The Ontario Produce Marketing Association’s (OPMA) food waste reduction initiative with Value Chain Management International (VCMI) continues to progress. A first for North America, the purpose of the project is to raise industry awareness and create the skills required to measurably reduce food loss and waste (FLW) in Ontario’s produce value chain: grower, packer, shipper, wholesaler, distributor, retail or foodservice, and ultimately the consumer.
Members of the produce industry are invited to attend the last industry workshop for the current project, taking place on October 18 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. It will be held at Country Heritage Park in Milton. Participants will be trained in how to identify and address the root causes of FLW, resulting in opportunities to improve the competitiveness of Ontario’s fresh produce industry by implementing sustainable programs for reducing FLW along the entire value chain. The cost of the workshop is $25.00. To register please contact dee@theopma.ca.
An additional part of the project is to develop a number of case studies to illustrate how the project materials are being implemented to achieve improvements in business performance. The first case study was released in July and describes how EarthFresh Foods and growers were able to identify ways to reduce waste by increasing the quality and value of table potatoes, from field to consumer. It can be accessed online: Earth Fresh Case Study. All case studies have identified previously undetected inefficiencies, which, if addressed, will result in reduced waste and wider financial benefits.
The remaining studies, which are nearing completion, and further project updates will be released and made available online at theopma.ca.
Contact:
Virginia Zimm
The Ontario Produce Marketing Association
Tel: 416-519-9390