OTTAWA, ON - The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) released a pivotal new report, Making Our Own Playbook: An Industry-Led Response to the Challenge of Sustainability Reporting and Audit Proliferation. The report, which synthesizes findings from an industry workshop held in Montreal on April 8, 2025, confronts the growing challenge of "audit fatigue" and proposes a unified, industry-led framework to bring clarity, consistency, and value to sustainability assurance in the fresh produce sector.

The report identifies a critical issue termed the "Assurance Paradox": a state where escalating demands for sustainability verification from buyers, regulators, and stakeholders lead to a proliferation of audits and questionnaires. This systemic pressure consumes industry resources with the complex demands of reporting, distracting from the implementation of genuine environmental improvements. The result is a system where more auditing activity does not lead to better assurance and can degrade trust.

In response, the workshop findings propose the development of an Environmental Charter, a pre-competitive sustainability assurance framework built on several key principles. The Charter advocates for a metrics-first, not practices-first approach, shifting the focus to quantifiable, outcomes-based data that is valuable for both producers and buyers.

"Our members are deeply committed to sustainable practices, but they are increasingly burdened by a reporting system that is fragmented and inefficient," said Ron Lemaire, President of the CPMA, in the recent release. "This report is our industry's playbook for moving from a reactive to a proactive position. By developing a unified framework defined by the grower community, we can ensure that sustainability metrics are practical, relevant, and drive meaningful outcomes, turning the burden of reporting into a source of innovation and competitive advantage."

The report breaks down the proposed framework across five core sustainability pillars—water, energy, packaging, material use, and land management. It also draws critical lessons from successful models like the Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA).

"The workshop brought the 'Assurance Paradox' to life, with participants from across the supply chain expressing a clear and consistent message: they are consumed with reporting instead of focusing on lowering their environmental footprint," said Garland Perkins, Principal at Fresh Endeavors Consulting and workshop facilitator. "The strategic shift to a metrics-first, outcome-based framework is critical to resolving this tension. It provides a path to transform reporting from a simple compliance exercise into a powerful tool for improving efficiency and driving real-world progress."

Wyatt Maysey, Director of Sustainability at Taylor Farms, a workshop sponsor, added, "As producers, we see the fragmentation of reporting requests firsthand. A harmonized, pre-competitive framework like the proposed Environmental Charter allows us to focus our resources on what truly matters: making tangible improvements in our fields and facilities. It enables us to provide credible, consistent data to our customers while using that same data to become more efficient and resilient. This is a win-win for the entire supply chain."

Building on the report's momentum, the CPMA will meet with produce industry leaders at Fall Harvest 2025 to review the report’s key findings and explore actionable next steps to mitigate sustainability and audit reporting risk.

The full workshop report is available for download here.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Progressive Produce and Pacific Trellis Fruit are pleased to announce several changes in executive leadership designed to enhance the ongoing partnership between the two brands, allowing them to work synergistically to best serve both customers and growers around the world.

Effective immediately, Eric Coty will join Pacific Trellis Fruit as Executive Vice President of Fruit. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Coty has served in executive roles across sales and marketing, grower relations, quality control, and operations. In this newly established position, Coty will spearhead the go-to-market strategy for the Fruit division, which includes Grapes, Stone Fruit, Cherries, and Citrus. Coty will be managing relationships throughout the supply chain, with a focus on driving sales and creating sustainable operations that support Pacific Trellis’ significant upcoming growth, according to a press release.

Additionally, Josh Leichter has chosen to step away from his responsibilities as CEO at Pacific Trellis Fruit but will retain his role as Director of Imported Grapes, a category that is vital to Pacific Trellis Fruit and for which he carries immense experience and excitement. For the past two seasons, Pacific Trellis Fruit has been one of the largest importers of South American grapes, with a diversified supply base across multiple countries and growing regions.

Next, Cory Stahl will leave his position of Vice President of Sales for Progressive Produce to assume the role of Executive Vice President of Dulcinea Melons at Pacific Trellis. He will lead the go-to-market strategy for the Melon division as it continues to scale. Dulcinea brand impressions reached more than 100 million consumers in 2024. Throughout his time at Progressive, Stahl has contributed to every business unit. Notably, he was integral to the successful launch of the Asparagus and Wet Vegetable category, and in 2018, assumed the role of Vice President of Sales, overseeing Asparagus, Wet Vegetables, Chilis, Herbs, Citrus, and third-party logistics services.

Furthermore, Scott Leimkuhler will now be Executive Vice President at Progressive Produce. In this expanded role, he will lead the go-to-market strategy for all of Progressive’s key categories, including Potatoes, Onions, Yams, Asparagus, Wet Vegetables, Chilis, Herbs, and Citrus. Leimkuhler, who has been with Progressive Produce for more than 15 years, exemplifies the company’s commitment to year-round conventional and organic production, nationwide logistics, and outstanding customer service.

This divisional approach is designed to create a more dynamic and responsive organization, which will maximize efficiency and put a clear focus on growth, while also providing leaders with greater ownership and accountability and creating more direct lines of communication among divisions.

As part of these shifts in executive leadership, Marty Kamer, previously CEO of Progressive Produce, and Simon Miller, will serve as Group CEO and CFO/COO, respectively, of both Progressive Produce and Pacific Trellis Fruit. Though the companies will remain two distinct entities with unique product offerings and go-to-market strategies, this transition is a strategic move that will allow these two companies to share resources and best serve both growers and customers.

The announcement marks the culmination of a partnership 18 months in the making.

Last year, Progressive Produce joined Arable Capital Partners, which also holds a majority stake in Pacific Trellis Fruit. This led to a symbiotic relationship between the two entities, in which Kamer and Miller worked alongside Pacific Trellis Fruit CEO Josh Leichter and other executive leadership to forge a path forward as two separate and distinct entities.

“Our strategy going forward is quite simple: Put the right people in the right positions at the right time,” said Kamer. “These adjustments to our leadership structure will enhance the synergies we have developed over the past several months and allow for continued growth going forward.”

CALIFORNIA - California is staring down a volatile stretch of September weather, with tropical storm remnants feeding a humid heatwave that could pivot into dry-to-wet thunderstorm outbreaks, according to Weather West.

The month already opened with a jolt as lightning ignited dozens of wildfires, including the destructive “6-5 Fire.” While recent rainfall and the absence of deep drought have tempered the worst-case wildfire outcomes, forecasters warn that the setup this week shares similarities with the August 2020 dry lightning event that triggered widespread blazes.

Moisture from former Tropical Storm Mario is expected to drift into the Central Coast midweek, colliding with hot inland air and elevated instability. This alignment raises the risk of thunderstorms that may drench parts of Southern California while producing more dangerous dry strikes farther north, especially near the Bay Area and Sierra foothills. Some storms could also unleash strong downdrafts or flash flooding in burn scars and mountain terrain.

Adding fuel to the pattern is a record-breaking Pacific marine heatwave, warming coastal waters and juicing atmospheric moisture. That’s keeping nights muggy along the coast and could extend storm potential well into next week.

California agriculture, transport, and wildfire crews are already bracing for the swings—from parched fields to sudden downpours—that could ripple across the state in the days ahead.

Keep checking ANUK for more weather updates.