Food and Beverage Ontario and the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association have made a deal to work closer together to streamline operations.
The new agreement will help the organizations have a more unified voice on shared industry issues and relations with government, they said in a news release.
Food and Beverage Ontario will provide operational support to Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association and will work collaboratively on strategic industry goals such as raising the profile of the industry, improving coordination along the supply chain and promoting Ontario processed products.
“It makes sense that processing sector associations look at every opportunity to provide the best possible value to members. With this partnership we are strengthening the voice of Ontario food and beverage processors and gaining efficiencies operationally,” said Norm Beal, chief execuive officer of Food and Beverage Ontario.
As part of the agreement, Beal will assume the role of executive director of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association and the organization will retain its current governance structure.
Food and Beverage Ontario will manage the day-to-day operations of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association coordinating all board meetings, regional member meetings and the annual general meeting,
in addition to leading government and public relations. Food and Beverage Ontario will also assist in organizing the annual Processing Vegetable Industry Conference in collaboration with the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers.
Steve Lamoure, president of Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Processors Association,said “this is an important development for fruit and vegetable processors in Ontario.
“Our sector has been through a lot of change over the last 10 years – consolidation, re-locations to the U.S. and retirement closures.
“For the remaining businesses in the province we want to be absolutely sure we are doing all we can to support our industry and strengthen relations across the supply chain. The agreement with Food and Beverage Ontario will do exactly that,” he said.
