MexBest pavilion the largest in CPMA history
MexBest pavilion the largest in CPMA history
VANCOUVER, BC -- Displaying a plethora of the fresh fruits and vegetables available from Mexican growers and exporters, the MexBest pavilion at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's convention, here, was the largest in the show's 81-year history.
"They have progressively gotten bigger and bigger," said Ron Lemaire, executive vice president of the association. "They moved to the larger pavilion format three years ago with great success."
Mr. Lemaire said that the association considered "a true pavilion to have one organizer, not individual companies or groups that amalgamate themselves." He noted that the Quebec pavilion has traditionally been the trade show's largest with 12 to 14 booths when the convention is held in the province of Quebec.
The 22 booths for MexBest showcased many commodities available to Canadian retailers and wholesalers, including avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplants, limes, oranges, tangerines, mangos, coconuts, table grapes and a collection of roots including ginger, said Enrique Lobo, minister of agricultural affairs in Canada for the Embassy of Mexico.
Mr. Lobo said that the MexBest pavilion's 20 grower- exporters had "key visitors from the top level of the industry" from such major retailers as Metro Richelieu, Sobey's and Wal-Mart, and Montreal-based wholesalers Courchesne Larose and Premier Fruits & Vegetables.
"Some of the visitors made and closed deals on the exhibition floor," Mr. Lobo said. "This is most beneficial to the CPMA and Mexico to have people with procurement power making deals on the floor."
"It gives a lot of great value because it brings all of the key Mexican product under one centralized location, and that enables Canadians and others from our buying community that go to the convention to have a one-stop shop," Mr. Lemaire said. "It gives an added value to the foodservice providers, retailers, wholesalers and importer-exporters that attend the show to have a centralized, focused approach."
"They have progressively gotten bigger and bigger," said Ron Lemaire, executive vice president of the association. "They moved to the larger pavilion format three years ago with great success."
Mr. Lemaire said that the association considered "a true pavilion to have one organizer, not individual companies or groups that amalgamate themselves." He noted that the Quebec pavilion has traditionally been the trade show's largest with 12 to 14 booths when the convention is held in the province of Quebec.
The 22 booths for MexBest showcased many commodities available to Canadian retailers and wholesalers, including avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplants, limes, oranges, tangerines, mangos, coconuts, table grapes and a collection of roots including ginger, said Enrique Lobo, minister of agricultural affairs in Canada for the Embassy of Mexico.
Mr. Lobo said that the MexBest pavilion's 20 grower- exporters had "key visitors from the top level of the industry" from such major retailers as Metro Richelieu, Sobey's and Wal-Mart, and Montreal-based wholesalers Courchesne Larose and Premier Fruits & Vegetables.
"Some of the visitors made and closed deals on the exhibition floor," Mr. Lobo said. "This is most beneficial to the CPMA and Mexico to have people with procurement power making deals on the floor."
"It gives a lot of great value because it brings all of the key Mexican product under one centralized location, and that enables Canadians and others from our buying community that go to the convention to have a one-stop shop," Mr. Lemaire said. "It gives an added value to the foodservice providers, retailers, wholesalers and importer-exporters that attend the show to have a centralized, focused approach."
