The Half Your Plate Campaign announced that Chef Michael Smith will act as the brand’s new ambassador. He is a passionate advocate for cooking fresh, healthy food at home.

Since its introduction in 2010, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Passion for Produce has drawn scores of young members of the produce industry to a unique mentoring program, and the 2015 program to be held at the 90th annual convention and trade show in Montreal boasts a new milestone in PFP attendance.

According to CPMA President Ron Lemaire, 19 “rising stars” in the industry will take part in this year’s mentoring program.

As it achieves the venerable mark of 90 annual produce conventions, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association stays true to its course with the theme “Educate, Create, Innovate” for the April 15-17 event at the famed Palais des congres de Montreal in historic Old Montreal.

Harvesting at Windset Farms’ British Columbia greenhouse has begun, and with this local production the company announced it will partner with Food Banks BC to provide weekly donations for its entire season.

This commitment will provide more than 60,000 pounds in fresh, greenhouse-grown cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.

Up here in the northland it seems like weather is a daily topic of conversation. At this time of year, as we transition from winter to spring, I’ve been hearing a lot of people talking about “weather whiplash” due to the wild swings in temperature from day to day. I was wondering if the floral industry might also suffer from “spring holiday whiplash.”

In the heart of downtown Los Angeles is L.A. LIVE, the sports and entertainment district that surrounds Staples Center and Nokia Theatre, featuring sports and music venues, nightclubs, the Grammy Museum and several movie theaters. On March 11-13 it was also alive with the 16th edition of the annual World Floral Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center and it was a busy few days for members of the floral industry, networking and conducting business with each other.