OTTAWA, ON - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) welcomed the Government of Canada’s announcement of the upcoming launch of the $1 billion Food-Link Fund, a core component of the National Food Security Strategy.

CPMA was pleased to attend the announcement made by the Honorable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honorable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.

The Food-Link Fund will invest in critical food security infrastructure through two streams:

• The Food Terminal Fund, which will support the development and expansion of wholesale food terminals.
• The Food Hub Program, which will support the creation and expansion of regional food hubs across Canada.

“The Food-Link Fund is an important step toward building a stronger and more resilient fresh produce supply chain,” said CPMA President Ron Lemaire in the recent release. “Strategic investments in food terminals and regional food hubs will create new opportunities for businesses across the supply chain and support more efficient access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Canadians.”

Over the past year, CPMA has been advocating for federal support for the Ontario Food Terminal and regional food hubs. The investments announced today are a strong reflection of these key CPMA recommendations for government action to prioritize food production as a cornerstone of its Build Canada economic strategy.

“CPMA has consistently advocated for investment in the food system infrastructure needed to move fresh produce efficiently across Canada,” said Lemaire. “We look forward to continuing working with the Government of Canada and industry members across the fresh produce supply chain to support the successful implementation of the Food-Link Fund and the broader National Food Security Strategy.”

AUSTIN, TX - ShipStation, a leading intelligent shipping and logistics platform for small and mid-sized businesses, announced the launch of Ship with Walmart, a new shipping solution that gives Walmart Marketplace sellers direct access to Walmart-negotiated shipping rates within the ShipStation platform. The integration allows sellers to purchase eligible labels, access seller protections, and manage Walmart Marketplace orders directly within their existing ShipStation workflow.

Many Walmart Marketplace sellers manage orders across multiple selling channels, with ShipStation serving as the hub that brings those workflows together. Ship with Walmart extends that capability to Walmart Marketplace orders: sellers can activate it through ShipStation and purchase eligible labels alongside their existing carrier accounts, with no new integration to build.

Ship with Walmart works alongside a seller's existing shipping setup as an additional option, and activation is simple by design.

"Sellers shouldn't have to choose between the tools they rely on every day and the benefits their marketplace offers them," said Matt Norman, Vice President, Strategic Business Development, ShipStation. "Ship with Walmart closes that gap. Sellers get Walmart-negotiated rates and seller protections, including up to $100 of order protection, all within the ShipStation platform."

With Ship with Walmart, sellers gain access to:

• Walmart-negotiated rates: Discounted rates from trusted domestic carriers.
• On-time delivery and valid tracking support: Ship with Walmart supports on-time delivery and valid tracking performance.
• Seller protection for lost packages: Eligible orders shipped on time can receive up to $100 in protection for lost-item claims, including lost-in-transit and after-delivery claims. Sellers can also access negative feedback review for approved lost-item claims.
• Delivery promise, connected to carrier choice: Simplified Shipping Settings surfaces Walmart-recommended carrier and service-level options directly in ShipStation, based on the seller's delivery promise.
• A unified, multichannel dashboard: Walmart Marketplace orders sit alongside Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, eBay, and other connected storefronts in one place—sellers don't have to step outside the ShipStation workflow they already know to manage Walmart shipping.
• Purchase labels directly in ShipStation: After activation, sellers can purchase eligible Ship with Walmart labels within their existing ShipStation workflow.

Walmart Marketplace sellers who are new to ShipStation can receive 20% off their ShipStation subscription for one year when they activate Ship with Walmart.*

"For Walmart Marketplace sellers, every operational advantage matters, and shipping is one of the biggest levers they have to protect margins and delivery performance," said Norman in the recent release. "Ship with Walmart delivers real, negotiated value inside the platform sellers already use."

Ship with Walmart is available now to Walmart Marketplace sellers using ShipStation, and activation is simple. Ship with Walmart in ShipStation currently supports U.S. domestic shipments only.

