The 2014 CPMA Convention and Trade Show will take place April 2-4 in Vancouver, BC, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Below are some of the highlights of this year’s show. For more details and the full schedule, visit CPMA.ca.

Tuesday, April 1 & Wednesday, April 2:

The convention kicks off on Tuesday, April 1 with the Directors and New Members’ Reception, followed on Wednesday, April 2 with the Retail Tour, CPMA Members Annual General Meeting and Chair’s Welcome Reception.

Thursday, April 3:

Promoting the consumption of fruits and vegetables has been a key message across the produce industry, and the Calgary Produce Marketing Association has been busy doing just that.

The association’s focus is to increase brand awareness through a robust education initiative in the schools and community. This year, Calgary PMA supported several successful school-based healthy eating programs.

Christopher Ranch, headquartered in Gilroy, CA, is taking its wide range of high-quality products across the U.S.-Canada border with correct bi-lingual labels, which it will feature at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver, BC, on April 2-4.

“Christopher Ranch will be at Booth No.101 at the event,” said Patsy Ross, vice president of marketing. “We will be represented there by Rich Pirozzoli, sales representative, and Jeff Stokes, vice president of sales for our company.”

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has donated $550,000 to Explore & More Children’s Museum, and with that, puts the Wegmans name on the From Farm To Fork educational play zone, as well as the Galley cooking area. In addition, The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation has donated $500,000 to support the new museum’s rooftop garden.

Horticulture Nova Scotia held its Scotia Horticultural Congress 2014 convention on Jan. 27-28 in Greenwich, Nova Scotia. The successful event grew 10 percent from last year, attracting 258 delegates and over 45 booths at the tradeshow, which sold out early for space.

“This congress was one of the most successful to date — a great turnout, with amazing and very informative speakers. Our trade show was exceptional, with some new entrants complementing those who participate each year,” said Marlene Huntley, executive director of the association.

On Feb. 10, CanadaGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) held its first annual general meeting of members to elect a new board of directors. The new board will focus on rolling out the new Option D certification for re-packers and wholesalers.

The new board members are Jack Bates of Tecarte Farms, Hugh Bowman of Misionero Vegetables, Avia Eek of Eek Farms, Keith Kuhl of Peak of the Market, Stephanie Lariviere of Erie James Ltd., Paul Leblanc of Apple Growers of New Brunswick, Cathy McKay of Nature’s Bounty, and Dean Thomson of Thomson Orchards.