inflation, and this is something the industry must confront.
And in an increasingly tech-driven, connected industry, another challenge looms—that of cybersecurity. “This is our next greatest threat,” said Lemaire. “Cybersecurity is not a singular approach for our industry; it is an industry approach and the connectivity of businesses is key. We need to make sure that the weakest link is secured and that all the pieces of our sector come together. If you do not have a cybersecurity plan, get one!”
The health, particularly the mental health of the workforce is another matter to keep top of mind. Mental health is a growing concern in Canada and around the world, and the pandemic hasn't helped matters. So what are we doing to support our staff? Lemaire asked. “It’s harder and harder to find people. The people we have are resources, and recognizing mental health in the workplace is going to be key to ensure that as we move forward, they’re there with us.”
READ: CPMA's 2022 New Product Showcase winners
And then there is the need to find ways to meet changing consumer needs, drive innovation and tackle important ESG issues around diversity, equity and inclusion and sustainability. Work is already underway, said Lemaire and collaborating to find solutions will bring about change. “The industry reunited is key to us driving forward.”
In fact, the theme of this year's show—which returned to an in-person event last week after two years of virtual events—was "Industry Reunited." Here are some highlights from the CPMA show floor:
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From Quebec, Mamzells specialty potatoes are presented in shapes and colours "very different" from regular spuds -
CPMA's annual convention and trade show returned to Montreal for a live event in April -
Montreal's Loop Mission turns rejected produce into flavourful beverages (and other items). At the show Loop was debuting its line of prebiotic lemonades -
Grown in the jungles of Costa Rica, Del Monte says its Pinkglow pineapple is the only pink variety in the world -
Earth Fresh was one of 270 exhibitors showcasing their wares at CPMA 2022 -
HIghline Mushrooms won Best New Product at the show for its Simple Sides saute kit -
Quebec's NaturSource won Best Snackable Product award for its Salted Hot Cocoa Chocolate and Cinnamon Nut Mix -
On the trade show floor at CPMA's 96th annual show -
Star Group was presented with the Best New Technology award for supporting the research of Queen's University's Open Plastic Initiative, which aims to reduce single-use plastics -
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and more from Kingsville, Ont.'s Red Sun Farms -
Toronto's Mother Raw was showcasing new additions to its plant-based dips -
At the Topline booth, these Apeel protected English cucumbers are coated with a plant-based layer (using materials existing in produce peels, seeds and pulp) to keep moisture in and oxygen out so the produce lasts twice as long - no plastic -
B.C.'s CubicFarms was one of a handful of companies at the show presenting automated indoor growing systems that use no pesticides, shorten supply chains and use less water and land to produce food -
B.C.'s Oppy and UP Vertical Farms were giving attendees a sneak peek of their new line of leafy greens produced at a touchless, high-density vertical farm