To learn more, visit shipstation.com/partners/walmart or read Introducing Ship with Walmart on the ShipStation blog.

^{*The ShipStation subscription offer can be used alongside discounted Ship with Walmart label rates. Eligibility requirements and offer terms apply.}

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - Since 2004, Allen Lund Company (ALC) has been working with growers/producers and carriers in support of Navidad en el Barrio. The two organizations are now spreading the word to fresh produce providers that they will be seeking donations come December.

"Navidad en el Barrio has been a part of the Allen Lund Company's commitment to community service since 2004. In my new role as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Navidad en el Barrio, it's comforting to know ALC continues to support our annual Christmas grocery initiative,” Nora Trueblood, who is also the retired Director of Marketing at ALC, told me. “We look forward to working with growers and shippers again in 2026 to provide healthy options to families. Together, we hope to supply a complete Christmas dinner and supplementary groceries to 12,000 food-insecure households this year, and we thank ALC for their unwavering support."

Donations will be accepted the week of December 8, with groceries delivered Saturday, December 12, 2026. Perishables are delivered via ALC to a warehouse location and then delivered to agencies throughout SoCal for distribution to families.

Navidad en el Barrio was established in 1972 with the mission of providing a healthy Christmas dinner to thousands of the most needy Southern California families. Over 75,000 people are served annually through the efforts of Navidad En El Barrio and their team.

"Navidad en el Barrio is a team event!” Kenny Lund, Executive Vice President at Allen Lund Company and ALC Logistics, added. “It brings growers, transportation companies, retailers, and many individuals all together to benefit those who need assistance during the holidays. I am so proud of our involvement, and thankful for the suppliers of product who help us and the Navidad group to do so much good. There is no better way to kick off the Christmas season."

To get involved, contact Nora by phone at (818) 257-4914 or by email at [email protected]. The produce industry is known to lend a helping hand, assuring me that the contributions made to Navidad en el Barrio will be plentiful.

MCALLEN, TX - Fox Packaging is coming to the Global Produce & Floral Show ready to answer your questions! With a booth built around the questions customers actually ask, Fox is helping simplify every aspect of fresh produce packaging for its partners.

"We hear the same questions from partners every season," shares Aaron Fox, Vice President of Fox Packaging. "How do I choose the right bag for this commodity? What does EPR mean for my operation? How do I get more out of my pack line? We decided to put those questions front and center and have experts ready to answer them."

Printed on the walls of the booth will be some of the most frequently asked questions, ranging from packaging (flexible formats, shelf-life, recyclability, PCR, and EPR costs) to equipment (throughput, changeovers, labor reduction, and automation).

Heading into 2027, regulation is another key area of focus for Fox Packaging customers. As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws like California's SB 54 require growers and shippers to report detailed packaging data and show how they're reducing packaging, many companies are adapting to the increased requests for transparency for the first time.

"A lot of our partners are seeing these reporting requests land in their inbox and don't know where to start," adds Iliana Csanyi, Sustainability Manager at Fox Packaging. "They need to know what material their bags are made of, what each one weighs, and how much they're running. That's information we can help them pull together."

To fill that gap, some companies hire outside consultants, paying extra for packaging data their flexible packaging supplier already has on hand, Victoria Lopez, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Fox Packaging, tells me.

"We want our customers to understand that this is more straightforward than having to pay a consultant," says Victoria. "As their packaging supplier, a lot of that information starts with us, and we can help them get it."

To help its partners meet these evolving demands, Fox has been working directly with customers on their source reduction responses and building out resources on its EPR Field Guide. Fox also offers film with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content.

"EPR isn't something packers should have to figure out alone," Victoria continues. "Our job is to make sure they have the answers they need from their packaging supplier."

"The right bag protects the product and keeps good food out of landfills," adds Aaron Fox, Vice President of Fox Packaging. "That's the conversation we want the industry to be having about packaging."

Get the answers on packaging and equipment in one conversation at this year’s Global Produce & Floral Show, booth #3225. For more pre-show insights, stick around!