Women in Produce logo

Launched in 2020 by CPMA in partnership with Grocery Business, Outstanding Women in Produce is an initiative that recognizes the exceptional work of women in the produce industry.

Each year, CPMA puts out a call for the industry to nominate women who have made outstanding contributions, been part of an industry-changing initiative, or stood out in their organization.

Nominations are submitted in the following categories: sales, leadership, marketing, operations, and management.

Nominees must work for a CPMA member company.

Selected honourees are featured in the March/April issue of Grocery Business magazine and recognized at a reception during CPMA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show. 

2025 honourees


2025 honourees

Arabe Sovunthar

Arabe Sovunthar

Category Manager, Berries
Burnac Produce

Cara Porter

Cara Porter

Sr Director, Quality Assurance - Fresh
Loblaw Companies Limited

Gillian Digman

Gillian Digman

Chief Operating Officer
Big Marble Farms/RedHat Cooperative

Kristin Lambiris

Kristin Lambiris

Senior Director of Enterprise Operations - The Star Group
Star Produce Ltd

Lara Paulenz

Lara Paulenz

Produce Buyer
Pattison Food Group

Myriam Tremblay

Myriam Tremblay

Vice President, produce merchandising, sourcing and Replenishment
Sobeys

Pamela Kolochuk

Pamela Kolochuk

Chief Executive Officer
Peak of the Market Ltd.

Samantha Simpson

Samantha Simpson

Procurement Buyer- Melons, Nuts, and Dried Fruit
Loblaw Companies Limited

Stella Tran

Stella Tran

Produce Procurement Supervisor
Federated Cooperatives Limited

Tecla Masciarelli

Tecla Masciarelli

Director, Central Procurement – Produce
Metro

Amanda Labuckas
Director, Fresh Category Management and Merchandising, Discount Format
Freshco
Ashley McPhee
Procurement Director, Bananas, Tropical & Melons
Loblaw Companies Limited
Ester Sattler
President and CEO
Fresh Mix
Fernanda Albuquerque
Packaging Development Manager
Mucci Farms
Joëlle Biron
Director, Central Procurement
Metro
Kim Chackal
Director of Sales and Marketing, Co-Owner
Equifruit
Kori Martin
Sales Manager
Oppy
Leah Hardy
Regional Sales Manager
Wonderful Sales
Michelle Symington
Category Manager, Floral
Pattison Food Group
Yenifer Rambarran
Senior Manager, Article Data Operations, Produce Article
Loblaw Companies Limited
Amanda Knauff
Director of Sales
Taylor Farms
Audrey Desnoyers
Director of Business Development & Key Account Management
Oppy
Emily Murracas
Director of Marketing
Mucci Farms
Evelyne Rivard
Regional Sales Manager, Eastern Canada
The Little Potato Company
Haley Cookson
Category Manager – Produce
Save-On-Foods
Leona Neill
Director, Marketing & Packing
Red Sun Farms
Liron Meshel
Sourcing Manager
Sobeys Inc.
Melanie Wilson
Director of Produce Presentation
IGA
Ramila Mudarth
Pricing Lead - Produce
Loblaw Companies Limited
Rochelle Sardinha
Program Sales Manager
Gambles Group of Companies
Chantal Desjardins
Executive Vice President
Les Serres Lefort Inc.
Jennie Coleman
President
Equifruit
Jennifer Taylor
Director Produce Procurement
Loblaw Companies Limited
Julie Poitras-Saulnier
CEO and Cofounder
LOOP Mission
Julie Trépanier
Sales and Merchandising Supervisor
The Wonderful Company
Martine Papineau
Director of Inbound Transportation
Metro Inc.
Stephanie Lariviere
Sales/Regulatory Manager
Erie James Limited
Susan Leung
Director of Import and Export
Fresh Direct Produce
Susanne Bertolas
Business Development Representative
Oppy
Victoria Archbold
Floral Specialist
Save-On-Foods
Angela Santiago
CEO, Co-Founder
Little Potato Company
Ashley Pinto
Produce Procurement Category Director
Loblaw Companies Limited
Carliegh White
Procurement Manager
Walmart Canada
Jane Rhyno
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Highline Mushrooms
Lindsay Young
Category Development Manager
Federated Co-operatives
Luci Faas
Product Development Specialist
Nature Fresh Farms
Michèle McMillan
Director of National Accounts
Thomas Fresh
Mireille Thibodeau
Vice President of Purchasing & Merchandising, Perishable Products
Sobeys Inc.
Tammy Vautour
Director of Produce Quality Assurance
Metro Richelieu Inc.
Trudi Oberfield
Vice President of Creative
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