Jun 11, 2021

Ontario Produce Marketing Association has seven new board members

The Ontario Produce Marketing Association has announced the appointment of seven new board members at its Annual General Meeting held on June 9. The newly elected Directors will serve three-year terms from 2021-2024.

The directors joining the Ontario Produce Marketing Association’s  (OPMA board are: Ryan Goad from Loblaw Companies; Dan Tukendorf from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association; Madison Hopper from Equifruit; Andrew George from EarthFresh Farms. Marc Wall from Sandy Shore Farms; Amanda Knauff from Taylor Farms; and Matthew Quiring from Nature Fresh Farms.

Ryan Goad is the Senior Category Director of Fresh Procurement at Loblaw Companies. Goad has 17 years of experience in Canadian retail produce ranging from store-level operations and employee training/development, as well as 12 years of experience in produce procurement.

Dan Tukendorf is the Program Manager of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. His career has spanned across the produce industry value chain. Past roles have included farming vegetables and growing floral crops, quality assurance inspection, retail grocery produce procurement, and category management.

Madison Hopper is the Marketing Manager for Equifruit, the Canadian market leader in Fairtrade bananas. She has extensive board experience, most notably serving on the board of Fairtrade Canada for three years. She currently serves on the OPMA’s Young Professionals Network Committee as the Secretary.

Andrew George got his introduction to the produce world by spending summers sorting, grading and hauling potatoes at the old EarthFresh production facility on Browns Line. Currently, with eight years experience, he is now leading the Canadian Sales Team as the Senior Director of Sales at EarthFresh Farms.

Marc Wall is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Sandy Shore Farms. He joined the family business in 2013 and assumed his current role leading sales and marketing programs in 2018. He also serves on the board of the Asparagus Farmers of Ontario and the Agriculture Advisory Board of Norfolk County.

Amanda Knauff detoured from the CPG world into the produce industry three years ago, starting as a business development manager for Taylor Farms, where she built a sales and marketing strategy for the Canadian marketplace.  Recently, Taylor Farms bought a facility in Vaughan and she is now Director of Sales leading a local Ontario team.

Matt Quiring is the Director of Sales at Nature Fresh Farms. He has spent over 10 years in the greenhouse farming sector developing smart business strategies and fostering sales partnerships.

At the meeting, Steven Dimen, the Chair of the OPMA welcomed the new board members. Dimen said “An election was held electronically with a record number of votes. Congratulations to the newly elected Directors.” Dimen also recognized the retiring directors, “Thank you to the seven departing directors for their many years of voluntary service to the OPMA.”

The seven Directors retiring from the board are: Sarah Taylor from Gambles Produce; Chris Streef from Streef Produce; Frank Spagnuolo from Loblaw Companies; Carleigh White from WalMart Canada; Jason Verkaik from Carron Farms; Sarah Marshall from the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers’ Association; and Fiona McLean from DelFresco Produce.

In addition, three current Directors whose terms had ended were voted back onto the Board: Steve Moffat from North American Produce Buyers; Adam Donikian from Sobeys; and Julian Sarriano from Fresh Taste.

A key priority for the Board will be providing greater value to members. The OPMA will be conducting a review and working with experts, with input from members to accomplish its strategic objective to build the Association.

About Ontario Produce Marketing Association: The Ontario Produce Marketing Association is a member-funded, not-for-profit organization whose primary objective is to connect people and information from field to plate.