CPMA president, Ron Lemaire, delivered his State of the Industry Address at the 2024 Fresh Week highlighting theresilience of the fresh produce sector amid global challenges.

In his speech, Lemaire described the past year as one marked by turbulences including floods, wildfires, labour shortages,geopolitical issues and more. He spoke at length about three factors that are influencing the ongoing challenges within the industry.

First, sustainability has become a critical issue sparking conversations within and beyond the produce supply chain. Urging industry members to have a pragmatic approach to this important issue, Lemaire highlighted CPMA’s work with partners to address sustainability including:

-  A policy paper on sustainability released by the Global Coalition for Fresh Produce

-  The initiative to advance discussions around a standardized approach to sustainability at the Friday, April 26 International Sustainability Summit.

Secondly, political upheaval is in the forecast as Canada and more than 80 countries across the globe gear up forelections in the coming months. Lemaire provided an overview of the current Canadian political landscape. Citing policy shifts, alliance fractures, and regulation changes, he outlined how these changes impact the produce industry and called upon members to be proactive in advocating for the industry to address political barriers to its growth and longevity.

“We are not mere spectators. We are architects of our destiny,” said Lemaire. “I have seen an industry stand tall, in the European Union, here in Canada and North America. We engage, we advocate, and we safeguard our interests, knowing that stability lies in our collective resolve.”

Thirdly, consumer behaviour is changing. Describing the consumer as the most important influencer and focus of boththe politicians and the produce industry, Lemaire outlined different categories of consumers and their ever- evolving needs that all signal three clear key messages for the industry. Consumers want quality products, fair prices, and the best shelf life.

To sum up his address, Lemaire highlighted innovation, collaboration, adaptation and purpose- driven leadership as key elements in addressing the industry’s challenges.

“The concept of navigating uncharted territories is not new to the produce industry but part of its DNA,” said Lemaire. “There is no sector like ours that needs to adapt in some form daily. When confronted with challenges, we recalibrate routes, forge new partnerships, and ensure that the lifeblood of our industry flows undeterred. This skill allows our industry to feed this nation and drives success in putting food on the tables in Canadian households.”

Source:  Canadian Produce Marketing Association April 24, 2024 news release