Produce Stories

1. What is your earliest produce memory? Travelling to my first PMA in Atlanta…., seeing the magnitude of the produce industry on display…and then seeing the close personal relationships our team had with some of the biggest companies in produce. The industry looked so massive yet so personal at the same time.
2. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing the produce sector right now? My father used to say, “problems are my friends, and I’ve got lots of friends.”  We’ve all had lots of “friends” over the last two years – no one has been immune. The produce industry is used to dealing with challenges and more than most industries, takes them in stride and keeps on pushing forward. The biggest challenges this year have been weather-related.  From heat domes to floods in BC, it has been very challenging for growers in 2021.  We couldn’t wait to turn the page on the calendar. We are optimistic for 2022!      
3. What advice would you offer a young person starting a career in produce? To quote Mark Twain I’m a great believer in luck.  “The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have.” The sky is the limit in this industry.  Just start, work hard and see where the journey takes you.  You could get lucky along the way! 
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of your business and volunteering with CPMA? Show me the kitchen and turn me loose. There is nothing better for me than preparing and enjoying a great meal with friends and family. 
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? X-ray vision. 

1. What is your earliest produce memory? I remember shopping and working alongside my grandfather in the family grocery store as a young boy. That was the start of a retail career that lasted throughout my school years.
2. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing the produce sector right now? Currently, the movement of goods through the entire supply chain is a big challenge in Canada.
3. What advice would you offer a young person starting a career in produce? Stay curious and passionate! Ask a lot of questions, there are no dumb questions.
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of your business and volunteering with CPMA? I am very curious about geography and travel and can’t wait for my next trip. I like to eat what the locals eat but have a great ability to find an Italian restaurant almost anywhere.
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? The ability to speak and understand any language on earth. 

After almost 20 years in the produce industry, Guy Milette joined Courchesne Larose in 2000 as International Manager and Business Development. It was the beginning of new era for Courchesne Larose.

At the onset of his promotion to Vice-President, he took over responsibility of all the international procurement up until 2010. Under Guy’s meticulous guidance which involved several new strategic alliances with major suppliers and customers, Courchesne quickly built the largest team of traders in the Canadian market with more than 65 buyers & sellers. After several acquisitions Courchesne Group remains a leader in the Canadian produce industry.

Currently as Executive vice-president, Guy is known as a produce fanatic and performance freak, always looking and pushing forward to get closer to perfection.

Proud of an important annual average growth for the past few decades, Guy and his team at Courchesne Larose continue to set the bar for their role as outstanding leaders in both service and performance within the produce distribution industry.

Previously to Courchesne Larose, Guy was involved in several produce activities, some of which include the export of Quebec grown vegetables and several other international import programs.

As part of the board of directors of the CPMA, Guy sits on the Executive Board and this year he is acting as Chair of CPMA 2022. His CPMA involvements also include the North American Trade Committee, CPMA Government Issues Management Working Group and Leadership Committee. He is also active in the CFIA National Industry Advisory board.

The rumor has it, he may have been born in a cabbage patch…

1. What is your earliest produce memory? I started in the industry after university when I joined Van Whole produce and continued there for 10 years. In 2003 I, along with my two co-founders, started Fresh Direct Produce LTD., and have continued to grow it into the company it is today.
2. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing the produce sector right now? The fragility of the world, and by that, I mean all the logistics involved in the produce supply chain. We saw during COVID that the world could and did shut down overnight. That is a possibility that we will face every day.
3. What advice would you offer a young person starting a career in produce? Explore the world and be bold. Produce is a platform that brings people together. It can be a catalyst to empower humanity. Learn everything you can and get involved with opportunities that present themselves.
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of your business and volunteering with CPMA? I love to be active and get out on my bike whenever I can. I am currently training to compete in a master’s track and field, a passion I had in my high school days.
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? A better memory, especially for names and faces.

1. What is your earliest produce memory? I was practically born into the produce business as my parents operated a retail store in downtown Montreal. By the age of eight or nine, I was doing deliveries on my bike, and as a teenager, I was managing our store.
2. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing the produce sector right now? Delays in the supply chain, congestion at our ports, and sourcing international produce are certainly providing challenges at the moment.
3. What advice would you offer a young person starting a career in produce? You have to find your balance. The produce industry operates 24/7, and it’s not always possible to shut down because it’s “after hours.” You need to be tuned into the communications but learn how to prioritize and find your personal balance.
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of your business and volunteering with CPMA? I’m a huge NFL football fan and if I’m not busy at 7:00 pm, you’ll find me playing along with Jeopardy! My favourite pastime though is spending time with my three grandchildren.
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? The ability to read other people’s thoughts.

1. What is your earliest produce memory? As a 10-year-old, I was peeling onions in the summer. The first morning was the toughest, but once I realized my dad wouldn’t accept my resignation, I settled in and committed to produce for the long haul!
2. In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge facing the produce sector right now? The relationships within our sector are shifting, and this provides a challenge. Consolidation among retail leads to fewer buyers and our relationship with them becomes more important than ever. Staff relationships are important. Developing and maintaining staff is one of our priorities.
3. What advice would you offer a young person starting a career in produce? Be patient. Experience is acquired over time, and with experience, there’s room to grow. Produce is a tough business and there are lots of lessons you need to learn, so be patient.
4. What do you enjoy doing outside of your business and volunteering with CPMA? I love to play pick-up hockey and still have a backyard rink. I sometimes let my family use it too!
5. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would like to predict the future. 

1. What is your earliest memory of working in the produce industry? I started working for Oppy in November 1995. This was my introduction to the business from an IT perspective.
2. What is your role at your company and how long have you been with this company? I have been with Oppy for 26 years. I started in the IT department designing and developing our in-house systems. I was focused on the supply chain side of the business and after 11 years, I transitioned to managing the operations team and currently I’m the Vice President of Operations responsible for all areas of the supply chain.
3. What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced in the produce sector? The produce industry is different than consumer packaged goods (CPG)/center store but there is always a focus on applying CPG processes into produce.
4. What change/advancement would you like to contribute to in the industry? Produce needs a different focus from CPG, it requires innovation and creativity to find new solutions to implement traceability, e-commerce, food safety and other challenges while maintaining or improving productivity and reducing cost.
5. Besides work and volunteering at CPMA, what else do you do? Outside of CPMA and work, I enjoy building things like go-karts, camping hot tubs, camping, playing water polo, wakeboarding, or snowboarding.
6. Any advice you would give to a young professional who is starting up his/her career in this industry? Get involved in the industry committees. You will gain a new perspective on the whole industry outside of your own business, provide insight to the industry and bring back your experience to your own company. The produce industry is a community that continues to solve new problems and provide safe healthy foods to consumers.
7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be? – I’d love to be able to fly!