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Areas of Focus

CPMA's vision is to enable and lead the produce industry by enhancing the market and facilitating trade of fresh fruits and vegetables for its members. To accomplish this, CPMA focuses its efforts on the following key activities:

Food Safety

• Maintain efforts regarding the development and implementation of national, HACCP and HACCP-based food safety standards and guidelines for the produce industry.
• Repacking & Wholesale Food Safety Program
• Food Safety Standardization
• Food Safety Recall Procedures
• Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education

Government Trade Relations

• Work to harmonize – and develop mutual recognition of – government regulations within, into and from Canada.
• Monitor government legislative and regulatory action to minimize commercial and administrative impacts to the produce industry.
• Fair and Ethical Trading Trade and Commerce
• Regulations: Customs, Plant Health, Pesticides, Labelling and Transportation
• Doing Business in Canada

Industry Efficiency Technology

• Coordinate produce industry efficiency issues that impact on the movement of fruits and vegetables throughout the supply chain. These include produce coding and traceability.
• Continuing participation on national and international committees and task forces to ensure international solutions for produce efficiency standardization issues.
• Educate the industry about industry efficiency and technological change.
• Provide industry input to initiatives led by government and standardization organizations.
• International Federation for Produce Standards (IFPS)
• Provide related resources.

Health and Nutrition

• Develop and enhance educational materials about fruits and vegetables.
• Assist industry on food labeling – specifically fruit labels and vegetable labels.
• Tools and Tips
• Fruits and Vegetables – A to Z

Marketing and Promotion

• Educate Canadians about the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle through the Fruits and Veggies – Mix it up!™ program.
• Educate the consumers of tomorrow through the Freggie™ Children’s Program which features Freggie Tales Adventures™, the Freggie Friday™ in school program and so much more.
• Work in cooperation with regional produce association programs to better support the fresh fruit and vegetable industry.
• Develop partnership opportunities to highlight member activities.
• Highlight Foodservice initiatives in Canada.
• Track consumer trends and statistics relative to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Networking

• Provide CPMA members with an opportunity to network with more than 3000 industry leaders at CPMA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show – Canada’s premier produce event.
• Membership benefits, programs and services.

Education and Training

• Provide the CPMA Webinar series to the produce industry on issues affecting our members’ business.
• Fresh Facts Series
• Passion for Produce™ Mentorship Program

CPMA’s handbook, CPMA at a Glance, provides an overview of CPMA’s activity within the fresh fruits and vegetables industry in Canada. Contact us today to learn more about our organization.