On August 31st, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) hosted 23 embassies and 11 industry representatives at a luncheon event in Ottawa. Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Agricultural Minister-Counselors received valuable foundational information on how their vendors can ensure they are “export ready” and to encourage country delegation participation in CPMA’s upcoming Convention and Trade Show in Toronto.
From left to right: Wendy Goico, Counsellor, Embassy of Dominican Republic; His Excellency Tariq Azijm Khan, High Commissioner, High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; George Pitsikoulis, Canadawide Fruits; Renso Herrera Franco, Trade and Business Advisor, Embassy of Dominican Republic; Fred Webber, DRC
Participants were impressed with the breadth of information provided and affirmed that events such as these are essential to continue engagement with the embassies and their commercial trade offices to facilitate the smooth export and import of fresh fruit and vegetables. This included understanding the seasonality of Canadian production so that international exporters understand when there are gaps in availability that they can fill.
From left to right: Sam Silvestro, Walmart Canada & CPMA Chair; Fred Webber, DRC; Tanya Sefolo, Minister Plenipotentiary, South African High Commission
Industry participants were pleased with the chance to discuss potential trade opportunities with the countries represented, and expressed interest in participating in future events.
From left to right: Kerem Soyak, Commercial Expert, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey; Steve Young, The Oppenheimer Group; David Dube, Krown Produce; Oleen Smethurst, Costco Canada; Alberto Arosemena Medina, Ambassador of Panama; Ron Lemaire, CPMA.
From left to right: Tomasz Kijewski, Senior Expert Economic & Energy Affairs, Embassy of Poland; Fouzia Dine, Economic Attachee, Embassy of France; Steve Boulianne, Metro; Maria Castro, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Guatemala; Rafal Pawlak, Chief Trade Commissioner, Embassy of Poland; Mihai Lupescu, Agricultural Specialist, Embassy of the United States of America; Andrea Bernier, DRC.
From left to right: Sam Silvestro, Walmart Canada & CPMA Chair; His Excellency Agustin Garcia-Lopez, Ambassador, Embassy of Mexico; Ron Lemaire, CPMA; Holly Higgins, Agricultural Minister-Counselor, Embassy of the United States of America; Iker Reyes Godelmann, Ministro, Embassy of Mexico; David Dube, Krown Produce; His Excellency Rafel Raul Barak, Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Israel.
For more information:
Vanessa Schwarz
Manager, Communications
Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Tel: 613-226-4187 ext. 225